Below are resources for students currently enrolled or planning to enroll in the Multidisciplinary Studies degree program.

Guides and Forms

Sample Multidisciplinary Studies Plans

Click on a title below to reveal more information.

Academic Plan—Multidisciplinary Studies

  • Theme: Entrepreneurship and Healthy Living
  • Subjects of Focus: Entrepreneurship, Communication/English, Nutrition/Kinesiology

I plan to utilize my Multidisciplinary Studies Degree to run my own business that will entail providing various events and or classes addressing the topics of Nutrition and Kinesiology for the sake of “Healthy Living.”

For the Nutrition component, I plan to connect local growers with my students so they can have access to locally grown, fresh, healthy produce. I will also teach my students simple gardening techniques to utilize in growing their own fresh nutritious produce. The food science class on my plan complements the nutrition courses well since this class explores food, nutrition, and agricultural issues. More knowledge about growing healthy produce will surely help my “Healthy Living” business. Further, I will provide my students with recipes and cooking techniques in order to utilize fresh produce for healthy meals.

The Nutrition course I have selected will provide the foundation of nutritional expertise to use in designing events and or classes teaching proper nutrition for healthy living.

For the Kinesiology component, I will teach my students some simple exercise techniques that they can use to fit exercise into their daily lives. These techniques will focus on exercises that can be done at home or in my students’ neighborhoods so as to stop the argument: “I don’t have time or money for the gym.”

The Kinesiology classes I take will provide a knowledge base in the area of the science of fitness evaluation and fitness management. This fitness knowledge base will enable me to teach my students how to self-evaluate their fitness levels and synthesize a simple home-based fitness program tailored to their individual fitness needs.

The Entrepreneurship component of my degree is necessary to provide me with the entrepreneurial business skills I will need to design and implement an effective, sustainable “Healthy Living” business. The selected entrepreneurial classes will provide me with fundamentals such as financing and growing a new business, skills much needed when I plan to start and grow a new venture after degree completion.

The Communications, English, and Business Administration classes are necessary for effective communication skills in business and teaching. These selected courses will prepare me for effective business communication with the varied people I will deal with, whether they are vendors, colleagues, or customers. I will also learn effective communication through advertising, and develop the successful communication of my teaching topics orally and in media or print, utilizing modern technological business techniques. In this modern world, a business professional must be able to communicate effectively using the technology available to us. Without solid communication skills, I will not be able to finance my business or offer my classes which will teach “Healthy Living” through nutritious eating and simple achievable exercise.

I am absolutely thankful and excited for the Multidisciplinary Studies degree program. My post baccalaureate goals do not lend themselves to a “traditional” degree program that focuses on one narrow field of study. Entrepreneurial classes alone would not prepare me with the Nutrition and Kinesiology backgrounds I need in order to create my business venture teaching “Healthy Living” to people of all ages in my community. I saw the traditional college majors as limiting to me and incomplete for my educational goals, since I have specific goals of running a specific type of business. I need the flexibility the Multidisciplinary Studies degree offers in order to be educated in each facet of my theme so that my specialized end goal business, “Healthy Living” will be possible upon completion of my degree. It is truly amazing that the Multidisciplinary Studies degree exists.

Primary Areas of Coursework

Theory/Application (3 credits): KINES 303 (3 credits) Emergency Care – First Aid/Safety/AED

I will obtain proficiencies to become a certified First Responder in CPR/AED (Automated External Defibrillator) and trained in the American Red Cross - National Safety Council First Aid and Safety course of study. My “Healthy Living” business will include a component of simple exercise training, so it is essential that I have first aid training in the event that a medical problem or emergency should arise.

Communication Skills (3 credits): BA 321 (3 credits) Contemporary Skills for Business Professionals

This course builds a strong foundation of presentation skills for the business professional. It focuses on written, oral, and multimedia communication using modern technological techniques for sound business practice. I will develop skills as an individual and a team member who utilizes face-to-face and virtual modes of communication in the business world. I will gain valuable skills with hardware and software as well as expertise in the varied roles of team members. Technology is in every business these days in some way, so I must be prepared with the skills needed to use technology effectively to advertise, converse, and connect with my customers, colleagues, employees and vendors.

Research Methods/Projects (3 credits): KINES 61 (3 Credits) Fitness Theory and Practice

I will gain understanding in the science of fitness and wellness and use this knowledge to be able to design and implement fitness plans based on individual needs. My post degree goal of a “Healthy Living” business will definitely include teaching my students about fitness and wellness and help them to create and manage their own fitness plans.

Critical Analysis (3 credits): COMM 205 (3 Credits) Gender Diversity and the Media

This class will be very necessary for me when I need to select effective advertising for my business. This class helps one critically analyze, understand and utilize information dealing with diversity issues in the media. After learning about the relationship the media has with gender, race, ethnicity, ability, sexual orientation, and class diversity, I will be able to successfully design advertising best suited for my customers.

400 –Level Courses (15 credits)

ENTR 400 (3 Credits) Financing Entrepreneurial Ventures

This course will give me the knowledge and skills needed to finance entrepreneurial businesses which will have some different characteristics than traditional businesses such as ways to finance and value a said entrepreneurial business. This information and skill set is imperative to helping me obtain financing for my “Healthy Living” business and deal with financial based requirements.

ENTR 430 (3 Credits) Entrepreneurship New Product Development

This course will guide me through the process of designing a new product and getting this new product truly ready to sell to the consumer. As a part of my “Healthy Living Business,” I will undoubtedly want to sell products that enhance the “Healthy Living” theme. For instance, I may want to create a “Healthy Living Cookbook” that incorporates the healthy recipes I utilize in my business. This class will prepare me to supplement my business with the creation of healthy-themed products to sell to my customers.

ENGL 496 (6 Credits) Independent Study CAPSTONE: ENGLISH and NUTRITION

This 6-credit research class will incorporate both my themes of English and Nutrition. I will be guided and evaluated by Dr. Sandra Petrulionis as I work with Community Studies Coordinator Tom Shaffer and Katrina Weakland (AmeriCorps background) to address the local Altoona food system. I will continue my work started in ENGL 202D, focused on creating a portfolio of the local fresh food producers of the greater Altoona area. This portfolio will be valuable as I assist Tom Shaffer and Katrina Weakland to connect Altoona producers with consumers, and address concerns of equity and food access, in the local area. Tom Shaffer and Katrina Weakland work in collaboration with Community-based Studies staff at Penn State Altoona and the existing Altoona community-based local food system. Assisting with this work is the Iowa State University Local Food System training program. Connecting food producers directly to consumers is a major focus for my “Healthy Living” business. Healthy food travels only a short distance from the farm to the consumer table.

HIST 492 (3 Credits) Witchcraft in Early Modern Europe: NUTRITION FOCUS

Dr. Andrews will guide me through historical nutrition research, over and above what he already incorporates into this course. His course incorporates researching the elements of traditional nutrition: why people chose the food they ate and how they came into the knowledge that guided their choices. The course discusses food as both a source of nutrition and also as a source of healing. One book on the course reading list is, “100 Million Years of Food: What our ancestors ate and why it matters today. This course reinforces the nutrition information provided by my FDSC 105 Food Science class and my ANTHR 120 First Farmers class. I have learned that humans were the healthiest when humans were hunter-gatherers. Hunter-gatherers exercised daily and ate mostly plant-based food. The current “Paleo-Diet” uses this historical research. This historical nutrition information is imperative as a basis for choosing healthy foods in the modern world. I can use this research to help my students understand why consuming plant-based foods and doing simple daily exercise is best for healthy living.

Additional Select (9 Credits)

NUTR 251 (3 Credits) Introductory Principles of Nutrition

This additional course is needed as a prerequisite course for NUTR445 and NUTR446 in that it lays the basic foundation for the study of nutrient food sources and physiological functions of these nutrients that are used throughout the human lifecycle. It also addresses current nutritional health concerns such as obesity and heart disease. Nutritional meal planning and implementation is one of the two main focuses in my goal of running a “Healthy Living” business. This course provides a much-needed base of nutrition instruction.

FDSC 105 (3 Credits)

As a part of my Entrepreneurship and Healthy Living coursework, this course explores nutrition, and agriculture issues and policies. Topics in FDSC 105 deal with the production and consumption of nutritious food, and how sound nutrition behaviors and exercise can help a person lead a well-rounded healthy lifestyle. Since part of my “Healthy Living” business goal is to help teach clients how to grow and utilize their own produce as part of a healthier lifestyle, as well as connect clients to local produce growers, a course that explores nutrition, and agricultural topics, will fit right in with my Multidisciplinary Studies plan. My “Healthy Living“ business goal also includes helping clients to use sound nutrition and exercise behaviors to aid in living the most healthful life they can. FDSC 105 will be a wealth of nutrition, agriculture, and exercise information that ties so directly in with my other coursework.

ENTR 300 (3 Credits) Principles of Entrepreneurship

This course gives an overview of the foundations of entrepreneurship (starting with the correct spelling) including generating a business idea and assessing its viability. This course is a prerequisite for ENTR 400 Financing Entrepreneurial Ventures, a course vital to my eventual business of “Healthy Living.”

Senior Capstone ENGL 496 (3 of the 6 Credits)

See description of course above

Career and/or Academic Goals

Again, thankfully, the Multidisciplinary Studies Degree program exists to help students such as myself to attain specific educational goals that are not wholly fulfilled by traditional degree plans. Upon Multidisciplinary Studies degree completion at Penn State Altoona, with the theme of “Entrepreneurship and Healthy Living”, I will plan, implement, manage, and grow a successful and profitable entrepreneurial venture that will focus on nutritious eating fostered by the continual use of fresh produce and daily, simple home-based exercise. This venture is especially important to me as I want to make sure my family and I live a healthy lifestyle, and further, I want to pass on the paramount, important drive for people to take part in being healthy and fit. Our world is so busy and getting busier and we are all guilty in some way of not putting personal health and well-being at the top of our “TO-DO” lists.

Academic Plan—Multidisciplinary Studies

  • Theme: Healthcare and the Humanities
  • Subjects of Focus: Biology, English, History

Description

Professionals in the field of healthcare are currently surrounded by many situations that make them less involved as a professional, and as a person. The medical field obviously needs employees with a strong scientific background that lays a foundation for the doctor or nurse’s daily situations, but what many workers lack today is the ability to deal with different obstacles for patients, and how to communicate with their correspondents. By having English and Humanities in a Science based major, I will be more well rounded as a healthcare professional, and be able to address different tasks with a more abstract mindset. This sort of curriculum puts me ahead as a professional and will help me be able to assess different situations with the knowledge of a person who has multiple studies of Science, English, and History. This will help me be able to distinguish which subjects will help me the most at the time based on the issue presented. By choosing the Multidisciplinary Studies path, I will not be as restricted as in a Biology degree and this degree will help me excel in communication, and understand the multiple topics that go into working in the medical field and working with the public.

Because of the Multidisciplinary Studies degree, I am able to choose which subjects will help me fulfill my lifelong endeavor in the healthcare field. The 3 subjects that I have chosen to create the theme in my Multidisciplinary Studies major are Biology, English, and History. The reason I chose Biology is to have a solid grounding of science and the study of how life works together to create the world that we live in. English is my second choice of a field to study because it allows you the practices and skills to think outside of the box in order to get to an answer. The English major in my theme gives you the structure you need to write and communicate effectively, while giving you the freedom to try and understand the patient’s background and use literature to alleviate their traumas with therapeutic methods that English teaches you. This is important because in medicine, you are given a situation and have many ways to go about the problem to get to a resolution. History is the final subject I chose because of it helping me learn the cultures of different places and to be well educated on what has happened in the past to be aware of the possibility of it happening again. This theme will help me be more aware of situations in medicine, culture, and literature to have a solid background of what has happened in the world.

