Mission Statement
The Multidisciplinary Studies Program is committed to innovative, integrative, and student-centered education. Grounded in the values of flexibility, critical inquiry, and academic rigor, the program empowers students to chart unique academic pathways that align with their personal, professional, and intellectual goals. Through cross-disciplinary learning and experiential opportunities, the program fosters creative problem-solving, collaboration, and adaptability for an ever-evolving global workforce.
General Information
Housed within University College, the Multidisciplinary Studies Program serves students whose academic and career interests span multiple disciplines. The program offers both Bachelor of Arts (B.A.) and Bachelor of Science (B.S.) degrees, each requiring a carefully constructed plan of study across three disciplinary areas. The B.A. degree is also offered in a 100% online format.
Multidisciplinary Studies is ideal for students seeking a flexible, interdisciplinary education that prepares them for careers in business, public service, health, technology, education, communication, and beyond. Students benefit from academic advising, capstone experiences, and access to faculty and programming across UT San Antonio's colleges.
Program Outcomes
Graduates of the Multidisciplinary Studies program will be able to:
-
Demonstrate foundational knowledge in three distinct disciplines.
-
Synthesize concepts across multiple fields to examine complex questions and problems.
-
Apply communication, research, and analytical skills in academic and professional contexts.
-
Complete an integrative capstone project that demonstrates interdisciplinary mastery.
-
Utilize digital and technological tools relevant to their chosen fields.
Degrees Offered
B.A. in Multidisciplinary Studies
The B.A. degree is designed for students interested in combining the humanities, social sciences, and other non-STEM areas. It requires 15 credit hours in one focus area, and 12 credit hours each in two additional focus areas. The degree emphasizes communication, critical thinking, and integrative learning.
The B.A. degree is also offered fully online. Online students may select from approved focus areas including Business, Communication, Data Science, Digital Communication, Geography and Environmental Sustainability (starting Fall 2025), Global Affairs, Health, Humanities, Political Science, and Sociology.
B.S. in Multidisciplinary Studies
The B.S. degree emphasizes STEM-oriented disciplines and requires students to select at least two focus areas from the College of Sciences, the College of Engineering and Integrated Design, the College of AI, Cyber and Computing, or other approved STEM fields. This degree supports niche academic tracks such as Artificial Intelligence, Cyber Intelligence, and Data Science. The B.S. degree is also offered fully online.
Degree Requirements
All Multidisciplinary Studies degrees require completion of the UT San Antonio Core Curriculum (42 credit hours), foundational technology and communication courses, three approved focus areas, multidisciplinary studies courses (Introduction and Capstone), and free electives.
-
B.A. Degree: 15+12+12 credit hours across three disciplines; 27 credit hours of electives.
-
B.S. Degree: 18+15+15 credit hours across three disciplines; 18 credit hours of electives (at least 6 upper-division).
Students must complete at least 39 upper-division credit hours as part of the 120-hour degree. Courses selected for each focus area must be approved by the Multidisciplinary Studies Program Director and meet GPA minimums.
Bachelor of Arts Degree in Multidisciplinary Studies
The Bachelor of Arts (B.A.) degree in Multidisciplinary Studies is a multidisciplinary degree which allows students much flexibility in designing degree programs that relate to their personal academic and career goals. Students will complete the University Core Curriculum requirements and take a cohesive set of courses from three different focus areas. For more information about the available focus areas and their required courses, please visit the University College website: https://uc.utsa.edu/programs/mdst.html.
The B.A. degree in Multidisciplinary Studies is also offered in a 100 percent online format. Students pursuing the 100 percent online format must fulfill all degree requirements in the same manner as residential students. Note that select focus areas are available online. For more information about the focus areas that are available 100% online, please visit the University College website: https://uc.utsa.edu/programs/mdst.html.
The Multidisciplinary Studies major permits an interdisciplinary approach to education, allowing students the opportunity to acquire a well-rounded educational background and problem-solving skills. The objectives of the program are to develop students that have a solid foundation in the content material of three different disciplines and are skilled in communication, critical thinking and analysis, investigating and solving problems, managing tasks, and relating to others. The program allows students to develop academic themes or topics that fall outside the usual disciplinary boundaries. The degree program will provide a vehicle to achieve baccalaureate degrees for those students whose interests lie in multiple areas.
