Interdisciplinary Collaboration: Where Health Care, Business, and Science Meet

What Interdisciplinary Collaboration Means at Rockhurst

Rockhurst University’s mission emphasizes developing the whole person, preparing graduates to lead purposeful lives with meaningful careers. That mission comes to life through interdisciplinary education, where health care, business, and science intersect.

So, how exactly does cross-pollinating disciplines ultimately benefit students?

Christina Wills, Ph.D., associate dean of the College of Arts and Sciences, says, “Because of our focus on holistic development, our graduates can be very responsive to a very dynamic environment and can retool when they have to. I think we're all aware of how quickly careers can change.”

This approach ensures students are not siloed into narrow career paths. Instead, they gain the flexibility to adapt, pivot, and upskill as industries evolve.

Examples of Successful Cross-College Initiatives

Rockhurst’s smaller size and collaborative culture mean cross-college partnerships happen organically. Faculty and administrators regularly work together to create innovative pathways for students.

• Dual-degree programs: Rockhurst was among the first universities in the country to integrate health care and business through dual-degree programs. Students in the Doctor of Physical Therapy (DPT) or Occupational Therapy Doctorate (OTD) programs can also pursue an MBA, with shared curriculum hours. Myles Gartland, Ph.D., dean of the College of Business and Technology, says: “If we were not first in the country, we’re top five. Schools have always had dual degrees that were simultaneous enrollments.” What makes Rockhurst unique, Gartland says, is that Rockhurst offers a single point of entry with a shared curriculum to students majoring in more than one discipline.
• Industrial-organizational psychology: The College of Arts and Sciences is launching a graduate program in industrial-organizational psychology in fall 2026 that overlaps with management courses. This initiative blends social science with business, preparing students for careers in workforce development and organizational leadership.
• Interprofessional education (IPE): Twice a year, Rockhurst hosts an event where nursing, OT, PT, speech-language pathology, and exercise science students collaborate on a single patient case. Mylene Schriner, Ph.D., associate dean of the Saint Luke’s College of Nursing and Health Sciences, explains: “The feedback you get is always really good. Students say, ‘I didn’t know a nurse did that,’ or ‘I didn’t know a PT could do that.’” Interdisciplinary education prepares them for real-world teamwork in hospitals and clinics.

These initiatives highlight how Rockhurst integrates health care and business collaboration with science and innovation in education.

How This Approach Benefits Students

Students who pursue interdisciplinary pathways often stand out for their ambition and adaptability.

“These students are very goal-oriented, very much with a specific end goal in mind,” Shriner says. “Some want to be business owners. They are creating things that they wanted to get patented so that they can sell them. These were very, very focused students.”

Others discover new passions along the way. Wills recalls a student who began pre-med, shifted to science and business, and ultimately thrived in pharmaceutical sales.

“Collaboration is really easy. I had a student who came in at age 18. ‘I'm going to be a doctor,’ they said. Around 20, they said, ‘Oh, I don't think that I want to do that, but I really like science. What can I do?’ We very quickly set them up to minor in business, which built the blocks for them to immediately become accepted in the MBA program. They're now a very successful pharmaceutical sales rep.”

Gartland adds that interdisciplinary students benefit from winding paths. Students stumble into fields they didn’t even know existed. That discovery is invaluable. Overly focused students sometimes miss out, but interdisciplinary learners are exposed to opportunities that broaden their horizons.

The result is graduates who are not only skilled but also versatile, helping prepare them to navigate the messy complexity of real-world careers.

Industry Trends Driving Demand

The demand for interdisciplinary skills is growing across industries. Healthcare professionals increasingly need business acumen to manage teams, budgets, and private practices. Scientists must understand data analytics, sales, and communication to succeed in emerging fields.

Digital health is one area where collaboration is essential. Gartland points to Kansas City’s growing role as a hub.

“Under digital health, of course, is AI. Whether it's cybersecurity or it's biometrics, or it's sensors or wearables, that is the way the world is going. And employers need people who have a solid grounding across disciplines to make these things a reality.”

Telehealth is another trend shaping education.

“Telehealth is getting really big, and speech-language pathology does a lot of things with telehealth. Our faculty research these new trends and work real-life situations into the curriculum so that our graduates are prepared to be leaders in their field on day one.”

Rockhurst’s proactive approach ensures students are prepared for these shifts. Service learning, community partnerships, and advisory councils keep programs aligned with industry needs.

Future Outlook for Integrated Education

Looking ahead, Rockhurst University is designing curriculum for the workforce of 2030. Gartland describes the BSBA 2030 project as an effort to forecast the skills students will need to graduate in 2030. The result informs how curricula are developed.

Strategic partnerships with other institutions will also expand opportunities. Rockhurst already has affiliation agreements, ranging from engineering to law schools, with six higher education institutions. Schriner adds the University has many memorandums of understanding (MOUs) with other schools. “If their students get a particular degree and hold a particular GPA, they have a seat in one of our programs. We have many of those throughout the state.”

Faculty acknowledge challenges, from logistical hurdles to shifting regulations. Yet they remain committed to innovation.

“Innovation takes time,” Gartland says. “It takes dedicated time. And we’re making it a priority despite the many pressing demands of the day.”

Personal Perspectives from the Deans

Each of the three administrators can distill their guidance into a core piece of advice for students navigating today’s multidisciplinary world.:

• Wills: “Self-reflection. Know yourself, know who you are, know what you want.”
• Schriner: “Rockhurst is going to prepare you for being in the real world. The holistic education that you get here is going to prepare you.  You'll be a reflective person. You will be an insightful person.”
• Gartland: “I'll combine the two together. Prepare yourself to be multiple versions of yourself.”

Together, their perspectives underscore Rockhurst’s commitment to interdisciplinary education as a pathway to lifelong success.

Earn a Future-Proof Degree Built for Reinvention

At Rockhurst University, interdisciplinary collaboration is more than a buzzword; it’s a defining feature of the student experience. By bridging health care, business, and science, Rockhurst equips graduates with the adaptability, vision, and skills needed to thrive in a rapidly changing world.

Whether through dual-degree programs, interprofessional education, or forward-looking curriculum design, Rockhurst is preparing students not just for their first job, but for a lifetime of reinvention.

Explore Rockhurst’s innovative programs and see how interdisciplinary education can shape your future.