Primary Areas of Coursework

400 level courses

  • ENGL 469 Slavery and the Literary Imagination (3) Is a class on the analysis of the impact of slavery on the petitions, poetry, slave narratives, autobiographies, and novels of African Americans. This class takes you inside the lives of slaves and their literature and allows you a chance to understand what they thought about and dealt with on a regular basis. It gives those who once had their lives taken from them a voice to tell their story from an autobiographical standpoint. This class contributes to my theme by introducing me to a different type of literature that existed many years ago that is important because it gives an insight to the trauma that these authors went through. This helps with my theme by giving me a whole new perspective of what people went through and learning how they dealt with it, which can be reflected in helping understand the value of a narrative to trauma victims.
  • ENGL 497 African American Read In (3) The class that I took in this section was the African American Read In: Diaspora, which uses literature to display the people of Africa and their historical transition into a new culture while trying to maintain their own. This course contributes to my theme by giving me an inside look of what people of different cultures go through while trying to fit in to a whole new place while still trying to remain true to themselves. The class may have been an English class, but it also gave a lot of history on Africa and its people. Not only did this class help me with learning and understanding the literature from the socio-historical place directly communicated through its people. This class also helped with my organizational skills by preparing for the event portion of the class. We all had to take on a different task by helping organize the Read-In to make the dinner and event happen.
  • BIOL 469 Neurobiology (3) Comprehensive examination of neuroanatomy and physiology designed to integrate the principles of neurochemistry, neuroendocrinology, and molecular biology. This class gives an in depth look into how the processesses in the brain work to allow us to function. This relates to my Healthcare and the Humanities theme by helping me get a deeper understanding of what Neurobiology is comprised of, and what happens in every living thing.
  • BIOL 417 Invertebrate Zoology (4) Function and form of major invertebrate phyla. This class gives an overall look into the process of growth in the invertebrates that surround us and help us survive. This goes towards my themes by providing an advanced study of how organisms evolve, and how they are classified.
  • HIST 447 Recent American History (3) Contemporary economic, social, and political aspects of the United States and its role as a world power since 1945. This class gives a deeper look into what America has gone through in order to overcome the societal and worldwide political issues in the 20th century such as: The Great Depression, World War I&II, and The drug epidemic which has evolved America into the country that it is at present. This course goes towards my history theme by helping me gain a greater understanding of my country, and what it has been through in recent times.

Additional Selections:

  • HIST 143 History of Fascism and Nazism (3) The study of right-wing totalitarianism in the twentieth century, with special emphasis on Fascist Italy and Nazi Germany. Learning about this topic was a way to learn a different way of thinking on the traumas that happened in the world that I didn’t originally understand, but got to learn and be intrigued by. This relates to my theme by giving me the ability to get an inside look at what type of thinking caused a great historical massacre.
  • ENGL 297 Poe (3) An in depth class that gives a focus on what happened in Edgar Allan Poe’s life and writings to inspire his bizarre thinking that writing in different genres that lasted the test of time. A class on Edgar Allan Poe helps me with my theme because it helps me get a deeper understanding of Poe and his literature by discussing the different medical situations that were happening and growing in his time period. Having Poe’s Gothic writing and psychological stories give a greater opportunity to use stories as a therapeutic aid and gain information from all standpoints in the story and those affected.
  • ANTH 45 Cultural Anthropology (3) Beginnings of human culture; economic life, society, government, religion, and art among traditional peoples. This class gives an overall understanding, and study, on the people who make up this world. This class was especially important in this field of study in order to understand what different societies go through, and to get a deeper understanding of people that I will deal with on a regular basis in the public, and medical field.

Communication Skills:

ENGL 209 Journal or Magazine Practicum (1-6 per semester/maximum of 8) A practicum in the editing and publishing of a magazine or journal. Being in this class taught me how to review papers on a professional scale and helped me reflect what I put into revising other people’s papers into editing my own mistakes. Being editor of this class has given me a new appreciation of what goes into organizing, reviewing, and creating a literary collection. It helps me focus on my writing techniques and helps me be a leader who organizes and helps others.

Theory/Application:

WMNST 423 Sexual and Domestic Violence (3) Legal, sociological, and psychological perspectives of sexual and domestic violence. This class is important in order to understand what happens in society and will help me with my theme in order to help people on a regular basis.

Critical Analysis:

HIST 121 History of the Holocaust 1933-1945 (3) Historical analysis of Holocaust themes. Taking this class gave me a new outlook on life. This class allowed me to begin to learn about and try to understand the horrible event that took place over a course of years. Learning about the Holocaust made me completely rethink how history happens and educated me in ways to prevent them from happening again. This class goes towards by theme by satisfying my History focus and allows me to have a deeper understanding of such a tragedy that we should all learn from so that it never happens again.

Research Methods:

CHEM 110 (GN) Chemical Principles I (3) Basic concepts and quantitative relations. This class taught the basics of what matter is chemically composed of and how to analyze the particles that go into all matter. This class is a prerequisite for Med School.

Career and Academic Goals

Since I was 10 years old, I have always wanted to be an Orthopedic Surgeon. The Multidisciplinary Studies major allows me to work towards that goal by including the Biology major while combining my other passions of Humanities and the Liberal Arts all into one major. These sort of educational opportunities allows me to have a greater understanding of what people go through to try to fix their situations with the best bedside manner I have to offer. The next step in my career is to get a graduate degree that will fulfill my requirements and get me into Medical School. Until then I am going to try to get a job in the Medical field using the skills I have learned in the Multidisciplinary Studies degree.

Academic Plan—Multidisciplinary Studies

  • Theme: Artistic Marketing/Business
  • Subjects of focus: Entrepreneurship, Marketing, and Communications

Throughout my college experience, I have learned that I am more successful in the classroom and life without strict limitations. In this way, I am the archetypal student for a baccalaureate degree in Multidisciplinary Studies, a degree program that allows its students the opportunity to mold their majors around their interests and goals.

The Theme I have chosen is “Artistic Marketing/Business,” by which I mean using Marketing and Advertising to artistically portray subject matter. I am an artistic person with years of artistic experience, and I believe with the combination of my art skills and business mind I can be successful in the business world. One of my subjects of focus is Entrepreneurship. I may not want to open my own business, but I want to preserve the option to utilize my innovative mind in that way by developing the appropriate skills. I have also focused on Marketing, the fast- track to successful advertising, to prepare me to connect businesses with others. Finally, I have focused on Communications to develop expertise in expanding social media fields. My goal is to combine these three subjects of focus and make myself a successful businessman.

I plan to utilize the following courses to follow my dream of being a successful businessman in the fields of marketing and advertisement. In general, the Entrepreneurship classes I have taken have taught me the importance of understanding how a business starts and what is necessary to continue to build a successful venture. The Marketing classes I have taken have taught me the fundamental principles of successful marketing in the business world. The Communication classes I have taken taught me how mass media and advertising work together to become successful.
The following course descriptions provide the details to my Academic Plan:

Supporting Courses: Core

Theory and Application (3 credits)

MKTG 301—Marketing 301 opened my eyes to the creativity of business. In Marketing 301, I learned about customer behavior, product channels of distribution, promotion, and pricing. This class was my introduction to Marketing and I was interested immediately. Marketing 301 set the ground work for me to realize that I enjoyed business and selling products. I will utilize these skills that I learned in this class for years to come.

Communication Skills (3 credits)

ART AP—This challenging art class gave me the opportunity to expand my artistic knowledge into different medias. Prior to taking this class, I only had experience with oil paints and drawings, however after the class I was able to successfully use watercolors, sculpture and graphic designs. This is crucial to me being successful in advertising because I am able to utilize my creative knowledge and create a marketing campaign that is artistic and successful.

Research Methods and Projects (3 credits)

SCM 301—Supply Chain Management is a crucial course detailing important information that is necessary to run a business. It provides an overview of key logistics and supply chain management processes, concepts, and methodologies. This managerial mindset and strategic problem solving information will help me become a better businessman and entrepreneur.

Critical Analysis (3 credits)

ACCTG 211—I believe an extremely important part of business is understanding the financials. Accounting 211 provided an introduction into the role of accounting numbers in the process of managing a business. The knowledge I have gained in this class will allow me to make financial intelligent and correct decisions in the future. Even if I do not own a business one day, I am still able to manage my own personal finances intelligently.

Additional Courses

400- Level: Three Subject Areas (12 credits)

  • ENTR 430—If I choose to open a business, I also have the option to purchase a franchise. Entrepreneurship 440 is an overview of franchising and focuses on licensing and distributorship, trademarks, strategy, and growing the enterprise. This class gives me important knowledge and skill to write a franchising agreement. In the future I will be able to utilize this information and possibly pursue a franchise.
  • ENTR 497C—Entrepreneurship 497C is the Sheetz Fellows Program. Throughout the program I have been given the opportunity to be involved in projects, such as President of Paddle for a Cure, creative research, guest speakers, case studies, a Kansas City CEO Conference, and a study abroad trip. This class has prepared me for the professional business world and has taught me many important lessons that will stay with me as I continue on into the business world.
  • COMM 431—Communications 431 is topics in television culture and communication. This course studies television technologies, techniques, audiences, genres and trends in relation to a specific decade or cultural period. By utilizing television and studying trends I am able to strengthen my communications and advertising background. What better way to learn how to influence and advertise to people than to study television culture. I am looking forward to studying television to utilize this knowledge for my future.
  • MKTG 480—Marketing 480 is intermediate Social Media Marketing. A large part of marketing and advertising is currently utilizing the growing field of social media. In Marketing 480, social media sites like Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, and YouTube are used to teach how these tools can be effective to build relationships and strengthen brands and loyalty. Due to my interests in marketing and advertisement this class is perfect to give me the knowledge I need to succeed.

400- Level: Senior Capstone (3 credits)

COMM 421W—Communication 421W is the perfect course to use as my capstone. My goal for the future is to be involved in marketing and advertising. In Comm 421W, I learned to plan, design, and write advertisements. I was introduced to graphics and production techniques and how layout and copywriting practices work. I was able to use my artistically creative mind and create effective advertisements. This class is exactly what I want to do in the future, and benefitted me greatly.

Additional Selections (9 credits)

  • ENTR 300—Entrepreneurship 300 is Principles of Entrepreneurship. In Entr 300, I was taught the overall fundamental principles and processes of entrepreneurship. I was taught how to create a SWOT Analysis and why this is an important tool for any business. I was shown real life examples of successful and non- successful companies and was able to learn what ways are better than others to succeed. This class was my first glimpse into Entrepreneurship and I thoroughly enjoyed the knowledge I learned. Entr 300 has made me confident that if I were to open my own business I possess the skills to be successful.
  • ENTR 320—Entrepreneurship 320 is Entrepreneurship and New Venture Creation. In this class I was taught the process for starting and growing a new venture and also learned how to develop a business plan. Due to my interest in owning my own business, these are very important skills I now possess. These business skills will not only give me the opportunity to start my own business, but also be a strong asset for a company by utilizing my knowledge.
  • MGMT 301—An important part of any business is management. A goal of mine is to be the head of a marketing or advertising department of a business, and I would not be able to do so successfully without the lessons I learned in Management 301. The fundamental principles and concepts of management truly connected to me, and I plan to utilize this knowledge in the future. Even if I am unable to reach my goal of being a manager, these skills are still important for any businessman.

Career and Academic Goals

I plan to further my education and attain a Master’s Degree in Marketing/ Advertisement. I hope to utilize my communication skills and my artistic expertise along with the knowledge I have gained through marketing and entrepreneurship to work for a business in public relations or a similar field. By also having a strong knowledge of entrepreneurship there are many possibilities to own a business or be a crucial key part to a business’s success.

Academic Plan—Multidisciplinary Studies

  • Theme and Statement of Focus: Social Services & Education
  • Subjects of Focus: Psychology, Sociology, HDFS

I choose to pursue a bachelor’s degree in the Multidisciplinary Studies program, with a Social and Behavioral Sciences option because I believe this program will give me the broad education I need for the job choices I wish to pursue in the Social Services field.

Psychology courses will prepare me to have a better understanding of what is going on in the minds of the families and children I am working with and give me a better knowledge of how to deal with any psychological issues they may be living with. The HDFS courses will prepare me for the many issues, other than psychological, that the families and children I will be working with are dealing with, as well as providing me with the skills I need to help them to the best of my ability. Sociology courses will complement these fields of study by also giving me a better understanding of the world today and the reasons that people are who they are and do what they do.