This degree program is meant to encourage and support creativity, innovation, critical thinking, and integrative learning. The multidisciplinary nature of the program is designed to develop students’ ability to combine different fields into a structured format. Since the program involves coursework from departments across the University, it offers students opportunities to capitalize upon diverse personal interests and talents through a combination of study and academic experiences appropriate to meet their educational and long-term career goals.
The minimum number of semester credit hours required for this degree is 120, including Core Curriculum requirement hours. Thirty-nine of the 120 total semester credit hours required for the degree must be at the upper-division level.
Students receiving a Bachelor of Arts degree in Multidisciplinary Studies may not receive a double major or a minor.
All candidates seeking this degree must fulfill the Core Curriculum requirements and the degree requirements, which are listed below.
Core Curriculum Requirements (42 semester credit hours)
Students seeking the B.A. degree in Multidisciplinary Studies must fulfill University Core Curriculum requirements in the same manner as other students. If courses are taken to satisfy both degree requirements and Core Curriculum requirements, then students may need to take additional courses in order to meet the minimum number of semester credit hours required for this degree.
CS 1173 may be used to satisfy a foundational course and the Mathematics core requirement.
COM 2113 or ENG 2413 may be used to satisfy a communication course and the Core Component Area Option requirement.
Click here to view the list of all Core Curriculum Component Area Requirements.
Degree Requirements
All candidates for the B.A. degree in Multidisciplinary Studies must complete the following 51 semester credit hours.
Course List | Code | Title | Credit Hours |
| 3 |
| Introduction to Computer Programming I | |
| Programming I for Computer Scientists | |
| Data Analysis and Visualization (core or major) | |
| Introduction to Data Science | |
| Applied Data Science and AI for All | |
| Programming for Data Science | |
| Excel for Business Information Systems | |
| Programming I | |
| 3 |
| Introduction to Communication | |
| Business and Professional Speech | |
| Public Speaking (core or major) | |
| Introduction to Mass Communication | |
| Introduction to Digital Communication | |
| Technical Writing (core or major) | |
| 39 |
| |
| |
| |
| |
| MDS 2013 | Introduction to Multidisciplinary Studies | 3 |
| MDS 4983 | Senior Seminar for Multidisciplinary Studies | 3 |
| |
| Total Credit Hours | 78 |
Course Sequence Guide for B.A. Degree in Multidisciplinary Studies
This course sequence guide is designed to assist students in completing their UT San Antonio undergraduate Multidisciplinary Studies degree requirements. This is merely a guide, and students must satisfy other requirements of this catalog and meet with their academic advisor for individualized degree plans. Progress within this guide depends upon such factors as course availability, individual student academic preparation, student time management, work obligations, and individual financial considerations. Students may choose to take courses during Summer terms to reduce course loads during long semesters.
B.A. in Multidisciplinary Studies – Four-Year Academic Plan
Plan of Study Grid | First Year |
|---|
| Fall |
|---|
| AIS 1203 | Academic Introduction and Strategies () | 3 |
HIS 1043
| United States History: Pre-Columbus to Civil War Era ()
or United States History: Civil War Era to Present
or Texas History | 3 |
| MDS 2013 | Introduction to Multidisciplinary Studies | 3 |
| WRC 1013 | Freshman Composition I () | 3 |
| 3 |
| | Credit Hours | 15 |
| Spring |
|---|
HIS 1043
| United States History: Pre-Columbus to Civil War Era ()
or United States History: Civil War Era to Present
or Texas History | 3 |
| WRC 1023 | Freshman Composition II () | 3 |
| 3 |
| 3 |
| 3 |
| | Credit Hours | 15 |
| Second Year |
|---|
| Fall |
|---|
| POL 1013 | Introduction to American Politics () | 3 |
| 3 |
| 3 |
| 3 |
| 3 |
| | Credit Hours | 15 |
| Spring |
|---|
POL 1133
| Texas Politics and Society ()
or Civil Rights in Texas and America | 3 |
| 3 |
| 3 |
| 3 |
| 3 |
| | Credit Hours | 15 |
| Third Year |
|---|
| Fall |
|---|
| 3 |
| 3 |
| 3 |
| 3 |
| 3 |
| | Credit Hours | 15 |
| Spring |
|---|
| 3 |
| 3 |
| 3 |
| 3 |
| 3 |
| | Credit Hours | 15 |
| Fourth Year |
|---|
| Fall |
|---|
| 3 |
| 3 |
| 3 |
| 3 |
| 3 |
| | Credit Hours | 15 |
| Spring |
|---|
| MDS 4983 | Senior Seminar for Multidisciplinary Studies | 3 |
| 3 |
| 3 |
| 3 |
| 3 |
| | Credit Hours | 15 |
| | Total Credit Hours | 120 |
Bachelor of Science Degree in Multidisciplinary Studies
The Bachelor of Science (B.S.) degree in Multidisciplinary Studies allows students to create a customized degree program or to select from an existing degree program developed around academic themes or niche areas, such as and Pre-Nursing, that fall outside traditional disciplinary boundaries and helps support student achievement of their personal academic and career goals. Students will complete the University Core Curriculum requirements and take a cohesive set of courses from three different disciplinary areas, one of which must be housed in the College of Sciences or the College of Engineering and Integrated Design, or be STEM-oriented. For more information about the focus areas and their required courses, please visit the University College website: https://uc.utsa.edu/programs/mdst.html.
