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  1. Home
  2. Academics
  3. Bachelor's Degrees
  4. Multidisciplinary Studies
  5. Resources for Current Students

Core Requirement Descriptions and Suggested Courses

Communication Skills (3 credits)

Students complete three credits in courses that focus on expression, including those in verbal, symbolic, and written skills that are relevant to their plans of study. Such courses include: speaking, writing, acting, production of the fine arts, signing, and symbolic logic.

Specific examples include (but are not limited to)

  • ART: 102, 165, 166, 265, 266, 269, 365, 366, 465, 469
  • BA: 321, 322, 422W
  • CAS: 203, 211, 212, 213, 250, 252, 352, 404, 450W, 452
  • CN ED: 404, 421
  • COMM: 2, 241, 242, 260W, 269, 270, 283, 360, 374, 446, 462
  • CSD: 218, 318
  • DANCE: 270, 472
  • ENGL: 50, 212, 213, 215, 250, 412, 413, 415, 417, 418, 419
  • FR: 201, 202
  • GER: 201
  • HDFS: 249N, 301, 434, 445
  • INART: 258A, 494, 496
  • MATH: 311, 312, 403
  • MUS: 420
  • PHIL: 12, 212
  • PSYCH: 301W
  • RUS: 204
  • SPAN: 100, 200, 412, 420
  • THEA: 102, 322

Theory/Application (3 credits)

Students complete three credits in courses that focus on theory, principles, central concepts, or fundamental issues in a disciplinary group. Such courses include most Math courses, and other courses focusing on theory, major figures, basic problems, and basic principles.

Specific examples include (but are not limited to)

  • ART: 1, 3, 10, 20, 30, 40, 50, 90, 102, 165, 166, 168
  • AYFCE: 211
  • BIOL: 110, 222, 444, 450W
  • CAS: 201, 202, 206, 215, 253, 352, 404, 450W, 470
  • CHEM: 20, 21, 110, 112, 450, 452
  • CJ: 100, 113, 420
  • CN ED: 401, 403, 410
  • COMM: 110, 250, 251, 320, 370
  • DANCE: 270, 370, 472
  • ECE: 451
  • ECON: 104
  • ED THP: 115
  • ENGL: 200, 404, 412, 430, 470, 474, 482, 483
  • GEOG: 30, 123
  • HDFS: 129, 229, 239, 249, 301, 311, 315Y, 411, 414, 434, 440, 445
  • HIST: 302W, 453
  • INART: 1, 10, 115, 210, 494, 496
  • KINES: 303, 321
  • MATH: all courses
  • MGMT: 301, 321
  • MKTG: 221W, 301, 330
  • MUS: 8, 121/131, 122/132
  • PHIL: 2, 103(W), 122, 124, 125, 126, 127, 129, 132, 203, 204, 208, 221, 260, 270, 401, 402, 403, 406, 475
  • PHYS: 237
  • PL SC: 1, 3, 14, 17, 140, 417, 430, 431, 481
  • PSYCH: 100, 212, 221, 231, 238, 243, 256, 260, 261, 269, 270, all 400-level
  • RL ST: 001
  • SOC: 5, 12, 30, 110, 405, 406
  • SRA: 111, 221
  • THEA: 102, 112
  • WFS: 430, 450
  • WMNST: 1, 110, 301, 400, 419, 422

Critical Analysis (3 credits)

Students complete three credits in courses that focus on evaluation, synthesis, and analysis. Such courses include most Math and most 400-level literature, philosophy, and history courses, and courses that emphasize criticism, comparative studies, and policy analysis.

Specific examples include (but are not limited to)

