Degree Requirements

General Degree Requirements

Credit from prior learning may be used to fulfill some requirements of the multidisciplinary degree.  However, a completed degree must include:

• Completion of 120 semester credits
• Completion of 30 University of Minnesota semester credits
• Completion of 24 credits after admission to the MdS degree program
• Completion of 50 upper division credits in three of the five curricular areas, including a minimum of 15 credits in each area
• Completion of the upper division introductory course, ICP 3001W, Introduction to Multidisciplinary Studies which is a three-credit course that reintroduces returning students to upper division University-level learning and assists them in making the best selection of areas, courses, and projects to fulfill their goals toward graduation.
• Completion of the Liberal Education requirements of the University. For a current list of courses that fulfill the University of Minnesota Liberal Education requirements, see the One Stop Web site and click on "Liberal Education requirements." Transfer credits from other universities and community colleges may be applied toward these requirements.

Curriculum 

In the Multidisciplinary Studies (MdS) program, you select three areas from a possible five areas of concentration. Your area selections will depend in part on whether you're pursuing a B.A. or a B.S.

• Arts and Humanities
• History and Social Sciences
• Communications
• Science and Health Science
• Applied, Technical, and Professional

Bachelor of Arts Requirements

You will choose course work from at least two of these areas:

• Arts and Humanities
• History and Social Sciences
• Communication

 You may also choose a third area in:

• Science and Health Science
• Applied, Technical, and Professional.

You will also be required to complete four semesters of a language, or two semesters of one language and eight additional credits of related culture studies.

Bachelor of Science Requirements

You will choose course work from at least one of these areas:

• Science and Health Science
• Applied, Technical, and Professional

You can choose remaining area(s) from:

• Arts and Humanities
• History and Social Sciences
• Communications
• And at least one upper division course in quantitative or critical thinking

Guidelines for Choosing a Concentration

An adviser can assist you in developing areas of concentration, but here is a basic guide for placing certain departments within the five areas of study described above.

Arts and Humanities

Includes course work from African Studies, Afro-American Studies, American-Indian Studies, American Studies, Architecture Studies, Art History, Studio Arts, Classical Studies, Cultural Studies and Comparative Literature, East Asian Studies, English, Asian Languages and Literatures, Music, Theatre Arts and Dance, and Gender, Women, and Sexuality Studies.

History and Social Science

Includes course work from African Studies, Afro-American Studies, American Indian Studies, American Studies, Anthropology, Applied Economics, Chicano Studies, Child Psychology, East Asian Studies, Economics, Geography, Global Studies, History, History of Science and Technology, History of Medicine, Mass Communications/Journalism, Jewish Studies, Latin American Studies, Political Science, Psychology, Religious Studies, Sociology, Urban Studies, and Gender, Women, and Sexuality Studies.

Communications

Includes course work from Communication Studies, English, Journalism, Writing Studies, and upper division second language courses.

Science and Health Science

Includes select course work from the College of Biological Sciences, the Institute of Technology, the Department of Kinesiology, the Department of Food Science and Nutrition, the Center for Spirituality and Healing, the School of Public Health, the College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences, and the College of Natural Resources.

Applied, Technical, and Professional

Includes courses from Applied Business, the Carlson School of Management, Business and Industry Education, Construction Management, Computer Science, Information Technology Infrastructure, Manufacturing Technology, and Educational Psychology.