Degree Offered
- Bachelor of Multidisciplinary Studies (B. MdS.)
Nature of the Program
The CAHS Multidisciplinary Studies (MDS) program offers students the flexibility to create a program of study to meet a student's career aspirations in an applied human sciences field. Students develop a breadth of knowledge and a set of employable skills in the areas of applied human sciences by combining three minors of which two minors must be from CAHS (see below for list of minors). The flexibility and potential course offerings available through this major will help students succeed in both traditional and non-traditional employment opportunities in applied human science professions.
The CAHS MDS provides:
- a personalized plan of study for the ideal career.
- students with the opportunity to turn their passion for helping people build better lives into a dream career.
- students with the academic flexibility to explore unique educational opportunities offered at the University.
Minors in Applied Human Sciences:
- Addiction Studies
- Adventure Sports Leadership
- Child Development and Family Studies
- Diversity in Sport and Physical Activity
- Early Intervention
- Family and Youth
- Health Coaching
- Human Services
- Infant and Toddler
- Personal Training and Group Fitness
- Physical Training and Performance
- Special Education
- Sport Coaching
- Sport and Exercise Psychology
- Sport Communication
It is important to know that the possibilities are only constrained by one's imagination!
Admissions
Interested students are admitted into the MDS-CAHS major. Students must have a minimum overall GPA of 2.0 to graduate from WVU. Students who fall below this 2.0 GPA will be placed on academic probation and subject to additional requirements such as required meetings with academic advisers and a retention specialist, study halls and tutoring, meeting with peer advisers, and meetings with the CAHS academic affairs committee.
Admission Requirements 2024-2025
The Admission Requirements above will be the same for the 2024-2025 Academic Year.
Major Code: 5504
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.
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| General Education Foundations | ||
| F1 - Composition & Rhetoric | 3-6 | |
| 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.
Degree Requirements
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| University Requirements | 69 | |
| Multidisciplinary Studies Major Requirements | 51 | |
| Total Hours | 120 | |
University Requirements
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| General Education Foundations (GEF) 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, and 8 (31-37 Credits) | ||
| Outstanding GEF Requirements 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, and 8 | 34 | |
| One of the following: | 1-2 | |
| First-Year Seminar | ||
| First-Year Seminar | ||
| First-Year Seminar | ||
| General Electives | 34-33 | |
| Total Hours | 69 | |
Multidisciplinary Studies Major Requirements
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| CAHS 300 | Career Exploration in Applied Human Sciences | 3 |
| CAHS 489 | Capstone Experience in AHS | 3 |
| AHS Minor 1 | 15 | |
| AHS Minor 2 | 15 | |
| Additional Minor | 15 | |
| Total Hours | 51 | |
- *
Students must complete at least 60 credit hours of 200-400 level coursework.
Suggested Plan of Study
| First Year | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Fall | Hours | Spring | Hours |
| First-Year Seminar | 2 | GEF 2 | 4 |
| GEF 1 | 3 | GEF 6 | 3 |
| GEF 5 | 3 | GEF 8 | 3 |
| GEF 7 | 3 | Elective | 3 |
| Elective | 3 | Elective | 3 |
| 14 | 16 | ||
| Second Year | |||
| Fall | Hours | Spring | Hours |
| GEF 3 | 3 | GEF 1 | 3 |
| GEF 4 | 3 | AHS Minor 1 | 3 |
| GEF 8 | 3 | AHS Minor 1 | 3 |
| GEF 8 | 3 | Elective | 3 |
| Elective | 3 | Elective | 3 |
| 15 | 15 | ||
| Third Year | |||
| Fall | Hours | Spring | Hours |
| CAHS 300 | 3 | AHS Minor 1 | 3 |
| AHS Minor 1 | 3 | AHS Minor 2 | 3 |
| AHS Minor 1 | 3 | AHS Minor 2 | 3 |
| AHS Minor 2 | 3 | Minor 3 | 3 |
| Elective | 3 | Elective | 3 |
| 15 | 15 | ||
| Fourth Year | |||
| Fall | Hours | Spring | Hours |
| AHS Minor 2 | 3 | CAHS 489 | 3 |
| AHS Minor 2 | 3 | Minor 3 | 3 |
| Minor 3 | 3 | Minor 3 | 3 |
| Minor 3 | 3 | Elective | 3 |
| Elective | 3 | Elective | 3 |
| 15 | 15 | ||
| Total credit hours: 120 | |||
Major Learning Outcomes
Multidisciplinary Studies
Program graduates will integrate the knowledge, skills, and dispositions learned across three discrete areas of study (academic minors) and apply them to complex professional problems using a multidisciplinary approach that accounts for different perspectives, various information sources and analytical tools, contextual uncertainties, and possible solutions.
Program graduates will reflect on their professional readiness and think critically about the continued refinement of the disciplinary knowledge, skills, and dispositions learned across the multidisciplinary studies curriculum.
Program graduates will model professional and ethical behaviors that are consistent with the industry standards and the related recommendations for best practice learned across the multidisciplinary curriculum.