Multidisciplinary Studies
Design your own Degree with the UMass Dartmouth Multidisciplinary Studies undergraduate program
The Multidisciplinary Studies (MDS) major may be earned as a B.S. or B.A. degree depending on the design of the program of study.
Students with a GPA of at least 2.5 who wish to pursue in depth a particular topic or area of study not available in an established major may choose the Multidisciplinary Studies (MDS) major. This provides an opportunity for students to design their own major in alignment with future career and personal goals.
The MDS allows students to combine course work in two or three disciplines to create their own major, in consultation with a faculty advisor and the Director of Multidisciplinary Studies. Considerable latitude is allowed in the design of the program of study, and of course work, studios and laboratories from any of the colleges may be included, as long as one of the core disciplines is in Arts and Sciences.
Examples of topics or themes for MDS majors include:
- Athletic and Sports Administration
- Sustainability and Environmental Studies
- Film and Media Studies in Contemporary Society
- Kinesiology and Nutrition
- Ethics in Technology
Multidisciplinary studies is intended as an option for students who have some familiarity with college-level study.
- Current students may elect MDS after completing at least one semester of college work.
- MDS is available to transfer students after completing at least 15 credits at UMass Dartmouth.
The earlier a program of study is designed, the greater the flexibility in scheduling the required courses. As with most other changes of major, requests from seniors can rarely be accommodated. Students may not double-major with MDS.
If you have questions, please contact Dr. Kevin Curow (kcurow@umassd.edu) or Dr. Robert Darst (rdarst@umassd.edu).