The Wicked Problems Class

The Department of Philosophy developed the first Wicked Problems class on campus. PHIL 115 engages students across a semester on the solution of a particular wicked problem like climate, inequality, or healthcare access. The class participates in the Wicked Festival and is a starting point for the Wicked Problems minor, below.

The Wicked Problems Minor

Wicked Problems Graphic Logo

The Wicked Problems Minor is a collaboration between the departments of Philosophy & Religious Studies and Political Science. It covers E and L in the REAL curriculum. The Wicked Problems Minor is designed to turn students into turbo-charged wicked problem solvers. Learn about the required curriculum.

Declare your new Wicked Problems minor. Send the form to Dr. Chapman Rackaway, POSC Department Chair, at crackaway@radford.edu.

For more information on the Wicked Problems minor, contact Dr. Paige Tan, Professor, Political Science at etan3@radford.edu.

Wicked Problems ToolKit

Dr. Tay Keong Tan and a team of Radford students are curating a collection of online resources to teach and solve wicked problems. These resources are being developed for the United Nations Principles of Responsible Management Education (UN PRME) faculty working group and will benefit faculty and students all over the world. Dr. Tan and his team, along with Dr. Paul Hanstedt, author of the book Creating Wicked Students, are traveling to Lisbon, Portugal in September 2023 to present their work to the UN PRME group.

Contact Dr. Tay Keong Tan, Professor, Political Science, for more information.

Wicked Student Society at Radford University

Under the guidance of advisor Dr. Tay Keong Tan, students interested in wicked problems have formed a Wicked Student Society, a student club focused on wicked problems. 

Pathfinders, Undergraduate Journal on Wicked Problems

Working with Dr. Tay Keong Tan, students are establishing a journal to publish undergraduate research on wicked problems and solutions. Watch this space for further news and research.

Wicked Problems Faculty Research

Heather and Paige Talking Wicked Problems at VT CHEP Feb 2023

Radford faculty are studying wicked problems in their own research and learning about how teaching wicked problems impacts student learning.  See Dr. Heather Keith and Dr. Paige Tan, right, presenting a poster on the Radford Wicked Initiative at the Conference on Higher Education Pedagogy at Virginia Tech, February 16, 2023.