Self-designing this major will allow me to achieve my academic goals by allowing me the freedom to get the education necessary for the type of social work I wish to pursue. A traditional major will only give me the skills to pursue a particular career path; therefore a more broad education is necessary in order to be qualified for more than one type of job. A broad education appeals to me because I want to be able to apply my qualifications to different types of work in the Social Services field.

Primary Areas of Coursework

The following courses will support my academic plan as well as fulfill the Multidisciplinary Studies degree requirements.

Theory/Application: Psych 212- Introduction to Developmental Psychology

The purpose of this course is to introduce theories and principles used in psychological research and practice and learn to apply them in real-world situations. This course will prepare me to apply my knowledge to enhance the well-being of the children and families I work with by applying age-relevant solutions to and strategies for the prevention of individual and social problems.

Communication Skills: Spanish 110- Intermediate Conversation

The purpose of this course is to improve my fluency of the Spanish language through oral expression and other means of usage. This course will prepare me to use my knowledge of the Spanish language to assist Spanish speaking families I work with.

Research Methods/Projects: HDFS 229- Infant and Child Development

This purpose of this course is to research theories behind social, behavioral, and biological processes related to development during infancy and childhood. This course will prepare me to apply methods and knowledge learned to properly assist the families I work with to improve the quality of their lives.

Critical Analysis: SOC 119- Race and Ethnic Relations

The purpose of this course is to discover how racial identity shapes one’s life experiences, while learning about historical patterns of racial and ethnic groups. This course will prepare me to apply my knowledge of the nature of racism and discrimination to educate families on how to better adapt to and respect our multicultural environment.

400-Level Courses:

Psych 412: Adolescence

The purpose of this course is to understand how many biological and environmental factors influence an adolescent’s physical, cognitive, and personality development. This course will prepare me to identify risk and protective factors during adolescence and better prepare me to work with this unstable age group.

Psych 464: Behavioral Genetics

The purpose of this course is to learn how gene mechanisms and gene- environment interactions determine behavior, paying particular regards to deviant human behavior. This course will prepare me to identify possible genetic basis and/or environmental interactions that contribute to a person’s phenotypic traits, thereby leading me to a course of action that will improve that their general well-being and quality of life.

Psych 476: Child Psychopathology

The purpose of this course is to learn concepts of normal and abnormal behavior in children and adolescents. I will learn the etiology and diagnoses of many DSM disorders, including the mentally retarded, gifted, physically handicapped, and emotionally disturbed child, as well as interventions and accommodations used in school settings for these children. This course will prepare me to apply strategies for working with children and adolescents of all impairments.

SOC 406: Sociology of Deviance

The purpose of this course is to look at theories and research of social construction and its effects on society’s reactions to the violation of social norms. This course will prepare me for a career in the social services field by giving me the skills to apply my knowledge of structural, cultural, and psychosocial processes involved in deviant behavior to help families’ better the state of their lives.

HDFS 414: Resolving Human Development and Family Problems

The purpose of this course is to learn strategies for applying solutions to problems in human development and family functioning. This course will prepare me in my role as a professional specialist to work with families to better the quality of their lives by improving their family functioning and helping them apply solutions to a variety of problems they may be dealing with.

Additional Selections:

Psych 100: Introductory Psychology

The purpose of this course is to introduce the basic guidelines of psychology, emphasizing theories and principles of behavior as well as mental and physiological processes. This course will prepare me to apply my knowledge, skills, and techniques to solve or prevent individual and social problems, while enhancing the quality of life of my clients.

SOC 012: Criminology

The purpose of this course is to promote a better understanding of crime by learning theories of criminal behavior, and discussing topics that impact crime, including criminal law, characteristics of criminals and victims, and environmental factors that may contribute to criminal behavior. This course will prepare me to identify warning signs in a client’s life that may impact their susceptibility to criminal behavior and therefore apply intervention techniques to improve their quality of life.

HDFS 129: Introduction to Human Development and Family Studies

The purpose of this course is to introduce psychosocial and family development of individual and family life cycles from conception to death. This course will prepare me to apply my knowledge of psychosocial development to improve the quality of my clients’ and their families’ lives.

Senior Capstone: Psych 476: Child Psychopathology

The purpose of this course is to learn concepts of normal and abnormal behavior in children and adolescents. I will learn the etiology and diagnoses of many DSM disorders, including the mentally retarded, gifted, physically handicapped, and emotionally disturbed child, as well as interventions and accommodations used in school settings for these children. This course will prepare me to apply strategies for working with children and adolescents of all impairments.

Internship: Psych 495

The Steppingstones Autism Internship is an applied six credit work experience internship to be conducted over two semesters. The purpose of this internship is to improve my overall knowledge of the Autism Spectrum Disorders and interventions, focusing specifically on Applied Behavioral Analysis and the Eclipse Model. I will read "Students with Autism," "Applied Behavior Analysis," and The Eclipse Model." I will participate as a staff member in the NHS Steppingstones Program and write a personal journal, as well as write and present a case study with selected intervention on a selected student. This internship will specifically prepare me for working with children with Autism, however, I can apply my intervention training and knowledge to virtually any child or adolescent I work with.

Career and Academic Goals:

My individualized LASAL degree will prepare me for the future by giving me the knowledge and skills to enter the Social Services field in a highly qualified manner. I hope to be an integral part of a non-profit company one day, yet still be adaptable in my position. My goal is to be able to be flexible in regards to different employment opportunities, so I will always be a valuable asset to my employer. I believe this self designed major will fully prepare me for the life I wish to lead helping children and their families.

Academic Plan—Multidisciplinary Studies

Theme: Women’s Health Advocacy

Statement of Focus:

Health care and health issues are in the forefront of current events. With emphasis on creating a new, comprehensive health care system, a need exists for health advocates for the people who might not have access or the opportunity to be aware of all the options available. It is my belief that the best choice of an audience in medical issues is a woman to educate and inform on healthcare aspects. As women tend to be the caregivers for their spouses, their children, and their parents, educating women about health issues is in a sense, educating a community. I have chosen three areas of study that I feel will help me focus on creating a firm basis for Women’s Health Advocacy.

Pursuing the lessons of Women’s Studies, I plan to study the thoughts and philosophies of women through history. I have selected the Political Science field to understand the policy and structure of government legislation in the healthcare sector as well as investigating government research in healthcare. Finally, I believe that courses in Health Policy Administration will assist my pursuit by explaining historical and cultural philosophies in the American medical community.

Primary Areas of Coursework

I have chosen the following courses to help me achieve my academic objectives.

Theory/Application Core Requirement - WMNST 301 - Introduction to Feminist Thought

Understanding and exploring society’s thought on feminism, both internationally and here in the US will allow me to focus on the fundamental issues women have in today’s society and expand my awareness of the third wave of feminism.

Critical Analysis Core Requirement - WMNST 205 - Women, Minorities, and the Media

The exploration of the treatment of women and other minorities by the media will develop abilities to assist in focus of the how important information is disseminated to the public. In studying the media’s methods, it will be possible to evaluate its role in how it helps or hinders society’s understanding of healthcare.

Communication Methods - CAS 352 - Organizational Communication

Part of working as a Women’s Advocate would include contact with clients as well as healthcare professionals. I will need the necessary skills to work in small or large groups and communicate with the other members of my group. Because these groups might be as simple as a handful of people or a large symposium, learning the function of organizations communication will be helpful.

Research Methods - STAT 250 - Introduction to Biostatistics

Currently, the University is offering STAT 250 to the nursing students at the Altoona Campus. The information learned from working with statistics from the biological sciences and how to interpret the data will allow me to more fully understand data provided to the healthcare community from government and commercial sources. It will be advantageous to me to be in an environment with future healthcare workers to learn how statistics are calculated and used in the health sector.

400 Level Courses

HPA 455 - Strategic Planning and Marketing for Health Services.

This course introduces the different ways health care and medical services are marketed to consumers and the planning health organizations make for themselves.

WMNST 452 - Women’s Health Issues.

The information from this course will be invaluable to my course of study as it addresses the area I am interested in pursuing. The opportunity to learn about how society and cultures address health matters will help lay the foundations for my degree.

WMNST 428 - (PL SC 428) Gender and Politics

Understanding how gender plays about in politics and policy is an important skill necessary to know how one should approach problems. This course will allow me to understand the different methods women and men utilize to obtain a goal in certain areas.

Additional Selections

I will need several other courses to meet prerequisites and other requirements of the degree.

H P A 101 Introduction to Health Services Organization H P A 332 Health Systems Management

WMNST 001 Introduction to Women's Studies ENGL 050 (GA) Introduction to Creative Writing ART H 100 (GA;IL) Introduction to Art

PL SC 132 (Other Culture) The Politics of International Intolerance. PHIL 103W Introduction to Ethics

Career Goals

In today’s society, it important for women to know steps toward healthy living, the basic examinations and tests necessary, and how to talk to their healthcare givers for the benefit of themselves or members of their families. By choosing these courses, I believe I will be able to obtain a position to help educate women in the health care concerns.

The lessons and experience I will gain by interacting with the faculty of each of my three areas of study will be important to me create a working knowledge of health policies as applicable to women and to their families. When taking classes with students in the three different disciplines that I have chosen, I will be able to learn from their educational experiences within their chosen fields. In my current position with the university, I believe I may be able to develop and offer programs in the for individuals in learning about health topics.

Academic Plan—Multidisciplinary Studies

  • Statement of Focus and Theme: Technology in an Energy Efficient Business Economy
  • Subjects of Focus: IST, Business, and Energy/geo environmental Engineering

I am pursuing a Bachelor of Arts degree in Multidisciplinary Studies. Within these three areas, I hope to obtain the skill set required in information technology to accurately forecast technology needs in a global business economy. My courses in information sciences and technology will give me the computer technology skills necessary in so many businesses today. In the area of business, I will learn about the issues that face businesses in today’s economy and enhance my problem solving skills. I will gain a better understanding of ethical decision-making in both my professional and personal life. This will enable me to have a better understanding of different cultures and ethics. Additionally, I’d like to gain proficient knowledge of the economic systems, business ownership, accounting and finance, business management, and marketing principles, business ethics and international business to help me better serve global businesses worldwide. As the emphasis in today’s society is all about going green and protecting our environment both in business and our personal lives, energy/geo environmental engineering will provide me with the information and knowledge required to understand the impact of an energy efficient society.

Primary Areas of Coursework:

The following courses will help me achieve my academic goal.

Theory/ Application: Marketing 301

This course will help me to understand the various needs both domestic and global in the current economy. The marketing aspect of the course will teach me how to target and market to specific environments that will utilize my services. It will also assist me in developing my products and services to meet customer needs.

Research Methods/ Projects: Information Sciences and Technology 110

This course will teach me the basic operation of information technology devices. This course will enable me to analyze the impact and understand the applications of new technologies in a new and emerging global economy.

Communication Skills: Communication Arts and Sciences 352

This course will be valuable in that it will teach me how to communicate in both form and informal settings. In the future, should I own and operate my own business for technology, I will need to be well versed in proper communication and be able to make sound and ethical judgments. It will provide the skills necessary to communicate with business leaders in an educated business community.

Critical Analysis: Accounting 211

This course will provide me with the skills necessary to analyze and predict certain financial outcomes. In addition, it will give me a better understanding of the financial management of business enterprises.

400 Level Courses:

EGEE 401 – Energy in a Changing World

This course will teach me about the increase in demand for international energy and the environmental pressures in a global economy. This course will provide me with the background needed to make intelligent decisions with regard to my environment and in the technology field as well.

IST 451 – Network Security

This course will give me a better understanding of the importance of network security to secure confidential information and data. This course will also provide the most current and emerging network security measures.

IST 454 - Computer and Cyber Forensics

This class will teach me techniques to protect the computer from cyber crime and the tools and techniques required to uncover the crimes. Computer and cyber forensics is utilized to secure and recover data within the computer mainframe in today’s society is a very marketable skills and will be very beneficial to me in this major.

MGMT 431

This class will be very beneficial to me as it will prepare me for business management and possibly owning my own business. This class will prepare me to write a business plan, market my business and the tools needed to be successful in business, industry and government. It will also prepare me should I decide to go into a management role within an established business and the skills necessary to be an efficient manager.

