GSA Working Groups

The GSA would like to announce a new initiative for graduate student research: The GSA Working Group Committee.

These groups aim at fostering interdisciplinary graduate-level research on topics which draw from a number of disciplines.

This fall, three Working Groups are being developed: Ethics, Medieval Thought and Society, and Phenomenological Psychology. Descriptions are available below.

If interested in joining a Working Group, please contact Gary Gabor, Vice President of the GSA, at gsa@fordham.edu . In addition, students who wish to propose new Working Groups are encouraged to contact the GSA.

If you have any questions about Working Groups, please contact the GSA or your Departmental GSA Council Representative (list available at www.fordham.edu/gsas/gsa )


Working Groups Descriptions

Ethics

The Ethics Working Group promotes the collaborative study of theoretical and applied ethical issues in an interdisciplinary setting. Topics are determined by the interests of the group; potential areas include bio-ethics, environmental ethics, issues of social justice, science and technology, and professional ethics. All departments are encouraged to join.

Medieval Thought and Society

The Medieval Thought and Society Working Group utilizes interdisciplinary cooperation to engage medieval worldviews across number of spheres including intellectual, religious, and political thought. Specific topics will be chosen by the group, but the underlying theme will be to explore the connections between medieval thought and its manifestation in medieval society.

Phenomelogical Psychology

The Phenomelogical Psychology Working Group fosters an appreciation for Qualitative Methods in the Social Sciences (Psychology, Sociology, Anthropology, etc.) through exploring the philosophical roots of psychological concepts and methods. Husserl, Heidegger, Sartre, Levinas, and Merleau Ponty are just a few of the philosophers discussed. The forum affords students exposure to deep philosophical thinkers and ideologies and encourages students to brainstorm in a meeting of the minds framework; whereby students from a variety of disciplines share their expertise in various forms of methodology and analysis.