  • ACCTG: 211
  • ANTH: 152
  • ART: 465
  • BA: 243, 250, 422W
  • CAS: 220, 402, 411
  • CJ: 450W, 460
  • CN ED: 416
  • COMM : 205, 408, 411, 412
  • CMLIT: all courses
  • DANCE: 410, 412
  • ECON: 102, 104, 315, 351
  • EDSGN: 100
  • EDPSY 101
  • EDTHP: 412
  • EET: 105
  • EGT: 102
  • ENGL: 100, 200, 201, most 400-level literature
  • ENVST: 100, 400
  • FIN: 301
  • GEOG: 363, 406
  • HDFS: 301, 311, 312W, 315Y, all 400-level
  • HIST: 101, 103, 107, 110, 116, 120, 121, 122, 123, 142, 143, 151, 152, 153, 155, 161, 178, 179, 181, 302W, most 400-level
  • HPA: 301, 332
  • IB: 303
  • IST: 432
  • KINES: 345
  • LER: 100, 136
  • MATH: all courses
  • MET: 105
  • MKTG: 221W
  • MUS: 420
  • PHIL: 10, 12, 103
  • PL SC: 3, 14, 22, 135, 403, 405, 411, 426, 430, 431, 432, 440, 456, 461, 471, 474, 497K
  • PSYCH: 100, 212, 221, 231, 238, 256, 260, 261, 269, 270, all 400-level
  • RL ST: 101, 124
  • SOC: 13, 23, 103, 109, 119, 430, 424, 444
  • SPAN: 415
  • SRA: 231, 311
  • THEA: 282
  • WMNST: 205, 420, 452, 453, 456, 462, 490, 491

Research Methods/Projects (3 credits)

Students complete three credits in courses that focus on research methodology or that focus on a research project relevant to their plans of study. Such courses include: all courses numbered 294/494, all laboratory courses, all statistical analysis courses, all research methodology courses, all Computer Science, Information Systems, and Supply Chain Management courses (i.e., CMP SC, IST, MIS, SCM), and most 400-level literature, history, and philosophy courses.

Specific examples include (but are not limited to)

  • BA: 395W, 420, 495B
  • BIOL: 220W, 230W, 240W
  • CAS: 204, 295, 296
  • CHEM: 221, 413W
  • COMM: 241, 401, 413
  • CMPSC: all courses
  • CSE: 103, 120
  • DANCE: 296/496
  • EDPSY 101
  • ENGL: 221W, 414, 487W, most 400-level
  • ENV ST: 200
  • GEOG: 160
  • HDFS: 301, 312W, 433
  • HIST: 302W, most 400-level
  • INART: 294, 494
  • IST: all courses
  • MIS: all courses
  • MKTG: 190, 342
  • MUSIC: 442
  • PHIL: most 400-level
  • PHYS: 211, 212, 213, 214
  • PL SC: 17, 428, 480
  • PSYCH: 301W, all 400-level
  • SCM: all courses
  • SOC: 7, 207, 406, 424
  • SRA: 111, 211
  • STAT: all courses
  • WMNST: 301, 400, 492

Multidisciplinary Studies

  • Request Information about Multidisciplinary Studies
  • Bachelor's Degree Requirements
  • Suggested Academic Plan
  • Examples of Multidisciplinary Studies Majors
  • Resources for Current Students
    • Student Advising Guide
    • Core Requirement Descriptions and Suggested Courses
    • Writing the Multidisciplinary Studies Academic Plan
    • Approved Natural Science Courses for the Laboratory Science Requirement
    • Sample Plan: Entrepreneurship and Healthy Living
    • Sample Plan: Healthcare and the Humanities
    • Sample Plan: Artistic Marketing/Business
    • Sample Plan: Social Services and Education
    • Sample Plan: Women's Health Advocacy
    • Sample Plan: Technology in an Energy Efficient Business Economy
    • Sample Plan: The Elderly in the Social Sciences
    • Sample Plan: Geographic Information Systems
  • Objectives and Outcomes

Resources for Current Students

Student Advising Guide
Core Requirement Descriptions and Suggested Courses
Writing the Multidisciplinary Studies Academic Plan
Approved Natural Science Courses for the Laboratory Science Requirement
Sample Plan: Entrepreneurship and Healthy Living
Sample Plan: Healthcare and the Humanities
Sample Plan: Artistic Marketing/Business
Sample Plan: Social Services and Education
Sample Plan: Women's Health Advocacy
Sample Plan: Technology in an Energy Efficient Business Economy
Sample Plan: The Elderly in the Social Sciences
Sample Plan: Geographic Information Systems

See Also

  • Associate Degree in Multidisciplinary Studies
  • Division of Arts and Humanities
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Penn State Altoona

A full-service, four-year, residential campus located less than 45 miles from the research campus at University Park. Offering 21 four-year degrees and the first two years of over 275 Penn State majors.
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  • This is Penn State Altoona
    • Welcome from the Chancellor
    • Penn State Altoona At a Glance
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    • Visit Us
    • Information for First-Year Students
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    • Work-study
    • Financial Aid Basics
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    • Police and Safety
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    • Internships
    • Study Abroad/Study Away
    • Internal Grants and Awards
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