Critical Perspectives for Social Change: Reexamining Interdisciplinarity in Public Affairs Education

Interdisciplinarity has transformative potential in teaching and learning within public affairs education. Given the current socio-political climate, this paper is a call to action for public service educators to bring interdisciplinarity to the fore to address complex issues in a chaotic environment. Grounded in theoretical perspectives such as ecosystem approaches, boundary-spanning, and complexity theory, this paper explores how dismantling disciplinary silos can equip future leaders to tackle complex societal challenges like social inequities, climate change, economic instability, shifting dynamics in higher education, and other technological and political changes particularly in a climate that seeks to upend the role of higher education in the public sphere. Through an analysis of classroom, program, and institutional strategies, the paper highlights theories and practices that promote interdisciplinary collaboration, including curriculum design, cross-sector partnerships, and diverse faculty and student recruitment. By integrating varied disciplinary perspectives into nonprofit management and public administration curricula, educators can foster innovative solutions to the multifaceted issues facing society today. The paper provides a roadmap for interdisciplinary integration with a call to action for programs, faculty, and institutions to prioritize interdisciplinary approaches that prepare students to become agents of meaningful social change and build resilient, equitable communities, especially in the current political climate.