It differs from other interdisciplinary educational initiatives in that its curriculum is purpose designed rather than simply an amalgamation of existing disciplines.
[1] The University of Western Australia established the Center for Integrated Human Studies in early 2008.
Its fundamental concern is to promote human well-being at an individual, local and global level within a sustainable environment.
[2] Integration of disciplinary fields has arisen as a response to the "increasing specialization of [university] courses to meet the demands of technological progress, economic growth and vocational training"[3] resulting in the development of ever narrower fields of study at tertiary level.
Proponents of integrated human studies believe that a broader, interdisciplinary approach is needed to enable future decision-makers to grasp the complexities of the issues facing humankind in the 21st century and craft workable solutions.