The associate degree in Multidisciplinary Studies is a broad-based degree to expand a student’s understanding, interests, skills and knowledge. It is a degree that can be finished in two years, upon completion of 60 credits. As part of the degree requirements, students select a general education area and take nine credits from within that area to have a concentration of study. The degree also offers sufficient electives to allow for some specialization, according to the student’s interests or career goals.
Students can build upon the associate degree and use the earned credits toward a baccalaureate degree.
The Multidisciplinary Studies degree can be used for entry-level employment and jobs that require an associate degree. Some careers of those who earned an associate degree in Multidisciplinary Studies include:
- School District Aide
- Administrative Assistant
- Warehouse Manager
- Office Manager
- Office Assistant
- Positions in business fields
- Sales position
- Health administration assistant
- Child care worker
- Police Officer
Degree Requirements
For the Associate in Arts degree in Multidisciplinary Studies, a minimum of 60 credits is required.
Scheduling Recommendation by Semester Standing given like (Sem: 1-2)
GENERAL EDUCATION: 21 credits
(6 of these 21 credits are included in the REQUIREMENTS FOR THE MAJOR)
(See description of General Education in front of Bulletin.)
ELECTIVES: 15 credits
REQUIREMENTS FOR THE MAJOR: 30 credits#[1]
(This includes 6 credits of General Education GWS courses.)
PRESCRIBED COURSES (6 credits)
ENGL 015 GWS(3) (Sem: 1-2)
CAS 100 GWS(3) (Sem: 3-4)
ADDITIONAL COURSE (3 credits)
ENGL 202A GWS(3), ENGL 202B GWS(3), ENGL 202C GWS(3), or ENGL 202D GWS(3) (Sem: 3-4)
SUPPORTING COURSES AND RELATED AREAS (21 credits)
Select 3 credits in any course designated as arts* (Sem: 1-4)
Select 3 credits in any course designated as humanities* (Sem: 1-4)
Select 3 credits in any course designated as social and behavioral sciences* (Sem: 1-4)
Select 3 credits in any course designated as physical, biological, or earth sciences* (Sem: 1-4)
Select 9 credits in any one of the following areas*: arts, humanities, social and behavioral sciences, natural sciences and quantification, and foreign language skills. (If foreign language courses are chosen, it is recommended that these courses be in one foreign language sequence.) (Sem: 1-4)
[1]A student enrolled in this major must receive a grade of C or better, as specified in Senate Policy 82-44.
#The required credits of General Education and Requirements for the Major must be baccalaureate-level courses. For students intending to seek admission to a baccalaureate program upon graduation, it is recommended that most, if not all, of the courses be at the baccalaureate level. For those students who will seek a bachelor of arts degree upon graduation from Multidisciplinary Studies, it is strongly recommended that a foreign language be taken since admission to a bachelor of arts program in the College of the Liberal Arts requires one college-level course, or the equivalent, in a foreign language.
*Courses that will satisfy the arts, humanities, social and behavioral sciences, natural sciences, and quantification requirements are defined on the Multidisciplinary Studies checksheet, which may be obtained from the College of the Liberal Arts associate dean for undergraduate studies at the University Park campus or from any Multidisciplinary Studies representative at other locations.