Department website: http://mds.wvu.edu/
Degree Offered
- Bachelor of Multidisciplinary Studies (BMDS)
Nature of the Program
The Bachelor of Multidisciplinary Studies degree (BMDS) comprises a core of MDS courses and three related minors. The program stresses the importance of broad learning and thinking across disciplines. Students will learn to integrate specialized knowledge from their minors to analyze complex problems from divergent perspectives.
MDS students choose three minor areas and must demonstrate how these fields of study work together to further their educational and/or career goals. For example, a student could choose minors in communications, data science, and leadership studies with the goal of leading a company. Or a student could choose minors in history, philosophy, and political science to prepare for a career in law. Or a student could choose minors in addiction studies, psychology, and sociology to work in the social service sector or become a counselor. The possibilities are truly limitless. MDS faculty and advisers guide students in designing the right program to suit their individual interests and goals.
The breadth of learning available to Multidisciplinary students empowers them to be successful in any path they choose. MDS alummi are flourishing in business, education, entrepreneurship, health professions, and the public sector. They are earning advanced degrees in social work, business administration, and law. The flexibility of the degree prepares students for success in today's complex and rapidly changing workforce.
Minors
MDS students may add a fourth minor to complement their three core minors, but students may not earn a minor in their own major field of study. View a list of all available minors and their requirements here.
Faculty
Director
- Scott Davidson - Ph.D. (Duquesne University)
Associate Professors
- Renee K. Nicholson - M.F.A. (West Virginia University)
- Louis Slimak - Ph.D. (Purdue University)
- Carol Zwickel - Ph.D. (West Virginia University)
Assistant Professors
- Thaddeus Herman - Ph.D. (University of Illinois)
- Jayme Scally - Ph.D. (University of York)
- Nevena Stojanovic - Ph.D. (West Virginia University)
Instructors
- Andrea Soccorsi - M.A. (West Virginia University)
Admissions for 2025-2026
- Incoming freshmen are admitted directly into the major.
- Transfers from another major at WVU must have a minimum cumulative GPA of 2.0.
- Transfers from another institution must have a minimum cumulative GPA of 2.0.
Major Code: 1496
Click here to view the Suggested Plan of Study
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
Students in the Bachelor of Multidisciplinary Studies (B.MdS.) must complete the WVU General Education Foundations requirements, programmatic requirements, and electives to total a minimum of 120 hours.
- Capstone Requirement: The university requires the successful completion of a Capstone course. Students in the MDS program must complete MDS 489 with a grade of C- or better during their final year.
- Writing and Communication Skills Requirement: Multidisciplinary Studies students fulfill the requirement by completing ENGL 101 and ENGL 102 (or ENGL 103), and two additional SpeakWrite Certified CoursesTM : MDS 101 and MDS 489.
- Calculation of the GPA in the Major: A minimum GPA of a 2.0 is required in all courses applied to major requirements, with a minimum grade of a C- in MDS 101, MDS 279, and MDS 489. Students must meet individual requirements associated with their chosen minors. If a course is repeated, all attempts will be included in the calculation of the GPA, unless the course is eligible for a D/F repeat.
Curriculum Requirements
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| University Requirements | 63 | |
| Multidisciplinary Studies Requirements | 57 | |
| 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 | 36 | |
| MDS 191 | First-Year Seminar | 1 |
| General Electives | 26 | |
| Total Hours | 63 | |
Multidisciplinary Studies Requirements
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| CORE REQUIREMENTS: | 9 | |
| Introduction to Multidisciplinary Studies | ||
| Multidisciplinary Theories and Methods | ||
Any Upper-Division MDS Course * | ||
| CONCENTRATION: | 45 | |
Minor One | ||
Minor Two | ||
Minor Three | ||
| CAPSTONE REQUIREMENT: | 3 | |
| Capstone | ||
| Total Hours | 57 | |
- *
Except MDS 301, 302 and 303.
Suggested Plan of Study
| First Year | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Fall | Hours | Spring | Hours |
| MDS 101 | 3 | ENGL 101 | 3 |
| MDS 191 | 1 | GEF 2 | 3 |
| GEF 2 | 3 | GEF 5 | 3 |
| GEF 3 | 3 | GEF 6 | 3 |
| GEF 4 | 3 | General Elective | 3 |
| General Elective | 3 | ||
| 16 | 15 | ||
| Second Year | |||
| Fall | Hours | Spring | Hours |
| ENGL 102 | 3 | GEF 8 | 3 |
| GEF 7 | 3 | Minor II - 1 | 3 |
| MDS 279 | 3 | Minor III - 1 | 3 |
| Minor I - 1 | 3 | General Elective | 3 |
| General Elective | 4 | General Elective | 3 |
| 16 | 15 | ||
| Third Year | |||
| Fall | Hours | Spring | Hours |
| GEF 8 | 3 | GEF 8 | 3 |
| MDS 300-Level Course or Above | 3 | Minor I -3 | 3 |
| Minor I - 2 | 3 | Minor II - 3 | 3 |
| Minor II - 2 | 3 | Minor III - 3 | 3 |
| Minor III - 2 | 3 | General Elective | 3 |
| 15 | 15 | ||
| Fourth Year | |||
| Fall | Hours | Spring | Hours |
| Minor I - 4 | 3 | MDS 489 | 3 |
| Minor II - 4 | 3 | Minor I - 5 | 3 |
| Minor III - 4 | 3 | Minor II - 5 | 3 |
| General Elective | 3 | Minor III - 5 | 3 |
| General Elective | 3 | General Elective | 1 |
| 15 | 13 | ||
| Total credit hours: 120 | |||
- *
Students earning a fourth minor, a second major or a dual degree already fulfill F 8.
Degree Progress
- Students in the MDS program must maintain a 2.0 GPA.
- MDS 101 must be completed by the 2nd semester in the program.
- All majors must meet with an MDS program adviser each semester.
Students who do not meet these benchmarks may be removed from their major.
Major Learning Outcomes
Multidisciplinary Studies
Upon completion of the MDS program, students will:
1. Acquire range of knowledge and the agility to traverse multiple perspectives and disciplines.
2. Be able to apply interdisciplinary tools and methods to address complex 21st century problems.
3. Develop teamwork and leadership skills as a member of an interdisciplinary problem-solving team (in person and/or remotely).
4. Articulate the value of interdisciplinary thinking persuasively and reflect on its relevance in one’s own learning.