Interdisciplinary Studies at SUNY Polytechnic Institute (formerly SUNYIT)
Connecting Knowledge
The individualized, integrative Interdisciplinary Studies Program at SUNY Polytechnic Institute empowers students to set their own educational and professional goals and design a course of study that enables them to achieve those goals. Our graduates have become lawyers, teachers, librarians, and entrepreneurs, and have pursued careers in both the private and public sectors. Graduates of IDS have
01/21/2026
The Gannett Gallery SUNY Poly is SUNY Poly's place for all things artistic. It's a great place to learn about all sorts of things too -- from how measurement to comic books. Here's our latest offering. It's going to be great!
10/23/2025
Two days away!
10/07/2025
The Ballad of Human Movement is an exhibit that will fill your heart with pride for our little city. People have come from all over the world to make Utica their homes. Stories like The New York Times article "How Refugees Transformed a Dying Rust Belt Town" brought Utica into the spotlight, and the gallery is thrilled to present a celebration of what makes our city so special.
09/16/2025
Excited to see IDS, MVCC, and most recently Albany Law alum Heather Beebe hosting this panel discussion where first generation lawyers and law students will share their experiences navigating law school and the legal profession. SUNY Polytechnic Institute
What an awesome first day of IDS 311! Students seemed happy to be there and the discussion flowed freely.
08/22/2025
Thank you, South Park and NYT for giving me an excellent and thought-provoking way to start the semester in IDS 311: Humor and Comedy in Society! It sound be interesting, to say the least. Further updates to come, so stay tuned to Interdisciplinary Studies
Eric Cartman, Welcome (for Now) to the Resistance For decades, “South Park” has been crude, cynical and childish. That may be what makes it perfect for this moment.
04/18/2025
🧠 Show Title: Hack A Social Problem: Creative Proposals for Change
👥 Presented by: IDS 220 Creativity and Culture class
📅 Show Dates: April 21–25
📍 Reception: Wednesday, April 23, 12:00–2:00 PM
Exhibition Statement:
Students from the IDS 220 Creativity and Culture class present ideas to expand the accessibility of learning, communications, and artistic tools and technologies. The projects—ranging from early-stage “pretotypes” to more refined prototypes—are the result of semester-long research, discussion, and workshopping. We invite engagement, interaction, and critique as we work toward more inclusive and enjoyable designs for all.
Preview of IDS 311 for fall 2025: Course Description: What makes us laugh? How do our responses to comedy reflect both our group and individual identities? These and many other questions will be explored in this class. IDS 311offers a study of comedy from a variety of perspectives (e.g. philosophy, sociology, psychology, history, anthropology, literary studies, political science). Beyond watching a lot of visual comedy in a variety of forms (TV, movies, YouTube videos, etc.) assignments may include readings, discussion, quizzes, formal and informal writing, presentations, and a midterm and/or final exam. We’ll look at how comedy is affected by culture, age, gender, race (and many other variables) to determine what the study of comedy can tell us about the study of human nature.
photo credit: https://www.nytimes.com/2017/11/22/arts/television/comedy-is-booming-i-cant-wait-for-the-bust.html
We'll be at Mohawk Valley Community College this morning for a meet and greet! Excited to tell students about the program!
10/03/2024
We're so proud to be part of this event! Please tell everybody you know!!!!!!
and tell them
to tell
everybody they know!!!!!!!!
09/25/2024
SUNY Poly's campus is so beautiful right now, with fall in all its splendor! And IDS faculty and students are busy learning about all kinds of amazing concepts and phenomenon. From comedy to cyborgs through the lens of critical thinking and interdisciplinarity, IDS faculty are doing what we do best: sharing ideas with students and sharing in their aha! moments. Are there any students, former students, and faculty who want to share what's going on in your world?
In IDS 311, Humor and Comedy in Society, we're trying to sort through the concept that we find a situation funny when we feel superior to what's going on in it. We're also talking about our very human tendency of anthropomorphizing animals. What's going on in your worlds? Photo credit: https://cheezburger.com/2434053/28-amusing-animal-pictures-that-are-guarantied-to-make-you-laugh
08/21/2024
IDS 311 FALL 2024
M/W 10:40-11:50
HUMOR AND COMEDY IN SOCIETY
Dr. Patricia Murphy
Course Description: What makes us laugh? How do our responses to comedy reflect both our group and individual identities? These and many other questions will be explored in this class. IDS 311offers a study of comedy from a variety of perspectives (e.g. philosophy, sociology, psychology, history, anthropology, literary studies, political science). Beyond watching a lot of visual comedy in a variety of forms (TV, movies, YouTube videos, etc.) assignments may include readings, discussion, quizzes, formal and informal writing, presentations, and a midterm and/or final exam. We’ll look at how comedy is affected by culture, age, gender, race (and many other variables) to determine what the study of comedy can tell us about the study of human nature.
Image 2: https://www.istockphoto.com/photo/businessman-stepping-on-banana-skin-gm512001756-8693542