Multidisciplinary Studies, A.A. < West Virginia University

Degree Offered

Associate of Arts

Nature of the Program

The associate of arts degree in multidisciplinary studies (MDS) provides the first two years of the four-year bachelor’s program. The goal of the program is to prepare students to transfer into the four-year program on the Morgantown campus or to gain entry-level positions within the workforce. The program provides the opportunity for students to choose three focus areas, in areas such as psychology, sociology, english, business, biology, and many more. Choosing three focus areas allows students to gain knowledge and skills in multiple related fields that will allow them to create a unique and individualized degree. The focus areas provide the foundation courses required to complete three minors on the Morgantown campus upon transfer into the multidisciplinary studies bachelor's degree program. Students can also transfer into a bachelor's program in one of their focus areas or enter the workforce.

Career Opportunities

MDS degree holders are flourishing in business, teaching, entrepreneurial endeavors, health professions, and public health administration. They are earning advanced degrees in health professions, social work, business administration, psychology, and law. The flexibility of the MDS degree ensures that students are prepared for success in today's rapidly changing workforce. Continuing in a bachelor’s program will only serve to increase the student’s marketability for positions in the workforce that require or seek bachelor’s degrees.

General Education Foundations

Please use this link to view a list of courses that meet each GEF requirement.

NOTE: Some major requirements will fulfill specific GEF requirements. Please see the curriculum requirements listed below for details on which GEFs you will need to select.

Course List
Code	Title	Hours
General Education Foundations
F1 - Composition & Rhetoric		3-6
ENGL 101 & ENGL 102	Introduction to Composition and Rhetoric and Composition, Rhetoric, and Research
or ENGL 103	Accelerated Academic Writing
F2A/F2B - Science & Technology		4-6
F3 - Math & Quantitative Reasoning		3-4
F4 - Society & Connections		3
F5 - Human Inquiry & the Past		3
F6 - The Arts & Creativity		3
F7 - Global Studies & Diversity		3
F8 - Focus (may be satisfied by completion of a minor, double major, or dual degree)		9
Total Hours		31-37

Please note that not all of the GEF courses are offered at all campuses. Students should consult with their advisor or academic department regarding the GEF course offerings available at their campus.

Curriculum Requirements

Course List
Code	Title	Hours
Students must achieve a minimum 2.0 GPA for graduation.
Students must earn a C- or higher in all courses required for the major.
General Education Foundation Requirements		36
Select one of the following:		1
MDS 191	First-Year Seminar
WVUE 191	First Year Seminar
Focus Area One		6
Focus Area Two		6
Focus Area Three		6
General Electives (may vary depending on options selected and AP credits)		5
Total Hours		60

Suggested Plan of Study

First Year
Fall	Hours	Spring	Hours
MDS 191	1	ENGL 102 (GEF 1)	3
ENGL 101 (GEF 1)	3	GEF 5	3
GEF 3	3	GEF 6	3
GEF 4	3	GEF 7	3
Focus Area I - 1	3	Focus Area I - 2	3
Elective	2
	15		15
Second Year
Fall	Hours	Spring	Hours
GEF 8	3	GEF 2	3
GEF 8	3	GEF 8	3
GEF 2	3	Focus Area II - 2	3
Focus Area II - 1	3	Focus Area III - 2	3
Focus Area III - 1	3	Elective	3
	15		15
Total credit hours: 60

Major Learning Outcomes