Additional Selections:

Philosophy 103 – Introduction to Ethics

This course will enable me to better understand the major aspects of ethics. In the business world as well as my personal life, there will be many times that I will have to utilize ethical reasoning for major decisions. The ethical traditions and similarities in different cultures will teach me that all cultures do not have the same values and ethics that we do. This class will be valuable to me not only in my professional career but in my personal life.

Psych 100

This class will provide the pertinent knowledge and skills required to better understand the behaviors of individuals in society. I will better understand the principles and gain the knowledge needed to better lead and manage people should I decide to open my own business. I will be able to utilize and apply techniques to enhance and build a team atmosphere.

Economics 2

This class will enable me to better understand the economy and give me the skills needed to solve problems related to the distribution of goods and services.

Senior Capstone Course INTSP 495A

For my senior capstone, I pursued a business internship at Sheetz, Incorporated, Corporate Office in the Telecommunications Department. Sheetz, Incorporated is a family owned convenience store chain headquartered in Altoona, Pennsylvania. Sheetz was founded in 1952 by Bob Sheetz. Since 1952, Sheetz has grown from a small dairy/deli to one of the fastest growing family-owned convenience stores in the world. Currently, there are 421 locations across six states including Pennsylvania, Maryland, Virginia, West Virginia, Ohio and North Carolina. Sheetz employs more than 14,500 people.

My desire was to secure an internship at a business whose vision into the future includes equipping their employees with the most recent and best technology to serve their corporate needs and that of their consumer and the business world. As technology is ever changing, this internship would provide the avenues available to assist me in determining whether I want to further pursue a career in the technology field. My goal is to be a proprietor in a computer technology business or work in another company such as Sheetz where my education in business, information technology and environmental sciences, will be best utilized.

My position as a Telecommunications Intern at Sheetz, Incorporated is to support store level communications and networking equipment. As an intern, I will travel with a Sheetz team member to new store installations and provide support. My duties include the roll out of changes to store level devices, to complete new store installations and assist engineers with setup, testing and configuration of devices. I will also assist with service desk tickets for store issues and will be responsible for ordering the new systems and circuits for the new stores.

The skill set gained through my college business management, marketing and computer classes as well as the opportunity to work closely with Dr. David Barnes, my professor, will be the key to my success during my internship. Throughout the internship, I will be in daily contact with Dr. Barnes who will assist me with solving complex computer issues and guide me in troubleshooting. The marketing and business management classes will have prepared me to work in a professional business environment and continue to hone the skills I need to be successful and professional. My customer service skills will be refined. And I will become more sympathetic to solving issues with employees who tend to get extremely upset when their computers malfunction. My psychology class will have equipped me to better understand their behaviors.

Career or Academic Goals:

My program of study will provide me with a broad education in information technology, business and energy/geo environmental engineering so that I may pursue several different avenues of employment upon graduation. I would like to work for a large computer firm to gain consulting experience and then own and operate my own computer business. The business option will give me the education needed to operate a small business, while the education in energy/geo environmental engineering will provide the knowledge required to follow trends in the energy field and the knowledge needed to be environmentally friendly and efficient. My education in

information technology will provide the skill set needed for entry level consulting. Upon graduation, I’d like to expand on my computer knowledge while gaining hands-on experience.

I believe PSU has equipped me with the skills and knowledge required to be an energetic, positive and contributing member of society. In fact, Sheetz has offered me the resources to study to learn the CISCO system as there may be a position open upon my graduation.

I am proud to say, “I am a graduate of Penn State University.”

Academic Plan - Multidisciplinary Studies

  • Theme: The Elderly in the Social Sciences
  • Subjects of Focus: HDFS, Sociology, Communication Arts and Sciences

My self-created major focuses on the fields of Human Development and Family Studies, Sociology and Communication Arts and Sciences. In my future career, I would like to work in social services for the elderly. The subjects that I plan to focus on will give me the skills I need in order to be an individual that is fully prepared to work in the field of Social Services, particularly in providing life-improvement services for the elderly within care facilities and the community. In the future, I would like to work with the elderly to improve their lives, and I want to be able to learn as much as I can about how I can accomplish this through the courses offered at Penn State Altoona that focus on human interactions and the subject of aging.

My first subject of focus that I know is essential to fully master in order to follow my intended career path is Human Development and Family Studies. Through the teachings of human development across the lifespan and the application of these teachings in a community setting, I will be better prepared to reach my goal of working in the social services for the elderly. However, while the Human Development and Family Studies major offered at Penn State Altoona is focused on specific career paths in the local community, I am looking to be more fully prepared to offer my skills in several different settings, whether in be in Central Pennsylvania or on the other side of the world. I will accomplish this with my other focuses of Communication Arts and Sciences and Sociology. Learning about these fields of study will make me better-rounded and prepared for whatever job market exists when I graduate. The field of Sociology focuses on the science behind human interactions. Learning about Sociology and applying what I learn outside of a classroom through higher level courses, internships, and day to day life will bring me closer to my goal of being an expert in the field of Social Sciences. The courses I take in Communication Arts and Sciences will give me valuable skills in effective communication, which is a great asset to have when working with the elderly and their families. The field of Social Sciences is very interpersonal, and relies heavily on communication with others. Therefore, it is important that I have the skills necessary to be able to sufficiently communicate with the people I am working with. The combination of these three fields of study will allow me to explore all of the subjects that interest me, while diversifying my skills and giving me valuable assets in an unstable economy.

Primary Areas of Coursework:

The following combination of courses will create the path towards achieving my academic goals in each of my three chosen areas.

Theory/Application Core Requirement: SOC 005- Social Problems

By taking this course, I will learn a great deal about a portion of the main issues that affect our society in the present day through an international perspective. This class content is very relevant to my interests in human development and interactions, and it will serve as an informational source for social issues that could potentially be affecting the people that I work with in the future.

Communication Skills Core Requirement: CAS 352- Organizational Communications

This course will allow me to work on my interpersonal communication skills in both formal and informal settings. This class will also refine the way in which I manage personal and professional relationships. By taking this class, I will be strengthening my abilities of communicating effectively in both my day to day life and my career, which is extremely relevant no matter what work setting I find myself in.

Research Methods/Projects Core Requirement: SOC 207

Research Methods in Sociology This class will enable me to apply the skills I have learned in my Sociology classes by utilizing “the four main social research methods: available data, survey research, experiments, and field research.” In my career, I would like to eventually do social science research focusing on life improvement for the elderly in America, and this course will give me a foundation of skills necessary to do this.

Critical Analysis Core Requirement: SOC 119- Race and Ethnic Relations

This class will refine my skills of understanding diversity and how to apply that understanding to my interactions with people by teaching me about the “historical patterns and current status of racial and ethnic groups; inequality, competition, and conflict; social movements; government policy.” This class will elaborate on my knowledge of diversity and will help me learn how to use that knowledge in a social services setting.

400-Level Courses

CAS 404- Conflict Resolution and Negotiation

One of the core skills in the area of communication is conflict resolution. This course will help me refine my conflict resolution skills and teach me “theories and strategies important for conceptualizing, developing, and managing conflict negotiation, mediation, and third-party intervention.” These skills will be an important asset to have in my projected line of work. I will utilize them when working to solve conflicts in the workplace, and also when working to help the elderly solve conflicts they are having and are not capable of solving them on their own.

HDFS 477- Analysis of Family Problems

In order to fully understand the elderly in America, it is important for me to have a detailed understanding of the entire family structure and the family problems that are affecting the elderly I work with. This class will educate me on the subject of families’ “behavioral, managerial, interpersonal, and financial problems and their interrelationships,” through research on different therapy methods utilized in family therapy. This knowledge will prepare me to be more efficient when helping the elderly have a more positive relationship with themselves and their families.

HDFS 411- The Helping Relationship

By learning about “theory and research related to interpersonal conditions which facilitate personal growth,” I will have a better understand of helping skills and how to effectively use them in a professional setting, particularly working to help foster positive growth for the elderly.

SOC 435- Perspectives on Aging

Through taking this course, I will get a more distinct understanding of the focus of my major through “An analysis of the demographic, social, and cultural factors affecting the aged population in American society.” I will be doing empirical research on the subject of the health care system in America while learning about aging in a social and biological perspective.

Additional Selections

CNED 302- The Role of the Resident Assistant- Theory and Practice

“An analysis of the various roles of the resident assistant, including interpersonal facilitator, disciplinarian, program developer, and activities facilitator,” this class will serve as a hands-on experience of working with students my age in multiple roles. It will allow me to polish my skills as a communicator and leader, which are relevant to any workplace.

HDFS 249- Adult Development and Aging

This course will expand my knowledge of “physiological, psychological and social development and intervention from young adulthood through old age.” It also will teach me a good deal on how to understand working with older people better by seeing things through their perspective, and give me a more broad knowledge of the elderly population in America.

CAS 283- Communication and Information Technology

I am taking this class in order to better understand “Communication technology and information management.” I have taken several classes in Communications and Communication Arts and Sciences, and I would like to better understand the subject in terms of the technology that comes along with it. This course will give me the skills to incorporate information technology into the skills I have acquired, which I feel is something that the elderly could really benefit from, and will be much more utilized in the future when working with the new generation of elderly people.

Senior Capstone - HDFS 445- Development through Adulthood

This class focuses on the “fundamentals of program development and administration of human service programs in community settings.” It essentially will act as a summation of my 400-Level courses through hands-on work within the field of services for the elderly and empirical research on the subject of adult development. The combination of research on subjects such as the biology of aging, adult relationships and ageism will give me a detailed knowledge on the subject of adult development. I will be writing ten different response papers that cover all of these subjects, summarizing my knowledge on them and giving my own opinion. Over the course of the semester, I will also be writing a paper describing and planning the entirety of my life, from early adulthood to old age. This paper will prove my cohesive and extensive knowledge of adult development and aging through applying it to my own life. I will also be completing over 50 hours of service for CONTACT Altoona, an organization that provides helpline services such as reassurance calls, listening services, crisis intervention, and information and referral services in the Blair County community.

Career and Academic Goals

The Multidisciplinary Studies degree gives me the opportunity to refine my skills and knowledge in the social services field, while taking the courses that I feel will strengthen my areas of focus the most. My main goal is to have a wide range of abilities upon graduating so that I can adapt to several different employment opportunities. My self-made major will give me the tools needed in order to be a well-rounded, educated, and skilled potential employee in the social services field, specifically working with the elderly. When I obtain my degree, I hope to find a job in the social services field as a human resources manager for the elderly in an assisted living facility.

Academic Plan—Multidisciplinary Studies

  • Statement of Focus and Themes: Geographic Information Systems
  • Subjects of Focus: Geography, Remote Sensed Imagery and Media Arts

I have elected to work in field involving innovative GIS use and application. My goal is to become fluent in the field and continue my education with a master’s degree from Pennsylvania State University. After completion of my education I plan to work as a topographical analyst for the Department of Defense. This job will require skills in satellite imagery, cartography and geography. In addition I must be able to accurately communicate information to peers and customers via mediums such as web pages, PowerPoint and GIS systems.

Through my liberal studies option I will obtain the training and skills required to work in the cutting edge field of GIS. The LAS program will also provide me the ability to communicate my GIS work effectively in a creative and professional manner. A large part of being professional is having the knowledge to safely and securely work with classified and sensitive material. The Multidisciplinary Studies program allows me to tailor my education so that I will be prepared for the specific mission objectives that the government demands of its employees.

Primary Areas of Course work

The selected course will provide the education I need reach my goals: Major Requirements:

Theory/Application - Introduction to Multimedia Production: COMM 270

This class will provide me with the updated skills required to use digital media in web design and authoring. As digital communication continues to grow I must adapt and conform to the new standard.

Graphic Design for Communications: COMM 241

My career path requires the ability to use multimedia to communicate to peers and clients; this course will enable me to focus on clean and accurate design. This will give me a chance to build a impressive portfolio, usable in my resume.

Research Methods/Projects - Mapping our Changing World: GEOG 160

This class will provide me with a diverse ArcGIS background. Geospatial jobs require that you stay current with all methods of project construction. This class will also reinforce the fundamentals of cartography and help keep my work precise.

Critical Analysis - Geographic Information Systems: GEOG 363

This course demonstrates the advanced functionality of GIS in civil use. Projects in this class will include census data, least cost path and line of sight. These three skills are in high demand for marketing, transportation and communications.

Level Credit Courses

Elements of cultural Geography: GEOG 444

This course will further my understanding of geography and help me identify new ways to incorporate GIS as a method to solving and display problems

The contemporary Middle East: HIST 479

For more than 10 years we have been working closely with the Middle East culture through operation Iraqi Freedom and other military operations. This course will provide valuable information on an area that has been a top priority for government GIS workers.

Security and Risk Management: IST 456

This class is specifically designed to teach me about using the best techniques and practices in a secure work environment. It is important that government information remain secure at all times, either through the internet, phone lines or any other communications device.

Energy Industry Applications of GIS: GEOG 469

This class will bridge the gap between military use and civilian GIS. It will provide an excellent opportunity to narrow my focus in on the important need for GIS in the energy field. This skill alone will be a desirable asset for companies looking to hire new GIS professionals.

Advanced Multimedia Production: COMM 481

This class will enhance my understanding of scripting for digital devices on the web. The strong emphasis on flash animation and Photoshop presentation will provide desirable skills for communicating visual products and services. The digital world is growing and it is critical to have an understanding of this cutting edge technology.

Senior Capstone: will be Elements of cultural Geography: GEOG 444

(If it is possible to drive to University Park, I will consider taking another GIS specific 400 level class or internship with the National Geospatial Intelligence Agency)

Additional Selections:

Information, People and Technology: IST 110

This class will teach me the fundamentals of IST, a core component of GIS work. I will learn how to manage data more efficiently and be able to better comprehend the correlation it has with people and technology.

Networking and Telecommunications: IST 220

This course will build on IST 110 and additionally provide an understanding about data transmission. Networking and telecommunications are crucial in our growing age of technology and information.

Photo Studio 1: Photo 200

This course will help to better understand the workings of remote sensed imagery. It will also compliment Imagery analysis, an important aspect in GIS.

Possible Internships or Independent Studies:

I currently work for the Army as a Geospatial Engineer; I plan on continued work with government agencies upon completion of my contract. The National Geospatial Intelligence Agency supplies products to all branches of the military and other government organizations. The NGA will be providing the perfect environment to pursue my GIS career.

Career and Academic Goals:

Upon completing my formal training I plan to be a leader and innovator in the GIS community. The course work planned in my degree will ensure that I am capable of achieving these goals. A great amount of thought has been dedicated to designing an academic program that is well rounded and comprehensive.

Academic Plan—Multidisciplinary Studies

  • Theme: Arts Management
  • Subjects: Visual Arts, Performing Arts (Theater, Dance) and Business

Introduction

My passion for the arts has been a lifelong journey, shaped by experiences in visual and performing arts, movement, and creative expression. As an adult learner balancing full-time studies and motherhood, I have carefully considered how to integrate my diverse interests into a cohesive academic pursuit. The Multidisciplinary Studies (MDS) program at Penn State Altoona offers the flexibility needed to combine Visual Arts, Performing Arts (including Dance), and Entrepreneurship, providing a comprehensive foundation for a career in arts management. By blending these disciplines, I will develop the technical, creative, and business acumen necessary to succeed in various roles within the arts sector, whether in arts administration, event coordination, performance production, or independent artistic ventures.

The MDS program allows me to tailor my education to align with my aspirations in arts management, with each area of study contributing uniquely to my professional development:

  • Visual Arts: Engaging with visual arts courses enhances my ability to curate exhibitions, organize arts-related events, and understand artistic expression on a deeper level.
  • Performing Arts (Dance, Theatre): Studying theater, music, and dance equips me with insights into performance production, choreography, artist relations, and creative direction, all crucial for working in theaters, performance venues, or community-based arts programs. This area of emphasis also builds on advanced studies in theater, both theory and practice, undertaken at my prior institution.
  • Entrepreneurship: Coursework in entrepreneurship provides me with essential business knowledge, including financial management, marketing strategies, and leadership skills, which will support my ability to establish and manage arts organizations or independent creative enterprises.

This interdisciplinary approach ensures that I graduate with a well-rounded, versatile skill set that extends beyond what a single major could offer.

Primary Areas of Coursework/400-Level Courses (15 credits)

DANCE 472 – Introduction to Laban Movement Analysis (3 credits)

This course develops a strong foundation in Laban Movement Analysis (LMA), an essential tool for observing, describing, and interpreting human movement. By gaining a deep understanding of LMA, I will enhance my ability to analyze movement patterns, which is valuable for choreography, dance production, and movement direction in both performing and visual arts. In the context of arts management, these skills are particularly useful for coordinating dance performances, directing performers, and designing movement-based immersive art experiences.

DANCE 410 – Dance History (3 credits)

Through this course, I gained a comprehensive understanding of dance as an art form across different cultures and time periods, analyzing how historical events, key figures, and political influences have shaped movement styles. This knowledge is invaluable for curating dance related events and creating historically informed performances. As an arts manager, understanding the evolution of dance allows me to promote the significance of movement arts and advocate for their continued presence in the modern artistic landscape.

ENTR 496 – Independent Studies in Entrepreneurship (3 credits)

This independent study course allowed me to engage in self-directed entrepreneurial projects, applying theoretical knowledge to real-world arts business scenarios. I explored the complexities of capital ventures, networked with professionals, and developed essential business planning skills. These experiences are directly applicable to my goal of managing or launching arts organizations, as they bridge creativity with commerce. Learning how to structure an arts-based business, secure funding, and develop strategic marketing plans ensures that I can support sustainable artistic enterprises.

ART 468 – Intermediate Digital Media (3 credits)

This course equips me with technical skills in industry-standard digital media software, which is crucial in today’s arts industry. Mastery of digital tools enhances my ability to create immersive visual experiences, design promotional materials, and develop multimedia projects for arts organizations. Whether curating exhibitions, marketing performances, or producing independent work, digital media literacy ensures I can effectively engage audiences and elevate artistic presentations in contemporary spaces.

ART 465 – Individual Approaches (3 credits) (Capstone)

In this capstone course, I will develop a cohesive body of work by conceptualizing and executing a series of artistic projects. This hands-on studio experience fosters self-directed creativity, critical analysis, and documentation of the creative process. These skills are fundamental for professional artists, curators, and arts administrators, as they are necessary for grant writing, portfolio development, and marketing in the arts industry. By honing my ability to present and critique artwork, this course strengthens my ability to engage in professional arts discourse and leadership.

Additional Coursework (9 credits)

MKTG 220 – Introduction to Selling Techniques (3 credits)

Understanding fundamental sales techniques and customer relationship management is essential for any arts professional seeking to promote their work or secure sponsorships. This course provided insights into persuasive communication, negotiation, and marketing strategies, all of which are critical for selling artwork, managing ticket sales, and fostering partnerships with patrons and donors in the arts sector.

THEA 400 – Advanced Acting: Shakespeare (3 credits)

Studying advanced acting through Shakespearean performance enhanced my ability to manage and produce theatrical productions, particularly those incorporating historical or classical repertoire. This course strengthened my understanding of language, storytelling, and dramatic structure, which are essential for directing performances, coaching actors, and ensuring high-quality productions in theater management.

ART 265 – Concept of Color (3 credits)

This course deepened my understanding of color theory and its psychological and aesthetic impact in artistic compositions. Whether working in visual, performing, or digital arts, mastery of color theory is essential for designing effective stage lighting, scenic elements, branding materials, and immersive installations. This knowledge supports my ability to curate visually compelling artistic experiences. Theory, Communication, and Research

Supporting Courses/Core Requirements (12 credits)

Theory/Application (3 credits)
GD 100 – Introduction to Graphic Design

This course introduced me to the fundamentals of typography, composition, and brand identity design, all of which are crucial for the arts industry. Proficiency in graphic design allows me to create promotional materials, manage visual branding for arts organizations, and develop marketing campaigns that effectively communicate artistic visions to audiences.

Communication Skills (3 credits)
AA 193N – The Craft of Comics

Through visual storytelling and sequential art techniques, this course enhanced my ability to communicate complex artistic narratives in an engaging way. These skills are highly applicable to arts marketing, allowing me to design compelling promotional materials and social media content that attract diverse audiences.

Research Methods/Projects (3 credits)
MUSIC 297 – Musical Theater Practicum

Participating in all aspects of musical theater production—from character development to stage management—gave me firsthand experience in the logistics of live performance. This practical knowledge is essential for producing theater events, managing performers, and overseeing technical elements in arts administration.

Critical Analysis (3 credits)
ART 365 – Themes and Issues in Contemporary Art

This course explored current debates and themes in contemporary art, helping me critically analyze the role of art in society. As an arts manager, understanding these discussions allows me to curate relevant exhibitions, advocate for artists, and contribute to meaningful cultural dialogue.

Career and Academic Goals

As a dedicated student, artist, and full-time mother, I am committed to leveraging my multidisciplinary education to build a foundation for potential career opportunities in arts management fields or pursue independent business ventures involving the arts. I envision working within community arts organizations, theaters, or as a performing artist with entrepreneurial ventures. My goal is to contribute to the vibrancy of the arts industry by creating opportunities for artistic expression and accessibility within my community. The MDS program equips me with a balance of technical skills, creative development, and business expertise, preparing me to navigate the complexities of the arts world.

Possible Internship Opportunities

To gain practical experience, I am exploring the following internship options:

  1. Penn Mont Academy: Teaching performing arts to introduce young students to theater, dance, and creative expression.
  2. Arts Altoona: Assisting as an arts coordinator, supporting community arts programming, event planning, and artist collaborations.
  3. ACT Altoona Community Theater/Mishler Theater: Gaining hands-on experience in theater production, management, and community arts programming.

Conclusion

By integrating coursework in visual and performing arts and entrepreneurship, the MDS program at Penn State Altoona prepares me for a dynamic career in arts management.

Academic Plan—Multidisciplinary Studies

  • Theme: Business Communications and Group Facilitation Studies
  • Subjects of Focus: Business, Sociology, English/Communications

MDS Theme

The cross-disciplinary nature of the MDS major allows me to achieve my unique academic and career goals by providing me with a way to bridge three areas of interest: business, communications, and group facilitation/conflict literacy. As a student curious about organizational structures, relationship-building and social transformation, as well as the impact of media, oral and written communication, specifically in a business setting, I appreciate the opportunity to forge my individual collegiate path. My academic plan interconnects the three subject areas tightly, equipping me with a comprehensive understanding of various organizational and business processes, with a specific focus on writing, communication, negotiation, management, and marketing, as well as the study of group leadership and ethical decision making.

My study of business will allow me to explore various areas of the business enterprise and serve to lay the foundation for a possible career in public relations or social media marketing. I will also develop important professional skills related to negotiation, ethical decision making, management, and marketing, all to make me a more well-rounded employee. I plan to translate some of these insights and methods into my other area of interest in group facilitation, where they can help with understanding the breadth of active listening, working with diverse stakeholders, and ensuring smooth collaboration in professional settings.

My next focus on the sociology will provide me with an acute understanding of the social factors and dynamics that influence organizational behavior, whether internally or externally. Through such explorations, I will be equipped to analyze and actively shape the creation and communication of an organization’s day-to-day operation but also overall culture, for example. Furthermore, through my involvement in AVID, All Voices in Dialogue, Penn State Altoona’s dialogue facilitation program, I will have the opportunity to apply all these insights directly.

Finally, the emphasis on English and communications will allow me to improve writing skills and become fluent in media literacy, as well as aid me in becoming aware of and competent in analyzing, and working with, different communication styles. This prepares me for navigating varying perspectives with greater care. My special interest in writing, including creative writing, has also prompted me to add a concurrent English major to my academic studies. All three of my subject areas will also lay strong foundations in the various aspects of the research enterprise and evidence-based reasoning, preparing me for a possible return to graduate school after a few years of working.

In sum, my MDS major empowers me to pursue my professional goals by equipping me with the necessary skills to function as an effective communicator across various occupational and media environments, capable, specifically, of advancing diversity- and inclusivity-related work through group and dialogue facilitation. This dynamic approach will give me a richer understanding of how communication informs all aspects of organizational operation and ultimate success. The MDS major enables me to synthesize my chosen academic subject areas more effectively than a traditional major could, preparing me for the complex challenges of modern business and institutional environments.

Primary Areas of Coursework (400-level courses)

ENTR 496: Independent Studies

Entrepreneurship 496 affords me the opportunity to hone skills in professional collaboration and project/event management by working with local organizations and fellow students in the class on marketing and awareness-raising campaigns. In addition, this course allows me to meet and interact with area business experts, further enhancing my communication skills as well as expanding my insight into successful business practices. Lastly, the focus on servant leadership in the course involves volunteering with local organizations, enabling me to interact with varying groups of diverse people and thus honing my skills in interpersonal communication and group facilitation, a key area of my academic interests.

SOC 404: Social Influence and Small Groups

This course focuses on the study of social groups, with special emphasis on leadership and commitment aspects. Because of my MDS theme, understanding the importance of social influence within, or on, small groups is very important. Social identity groups are becoming increasingly influential across all media and in all spheres of human activity; given that, it is important to be conversant with recent research on social influence, individual and collective adaptation, changed behavior as well as revision of beliefs and from that devise evidence-based strategies on how to navigate group constellations effectively.

MKTG 480: Intermediate Social Media Marketing

This course focuses on creating and implementing social media marketing tools, techniques, and strategies to help devise a brand as well as build a connected customer base. It allows me to expand on key aspects of my MDS theme in relation to the relatively new business process of social media marketing. Given the hands-on nature of the course, I will develop a range of proficiencies in communication on various social media platforms; learn about ethical standards and comportment; and develop analytical skills in relation to current research on newly emerging marketing strategies. In view of my professional goals in the area of public relations, this course, with its theoretical and practical components, is especially valuable.

ENGL 419: Advanced Business Writing

This course provides instruction focused on preparing and editing reports that are common in business, industry and government contexts. In addition, the creation of summaries, memos, resumes, and cover letters will further strengthen my ability to understand business communications and their various mediums.

Senior Capstone

Given my interest in public relations, collective behavior, group facilitation, and organizational leadership, I plan to fulfill my MDS capstone requirement through either an internship experience or an academic course in which I can conduct research on, and devise an implementation model for, a project related to group facilitation in the business environment with special emphasis on social inclusivity as based on the rigorous study of social forces and structures.

Additional Selections (9 credits)

MGMT 341: Human Resource Management

This course offers an introduction to strategic planning and implementation of human resource management, staffing, including legal and administrative issues, team development, and incentive structuring. The study of human resource management will equip me with a better understanding of how to analyze and support the entire employment cycle; what human resource protocols look like and how to implement them; how to provide clear communications; and, finally, ways to create, and maintain, an organizational culture. For somebody with career aspirations in the organizational leadership area, the opportunity to study the people-focused area of administration across the entire employment cycle is of paramount importance.

SOC 469: Advanced Theory and Practice in Small Group Facilitation

This course is devoted to developing advanced skills in dialogue facilitation built on knowledge of the foundational facilitator mindset and related communication practices. It teaches further study and awareness of the social forces that shape human interaction across interpersonal, societal, and global relations, creating a basis for questioning intuition and navigating nuances in self-expression different from one’s own. This course will provide me with the opportunity to study methods for facilitating dialogues on more complex themes in addition to advanced communication strategies, which I will then apply in conducting conversations in a small group setting.

COMM 370: Public Relations

This course is designed to provide students with a foundation for understanding the many roles and functions of public relations and public opinion in American society, business, and industry. Through this course, I will be able to further evaluate how individuals, interest groups, organizations, and corporations monitor and analyze public attitudes. I will also be able to further understand how public relations influences policy making. This is important in case my work in group facilitation leads to political engagement and activism.

MDS Core Skills and Competencies (12 credits)

Theory/Application (3 credits)
MGMT 301: Basic Management Concepts

This course provides information on the fundamental principles and basic concepts of management, with a focus on organizational design, management processes, leadership studies, and protocols for managing teams/individuals in a business environment. Grasping basic management processes, in particular how they relate to communication methods and leadership principles, explores an important interdisciplinary aspect of my MDS theme and supports my professional aspirations. This course brings my interest in group facilitation into tighter focus, allowing me to learn about skills in managing teams in the traditional business setting.

Communication Skills (3 credits)
BA 322: Negotiation Skills for Business Professionals

This course, which integrates the experiential and intellectual components of negotiation, focuses on effective preparation and confident conducting of business negotiations with a range of objectives. Through this course, I will better understand the theory and practice of the business negotiation process in its complexity. This course dovetails with my work on dialogue and group facilitation in sociology, equipping me with additional, hands-on skills for many post-graduation scenarios, including in the business arena.

Research Methods/Projects (3 credits)
MIS 204: Introduction to Management Information Systems

This course provides an overview of the many roles information systems play in the current business environment. It equips students with quantitative problem-solving skills that are then applied to specific business problems and issues. The course provides insight into data collection and storage; maintenance of information security; ethical and legal standards; and strategies for communicating information. Facility with the sensitive task of data management is key in nearly all areas of employment in the 21st century; hence, this is an important area for me to study. This course will help me gain important skills towards becoming a well-versed, ethical actor in data management.

Critical Analysis (3 credits)
BA 241 and BA 242: The Legal Environment of Business & The Social and Ethical Environment of Business (4 credits total)

These twin courses lay the foundation for ethical decision-making in the business enterprise, with special consideration of commercial legality and socio-cultural relations. These courses will allow me to understand the various social, legal, and ethical contexts in which businesses operate. I will learn to analyze external factors impacting business processes and how to apply different ethical frameworks to real-life ethical issues and dilemmas. Studying methodical, research-based approaches to ethical and legal decision making will allow me to better understand the various webs of societal and stakeholder issues that modern-day organizations, and their cultures, face.

Possible Internships or Independent Studies

My desired internships lie in the areas of public relations, social media marketing, conflict resolution and group facilitation. For the summer of 2025, I have been able to secure an internship through the T. Howard Foundation, which offers a 10-week guided work experience for students interested in media and entertainment. While I might not pursue a career in these fields, strictly speaking, being selected for this internship carries many benefits, allowing me to gain first-hand experiences in the workplace while strengthening the key skills and competencies comprised by my iteration of the MDS major.

Career and Academic Goals

After graduating from Penn State Altoona with concurrent majors in English and Multidisciplinary Studies (“Business Communications and Group Facilitation”), supplemented by minors in sociology and entrepreneurship, I intend to seek employment in the public relations or business sector initially. After gaining more experience in the field, I plan to pursue a master’s degree in sociology, with the ultimate aim of contributing original research to investigations on effective communication methods, group facilitation protocols and marketing strategies in relation to diverse communities.

In sum, the synthetic nature of the MDS major allows me to develop my strong interests in human communication, especially through the vehicle of guided dialogue, in various ways, whether the context is commercial, artistic, or scholarly. I hope to translate my studies in business, communications, leadership and group facilitation into a fulfilling career in the fields of public relations, social media marketing and/or dialogue facilitation/mediation in a variety of settings.

Academic Plan—Multidisciplinary Studies

  • Theme: Social Support Services and Business Studies
  • Subjects of Focus: Human Development and Family Studies, Business, and English

Description of MDS Theme

I have decided to design an MDS major with coursework in Human Development and Family Studies, Business, and English as my areas of focus, stemming from my aspiration to help young people, in particular adolescents, navigate the complexities and challenges of this stage in life. This concentration prepares me for a range of future career opportunities in the fields of public health administration and leadership; social support service provision; and wellness promotion and integrated behavioral healthcare management. My theme also opens pathways to achieving my dream of creating my own social services venture focused on the needs of children and adolescents, whether as a nonprofit organization or in a business setting. The need for professionals with proficiency in my three subject areas is evidenced by new degree programs at the master’s and doctoral level which combine the study of social sciences with advanced training in business and management.

My focus on Human Development and Family Studies affords me the opportunity to study areas of human lifespan development in the context of family dynamics as well as social and cultural contexts in addition to honing applied skills through guided field experiences and internships. I will study how to support individuals and families but also how to plan and implement effective social services programs. Together these competencies and skills will equip me with the theoretical and practical knowledge required to work for a, or even build my own, nonprofit organization or behavioral healthcare business.

My second area of study relates to business, with a concentration on entrepreneurship studies. This allows me to learn about core principles of entrepreneurship, new venture creation, financing ventures, entrepreneurial marketing, and broader business skills. Knowing the core principles of the entrepreneurial process will allow me to identify opportunities and assess their value based on strategic thinking based on evidence. These skills are crucial to my professional goal of working independently, creating my own social services support venture eventually. It complements my study of health and human development by allowing me to explore the business aspects that are increasingly relevant in any healthcare environment.

My final area of concentration is located in the field of English, providing me with a complement of courses designed to help me advance in writing, communication, and critical thinking. The competencies and skills gained through English are relevant to many professional fields, but they are of paramount importance in areas of employment serving human beings. English allows me to enhance skills of oral and written communication that I will use every day with patients, clients or customers. It will also allow me, across time and space, to explore perspectives not my own, which is important to a professional expected to work with diverse groups of people.

In sum, my chosen theme of “Social Support Services and Business Studies” allows me to combine academic areas otherwise only available as single-themed majors, putting me at the forefront of newly emerging professions at the intersection of public healthcare and business administration.

Primary Areas of Coursework/400-Level courses (15 credits)

HDFS 411: The Helping Relationship

In this course, students study the theory and practice of assessing and shaping interpersonal relationships in social services settings with the aim of facilitating personal growth for clients. This course will aid me in becoming a well-versed professional in the behavioral health arena, covering all aspects of how to help people foster positive relationships, environments and social interactions, including how they are related to personal growth. As somebody interested in working with children and adolescents, this course offers valuable perspectives on how to succeed at the task. I will also study theories related to feedback and assessment, including how design surveys, conduct interviews, etc. By the end of the course, I will know how to foster social contexts and relationships that help contribute to a person’s positive, long-term development, which lies at the heart of my professional aspirations.

MGMT 401: Contemporary Issues in Management

In this course, students learn about all aspects of running a business. While the specific topics vary from instructor to instructor, all courses touch on important aspects of leadership, creating and developing organizational culture, and, most importantly, evidence-based and ethical decision-making. I will be able to analyze real-world business scenarios, use my critical thinking skills, and conduct research on currently prevalent management trends. This course will allow me to sharpen my skills in the area of management, enabling me to broaden my understanding of the contemporary public healthcare or human services setting from another disciplinary perspective.

ENTR 440: Entrepreneurship and Franchising

In this course, we will examine how franchising works. We will learn things such as the franchising process, licensing and distributorship, trademarks, strategies, and growing the enterprise. I will learn the legal and strategic considerations that are involved, and how I can establish and grow my own franchise business. This class supports me in achieving my professional goals, because it equips me with the skills and knowledge to open, and grow, my own business or social services venture eventually.

ENGL 474: Issues in Rhetoric and Composition

This course offers the opportunity to focus on writing processes from a rhetorician’s point of view, with strong consideration of audience, purpose, genre, and the historical contexts of writing. I will be able to learn advanced methods to help shape written texts, including detailed, research-driven protocols in relation to planning, drafting, revising, and editing. I will also learn how to analyze how communication and persuasion can be influenced by different approaches and techniques, genres, and audiences. As I am moving into a field principally based on communication, this course is essential.

HDFS 465: Development and Administration of Human Services Programs [Capstone]

This course focuses on various facets of child abuse and neglect, including the following: its causes in social context; how to assess manifestations of maltreatment and understand their long-term impact; how to successfully intervene through evidence-based methods; and how to prevent further adverse situations, ensuring long-term wellness and health. As somebody interested in working primarily with children and adolescents in the public healthcare context, this course is central to my studies. I will learn ways of conducting advanced examinations; strategies for treating consequences and facilitating positive development and growth after experiencing maltreatment; methods aimed at preventing child maltreatment; and also, importantly for my overall MDS theme, how to become an effective administrator in this area. This course covers all aspects of developing and administering programs geared towards providing social support services, allowing me to lay a strong foundation for achieving my professional goal of helping children and adolescents while creating environments conducive to well-being and growth.

Additional Selections (9 credits)

HDFS 258N: Introduction to Child Maltreatment and Advocacy Studies

This course focuses on the multidisciplinary field of child maltreatment. I will learn about identification and investigation, service and advocacy, legal issues, prevention and intervention, and child welfare system. After taking the course, I will understand key issues related to child abuse and neglect; I will also know how to make a positive and lasting impact in the field of child maltreatment and advocacy, supporting young people in ways based on the latest research in the field. This course also prepares me for my capstone experience in HDFS 465 (see above), equipping me with the foundational knowledge and skills in areas related to child neglect and abuse before deeper exploration of the issues in my senior year.

ENTR 300: Principles of Entrepreneurship

In this course, students will study the fundamental principles and processes of entrepreneurship. After becoming familiar with the foundations of entrepreneurial leadership, including how to start, monitor and grow a business, students will be challenged to discover their own entrepreneurial potential by applying their skills and knowledge to real-world scenarios. I will learn about idea generation and opportunity analysis, the entrepreneurial mindset, business planning, leadership, and collaboration. Since my academic and professional interests lie at the intersection of healthcare and business, including starting a nonprofit or my own business, this course is of signature importance, equipping me with skills directly applicable to my plans.

ENGL 234: Sports, Ethics, and Literature

This course focuses on athleticism as an important phenomenon of U.S. culture. Students learn about the ethical issues that are arising in a culture of competition; develop a nuanced understanding of how dependent sports are on narratives; and, relatedly, how to critically assess, and respond to, existing narratives about sports. While my MDS topic does not explicitly deal with sports, studying U.S. culture from under this lens is valuable in a number of ways, including sharpening of foundational critical and communication skills and allowing me to develop a heightened awareness of sports issues. As somebody entering a human services field, moreover, hoping to work with children and adolescents, the ability to engage actively with an important source of and context for fashioning one’s identity, especially for young people, will help me shape this aspect of their sense of self more caringly and competently.

Supporting Courses/Core Requirements (12 credits)

Theory/Application
HDFS 229: Infant and Child Development (3 credits)

This course focuses on the study of children from the prenatal period to adolescence, allowing students to become familiar with prominent theoretical ideas about child development. I will become conversant with theoretical and empirical literature that locates children’s growth. I will also study the child development in the context of families and family transformation, the influence of peer groups, and the important context of neighborhood. This course supports my MDS theme by allowing me to build foundational knowledge about a period in human development at the center of my professional aspirations.

Communication Skills
ENGL 50: Introduction to Creative Writing (3 credits)

In this course, students will learn how to explore nonfiction, fiction, and poetry by writing personal essays and poems. I will be able to study relationships between different genres and what makes each a distinct art form. Due to its emphasis on writing as a process, on genre, rhetorical situation, and audience, this course will allow me to hone crucial skills of analysis, self-expression and written communication. In all areas of my professional life, being an excellent communicator will be essential. The course also places strong emphasis on the process of critique, listening to feedback and response to critique, together shaping a skill set of importance for careers in the public healthcare field. I expect this course to make me a better writer and listener.

Research Methods/Projects
HDFS 301: Values and Ethics in Health and Human Development Professions (3 credits)

This course teaches students how to examine the bases for choices among values in personal and professional relations that are relevant to the human development process. I will learn about the ethical principles and standards in human services; how to navigate ethical dilemmas; the impact of personal values and biases on professional practice; and strategies for ethical decision-making. This course is foundational to my academic and professional aspirations in the field of public health services, teaching me how to conduct myself ethically and in compliance with the law and institutional rules but also how to recognize, and intervene in, possible scenarios of violation.

Critical Analysis
PSYCH 100: Introductory Psychology (3 credits)

This course focuses on the scientific study of behavior and experience with mental and physiological processes. The course also focuses on how questions within these areas are addressed through empirical research. I will learn about various subfields in psychology from the historical and research perspective, developing facility with prevalent theories of human behavior and the procedures used in psychological research. Knowledge of cutting-edge theories in psychology supports all three subjects of focus for my MDS theme, and I expect to draw on insights from this class whether I seek employment in the public healthcare or the business setting.

Possible Internships or Independent Studies

A perfect internship would place me in an environment where I can work with high school students. I could see myself working in a school or with a social services provider or a religious institution.

Ideally, I would find myself in a counseling situation, sitting down with adolescents and conducting conversations about what they want to do with their future, and how they plan on achieving their goals, whether that be going to college, joining a family business, starting their own business, or whatever other trajectory they wish to pursue. Being able to help someone be able to take a few concerted steps toward what they wish for in their future would be an ideal internship experience for me.

I have a specific interest in adolescents, recognizing the difficulty of their struggles, which involves separation from childhood and creating one’s identity, including determining a possible professional identity. I believe teenagers need a safe space to process this challenging period, and I see my role in facilitating just that. More broadly, an internship as described would allow me to engage in all manner of practical application of my studies but, most importantly, to improve my facility with creating inviting spaces and substantive conversations with young people. I also hope to become involved in the managerial, administrative side of social services provision, readying me to become a seasoned employee or an entrepreneurial leader in the human services sphere.

Career and Academic Goals

After graduating with a B.A. in MDS from Penn State Altoona, I would love to work with groups of teenagers who are uncertain about what they wish to do with their future and help guide them down the right path or, at least, outline the best next steps. Adolescents often enter the social services picture when they suffer a crisis; I would like to expand forms of engagement and care for that age group by supporting them for the longer duration, including before adverse changes strike.

My intention is to join a business or a nonprofit organization, such as a church or government agency, providing services to adolescents in the manner discussed above. Ultimately, I intend to assume a leadership role, founding my own nonprofit or building a business around social services provision. I envision a comprehensive venture covering the following: creating a welcoming space for teenagers; having tutors available if they need help with homework; providing social and mental health support, and, also, guidance if they need help deciding if they should go to college or pursue other educational or professional options. I also envision inspirational talks with adults willing to share their story and lead by example, hopefully making it a little easier for adolescents to make good decisions and create the next steps on their life journey.

I might also pursue further education in fields like public health, counseling or social work to obtain proper licensure. Along these lines, I am especially interested in innovative degree options aligning behavioral health and management such as the doctorate in behavioral health with a management concentration (Arizona State University). My plan is to follow developments in this interdisciplinary field closely.

The MDS major will allow me to prepare for all the options just mentioned, keeping my core aspiration, to help adolescents through the complexities of this life stage, centered no matter what professional path I take. My MDS theme allows me to prepare for a professional life rooted in my passion for helping young people in ways I know are possible but not currently the norm.

Academic Plan—Multidisciplinary Studies

  • Theme: Art Entrepreneurship
  • Academic Areas: Business, Dance, and English

I have decided to design an MDS Major with coursework in Business, Dance, and English as my areas of focus. This concentration prepares me for a range of future career opportunities in art entrepreneurship and supports my aspiration to open my own dance studio eventually.

Business, specifically entrepreneurship studies, affords me the opportunity to learn about the managerial and financial aspects of owning a business. Studying the basics of accounting, for example, will help me monitor my business activities and ensure responsible growth. Taking business courses will also allow me to develop written and oral communication skills for the business environment in addition to studying leadership skills, such as problem solving and relationship building. My second area of study is dance, affording me the opportunity to gain advanced knowledge and skills in relation to physical fitness, discipline, confidence, experience, and art creation and appreciation. From these foundations, I will eventually expand my business beyond choreography and competition, incorporating, after additional training, dance therapy into my professional portfolio, serving people with emotional, behavioral, and physical disabilities. My final area of concentration is English, allowing me to acquire advanced writing, communication, and critical thinking skills. These are broadly applicable competencies, but I expect to use them to advertise my business to the public and different corporations as well as harness the power of storytelling for artistic expression.

The MDS major offers me the opportunity to develop my specific passions in the area of art entrepreneurship, driven by my desire to engage especially young people in the exploration of dance for artistic expression but also to enhance mental and physical health and well-being. With the MDS major, I feel more confident on my professional path, since the degree allows me to tailor my education to my unique academic interests and career aspirations.

Areas of Coursework
Theme: 400-Level Courses, Drawing on Each Academic Area

ENTR 496

In this course, students create their own entrepreneurial projects, honing skills of research, business design, projected implementation and monitoring, which are supervised on an individual basis. Work in this class prepares me for the responsibility of envisioning and leading my own company, including how to hold myself accountable for creating viable plans, reaching benchmarks, and securing long-term success by way of careful strategy.

DANCE 466

This class will allow me to focus on dance technique and the creative process while working towards public performances. It will challenge my abilities as a dancer through emphasis on building strength, increasing flexibility, and working on bodily connections. Focusing on these aspects will improve my understanding of each.

Dance 472

This course focuses on the observation and analysis of movement by exploring concepts of the body, effort, shape and space to increase personal communication and expression. Learning to attend to all these aspects, I can explore not only the athletics of dance but its artistry as well. Knowledge of the body is important for dance, and being aware of how your body moves, being able to analyze it competently, makes teaching dance safer, which is an important aspect of successful and responsible studio ownership or other art entrepreneurial work.

ENGL 442

In this course, we will study medieval English literature, focusing on drama and performance within the larger framework that the individual instructor creates. This class will allow me to study performance from a literary perspective and aid me in establishing interrelations between verbal texts and the movement arts. I will be able to investigate performance across disciplines more deeply and from their precise historical settings, aiding me in placing my own art of dance in a wider perspective. I will also learn to conduct historically sound research, analyze texts carefully, and continue to improve my writing skills, all important to art entrepreneurial activity.

Capstone
BA 420

This course focuses on students' career preparation and develops management skills through close examination of self and the world of work as well as communication styles and strategies. In this course, I will develop skills and competencies necessary for running my own business from the employment perspective. I will also have the opportunity to assess my career goals in relation to the larger business environment, identify my leadership strengths, outline goals and steps towards them, and learn advanced communication skills helping me with running my own dance studio or engage in other ventures of art entrepreneurship.

Supporting Courses/Core

Research Methods/Projects:
DANCE 365 - Contemporary Movement Lab I

Contemporary Movement Lab I engages in the study of contemporary dance technique, prominently including improvisation experiences, to increase the artistic and athletic abilities of students as well as their understanding of movement connections and of the creative process, generally. This class allows me to explore not only how my own body moves but also gain more awareness of and analytical capability towards other dancers’ movements. This is important for me as a future studio owner and/or teacher, because dance requires that you understand how different dancers move and how to accommodate them.

Communication Skills:
BA 321

This course develops basic skills for success in the contemporary business world, including presentation skills; strategies for effective collaboration; inquiry-based approaches; and critical thinking, all aided by current business technology and methods. This course will provide me with the fundamental skills I need for success in the business environment. Especially valuable are opportunities for active and collaborative learning in this course, since these foreshadow what my day-to-day professional life in a dance studio or in an art therapeutical setting will most likely look like. The course also features activities for understanding and addressing issues and opportunities in current and emerging business environments, likewise important aspects in the context of my chosen field of art entrepreneurship.

Critical Analysis:
ACCT 211

This course is designed to introduce students to the discipline of accounting, focusing on the two sub-fields of managerial and financial accounting. It will help me with managing the finances of my own business by providing me with an understanding of the accounting process and equipping me with criteria for sound decision-making based on precise analysis and interpretation of financial needs.

Theory/Application:
CMLIT 143

“Human Rights and World Literature” focuses on the rights and freedoms that all humans are entitled to. Skills that I will develop and strengthen through this course are critical thinking and empathetic reasoning, both essential to ethical business practices. The course will also improve my problem-solving abilities due to the class’s emphasis on creative expression; facility with different vocabularies, including that of fundamental rights and the law; and attention to understanding someone else’s story of personal development.

Additional Selections (9 credits)

ENTR 300

In this course, I will learn the fundamental principles of entrepreneurship, most importantly, idea generation and opportunity analysis. I will learn from real-life examples and situations how to avoid decisions and situations that could place my business in jeopardy in addition to learning strategies for growth and development, ensuring that it will thrive.

Dance 270

This class focuses on physical and theoretical approaches to human movement, with special emphasis on alignment, mobility, and kinesthetic awareness. This knowledge will teach me strategies to reduce physical injuries not only in myself but also in the dancers under my supervision. Knowing how to safely teach and perform makes for a more comfortable and healthier environment for everyone. I also intend to expand my work in dance to offer dance therapy classes eventually. Dance 270 will lay the foundation for helping me consider movement in therapeutic contexts and in support of those who struggle with mental or physical health.

ENGL 225N

In this course, I will explore the history of modern visual culture from the perspective of gender and sexuality, expanding my knowledge of modern art and literature while gaining insight into the social dynamics of how identities are fashioned. This will be a good course for my major, because in the business and dance world, being able to work with diverse groups of people and creating non-discriminatory spaces is foundational for building a successful enterprise. Furthermore, being more educated about the impact of visual culture on how bodies are seen and judged, will help me be a circumspect dance teacher, able to handle any related issues with greater care and competence.

Career and Academic Goals

An ideal internship would allow me to work at a dance studio, assuming various roles, such as teacher, choreographer, and specialist for marketing and business development. Such an opportunity would help me improve competencies as a dancer and entrepreneur through hands-on experiences with art entrepreneurial activity.

The MDS major allows me to expand my education and gather in-depth information about more than one subject, integrating the academic fields of business, dance, and entrepreneurship. My career field of art entrepreneurship offers many interesting professional paths, including harnessing artistic practice for therapeutic endeavors, but my ultimate goal is to own my own dance studio. I also consider pursuing further education to become licensed for art therapy work in dance. The MDS major will set me on the right course for pursuing a range of professional opportunities in the area of art entrepreneurship while educating me on how to start and grow my own company based on my passion for dance, working with people, and creating art through the joyful possibilities of human movement.

Academic Plan—Multidisciplinary Studies

  • Theme: Social Dynamics and Dialogue Facilitation
  • Subjects of Focus: Sociology, Psychology, and Communications

Description

The theme I have devised for my MDS degree is “Social Dynamics and Dialogue Facilitation.” I have chosen this topic because it best represents my passion for helping people, specifically, through the powerful tool of dialogue.

The contemporary world is filled with social strife, the reason often being that people are not engaged in the difficult conversations necessary to explore the tensions leading to conflict. In view of this, the most important aspect of facilitating group dialogues is the endeavor to move toward conflict instead of away from it. By moving toward conflict, we can face problems head-on, opting for compassion and support instead of fear and hate. By pulling away from it, we allow social tensions to calcify and become more adversarial. My passion for this academic and professional area is rooted in this fundamental insight and its ramifications.

The MDS fields I have assembled will allow me to develop skills of dialogue facilitation from within a broad-based, multidisciplinary study of social dynamics, psychology, and communications. My academic plan is, moreover, based on both theoretical and practical work to help me develop facility with how to observe, critically assess, and productively shape social relations. The study of sociology has already opened my mind to different dynamics emerging in society and thus sharpened my understanding as to how the individual self is connected to collective, social processes. Psychology will hone my abilities to analyze human behavior further, allowing for a more finite level of understanding. Communications, lastly, will afford me the opportunity to study the contemporary media environment and its impact on social dynamics and perceptions of the self. This field will also guide me in strengthening skills related to effective oral and written communication, including of my passion for helping others.

At Penn State, my strong interest in sociology and the practice of group and dialogue facilitation as part of the larger fields of conflict literacy, mediation, and counseling cannot be accommodated by a single major. The Multidisciplinary Studies degree, hence, presents an important opportunity for me to pursue my interests by interweaving my academic passions, allowing me to develop as a scholar and practitioner, and supporting me in reaching both short-term and long-term career goals in the sphere of therapy, counseling, social work, and group and dialogue facilitation.

Primary Area of Coursework
400-Level Courses (15 credits):

SOC 469: Advanced Theory and Practice in Small Group Facilitation

This course, which can be taken multiple times, offers an introduction to facilitating dialogues in an unbiased manner, allowing students to gather many of the relevant tools. Through studying the dialogue format, I can understand how to create space for an open exchange of ideas, and how to ask questions in a way that people want to answer them. SOC 469 will teach me effective, research-based ways to make a quiet person or group contribute to a more meaningful conversation. Acquiring both the skills of facilitation and the related theoretical knowledge will greatly aid me in pursuing my future career goals in the field of counseling, therapy, or social work.

SOC 406: Sociology of Deviance

This course allows students to examine various forms of deviance in modern society through interviews, data, and class discussions. It places emphasis on the fact that deviance exceeds its narrow framing as a criminal activity and is rather a concept that covers anything or anyone not subscribing to society’s norms. In relation to my theme, this course will help me understand the impact of social norms on behavior, and how they are created, interpreted, circulated and contested. It will teach me to carefully analyze the thought patterns behind why something is labeled a certain way by society. This skill is essential to dialogue facilitation, because I am always examining how a participant conceptualizes social norms and (perceived) deviant behaviors.

PSYCH 412: Adolescence

I worked with children in the past as a camp counselor, teaching them how to play a variety of sports and counseling them in various situations. The enjoyment I derived from these responsibilities has led me to consider a career involving children, particularly adolescents. This course will allow me to explore how children think and behave. Working with children requires a lot of patience. I believe that if you know what motivates their behavior, you can show more patience and hence have greater ability to solve a given conflict. Paired with my study of group and dialogue facilitation, I will have improved capacity to navigate dialogues with children, whether in a therapeutic or pedagogical setting.

COMM 401: Mass Media in History

In our society, the media has a foothold in almost everyone’s life. This course investigates the relationship between news media and society across historical and geographical settings. It will give me the skills to critically investigate and draw scholarship-based conclusions about mass media today, and how they impact not only myself but others. I expect this course to complement my study of facilitated dialogues in that it will spark discussion of contemporary issues, though from the perspective of communication and representation. This course will allow me to add one more layer to group and dialogue facilitation by giving me the ability to analyze contemporary media and their impact carefully and competently. It will also strengthen my ability to devise and articulate research arguments and explore their application in relation to my professional goals in the areas of counseling, dialogue facilitation, therapy, or social work.

Additional Selections:

SOC 119N: Race, Ethnicity and Culture

This course presents an important introduction to the discipline of sociology through analysis of readings, films, interviews, and more. One iteration of this course on the Penn State Altoona campus also affords students a first glimpse into the practice of facilitated dialogues. This course allows me to study the many injustices that our society faces, especially as related to race, gender, sexual orientation, and economic status. SOC 119N relates to my MDS focus as it thematizes the very issues that I deem crucial in analyzing social dynamics and their impact on group behavior. Through the small and large group discussions that are part of the class, I will see firsthand how participants opt to express themselves, how they interact, and why they think a certain way about an issue, allowing me to practice skills of observation and analysis. The theoretical and practical engagement with such social dynamics will provide important preparation for possible careers in counseling, dialogue facilitation, or social work.

PSYCH 221: Introduction to Social Psychology

Given that two of my subjects of focus are sociology and psychology, I selected a course that pairs the two of them in a way that complements my theme. This course will allow me to explore the social psychology of influence, specifically, how it impacts behavior and changes the relation to self. This course will allow me to deepen my knowledge of non-individual psychology and equip me with concepts and tools for seeing things from various perspectives. Regarding possible future career fields in counseling, dialogue facilitation, or social work, a social psychological approach will enable me to identify problematic or beneficial aspects of a given social situation and to work through or encourage them, whatever the specific situation requires.

COMM 150N: The Art of the Cinema

This course examines the world of communication across place and time through media literacy focused on the medium of film. Given the wide berth of the course, the films presented aim to explore different perspectives at different points in time. This course teaches critical thinking through observation and analysis of films and media, training that everyone should have to become a more engaged, critical spectator in a world of images. Once completed, this course will have taught me how to analyze pieces of media accurately and efficiently. It relates to my theme because it sharpens my ability to devise cogent, detail-oriented analyses of visual texts and to think critically about the purpose of cinema and communication in their place and time. I will become more aware of the impact of visual representations on perceptions of self and other, an important aspect to consider when endeavoring to lead successful dialogues.

Supporting Courses/Core:

Theory/Application:
SOC 369: Foundational Theory and Practice in Group Facilitation

SOC 369 is the gateway course to facilitating dialogues, exploring both theoretical models and practical application. Along with honing facilitation skills studied in class, observation of fellow facilitators in the dialogue situation will allow me to conduct and critically assess guided conversations. I will learn how to ask carefully crafted questions that allow me to understand exactly where a participant's opinion is coming from. This course is foundational to my MDS theme and the main reason I am pursuing the MDS major. It will allow me to grow as a facilitator through continuous practice, affording me the space to learn effective ways of asking questions and how to keep a conversation alive.

Communication Skills:
HDFS 239: Adolescent Development

This course provides me with an introduction to the developmental stage of adolescence. I will learn how adolescents change biologically, cognitively, and socially, and how they adapt to these changes. Through examining the contexts of family, peers, and community, I will learn to discern certain trends through analysis of empirical data and to develop competencies in accurately communicating my findings. This course relates to my theme as it affords me a wider perspective on adolescents, an age group with whom I am interested in working, as based on current scholarly insight. In relation to my career goals in the field of counseling and facilitation, it will allow me to better understand an individual adolescent and their behavior when encountering them in one-on-one and group dialogue settings.

Critical Analysis:
PSYCH 256: Introduction to Cognitive Psychology

A key field of the academic discipline of psychology is cognitive psychology. Cognitive processes are a constant phenomenon controlling our daily lives, even in the simplest choices we make. A significant part of this course is devoted to analyzing and judging data sets from cognitive experiments and other studies. The understanding I will gain is important in relation to becoming aware of cognitive psychological processes in myself as well as in others. The course provides me with the ability to help others in a counseling setting based on insights gained from working with the latest research and its results.

Research Methods/Projects:
STAT 200: Elementary Statistics

This course will equip me with the means to analyze and interpret data with the aid of appropriate statistical methods. It will afford me a basic understanding of key concepts in the field, such as probability and statistical inference, as they relate to various sorts of data. Also, the course offers extensive use of statistical software that I plan to use in future research projects.

Senior Capstone:
SOC 494: Research Project

I intend to pursue a research project based in sociology, the field I have the most passion for, while integrating key insights from psychology and communications. I have found a faculty mentor in Dr. Karyn McKinney, with whom I have worked in AVID (All Voices in Dialogue), Penn State Altoona’s dialogue facilitation program, for 3 semesters at this point. Under Dr. Karyn McKinney’s guidance, I have learned a lot about prominent social dynamics such as race, gender, and sexual orientation. As a result of these studies, I recognize the privilege I have being a white, male person.

For my research project, I intend to identify and explore topics that white males typically do not discuss for the sole reason that they do not have to due to their place as the dominant and “default” group in U.S. society. In this context, “default” means that white men are not typically perceived by their race or gender, which is then invisible to them and hence remains unexamined. I plan to focus my capstone research on how white males are perceived by society, and, conversely, how white males perceive society. My approach will also bring research from the fields of psychology and communications to bear on my question. I have been drawn to this idea ever since witnessing countless quiet dialogues in group settings, where many, if not all, participants are unwilling to speak, with the preponderant number of silent discussants being white persons, white men specifically. I aim to investigate this observation further. Moreover, as I continue to be educated, I have been noticing substantive levels of ignorance about matters of intersectional identities and the disparities and inequities often surrounding them in our society, especially on the part of white men.

Dr. McKinney and I plan to analyze and interpret data from a set of discussion board and forum accounts written by people of color and white people. The data was collected in Dr. McKinney’s Sociology 119N: Race, Ethnicity and Culture course, with a preliminary finding being that ideas of privilege and perspective are indeed manifest. SOC 494, Research Project, will form the culmination of my time at Penn State, showcasing my ability to create a multi-leveled, multidisciplinary analysis of social dynamics. My work for the Senior Capstone will help me take the next step after obtaining my degree, which is to attend graduate school, where such integrated approaches to research questions will define my further studies.

Career and Academic Goals

My long-term career goals lie in the field of professional counseling and group facilitation through dialogue. My immediate plans for after graduation are to attend graduate school and earn an MSW, a master’s degree in social work. The MDS major allows me to combine all my interests into one degree, affording me the opportunity to develop each of them in support of a fulfilling future. The self-designed nature of the major gives me the tools and the confidence to pursue my academic and career goals without sacrificing the range of my passions.