The B.S. degrees in Multidisciplinary Studies is also offered in a 100 percent online format. Students pursuing the 100 percent online format must fulfill all degree requirements in the same manner as residential students.
The objectives of the program are to develop students that have a solid foundation in the content material of three different disciplines and are skilled in communication, critical thinking and analysis, investigating and solving problems, managing tasks, and relating to others. The degree program will provide a vehicle for students whose interests lie in multiple areas.
Students selecting the Multidisciplinary Studies major will be expected to achieve the following learning outcomes:
- Ability to gather information and demonstrate an understanding of concepts and principles from three different fields of study.
- Ability to apply concepts from three areas of focus and demonstrate their mastery of the knowledge and skills in a capstone course.
- Ability to show through a final project that they have integrated different areas of study in order to examine a question, problem, or phenomenon.
- Ability to demonstrate communication and computer competencies.
The minimum number of semester credit hours required for this degree is 120, including Core Curriculum requirement hours. Thirty-nine of the 120 total semester credit hours required for the degree must be at the upper-division level.
Students receiving a Bachelor of Science degree in Multidisciplinary Studies may not receive a double major or a minor.
Core Curriculum Requirements (42 semester credit hours)
Students seeking the B.S. degree in Multidisciplinary Studies must fulfill University Core Curriculum requirements in the same manner as other students. If courses are taken to satisfy both degree requirements and Core Curriculum requirements, then students may need to take additional courses in order to meet the minimum number of semester credit hours required for this degree.
CS 1173 may be used to fulfill both the Mathematics core requirement and as a major course requirement.
COM 2113 or ENG 2413 may be used to fulfill both a Component Area Option core requirement and as a major course requirement.
Click here to view the list of all Core Curriculum Component Area Requirements.
Degree Requirements
All candidates for the B.S. degree in Multidisciplinary Studies must complete the following 78 semester credit hours.
Course List | Code | Title | Credit Hours |
| 3 |
| Introduction to Computer Programming I | |
| Programming I for Computer Scientists | |
| Data Analysis and Visualization (core or major) | |
| Applied Data Science and AI for All | |
| Introduction to Data Science | |
| Programming for Data Science | |
| Excel for Business Information Systems | |
| Programming I | |
| 3 |
| Introduction to Communication | |
| Business and Professional Speech | |
| Public Speaking (core or major) | |
| Introduction to Mass Communication | |
| Introduction to Digital Communication | |
| Technical Writing (core or major) | |
| 48 |
| |
| |
| |
| |
| MDS 2023 | Introduction to Multidisciplinary Studies | 3 |
| MDS 4983 | Senior Seminar for Multidisciplinary Studies | 3 |
| |
| Total Credit Hours | 78 |
Course Sequence Guide for B.S. Degree in Multidisciplinary Studies
This course sequence guide is designed to assist students in completing their UT San Antonio undergraduate Multidisciplinary Studies degree requirements. This is merely a guide, and students must satisfy other requirements of this catalog and meet with their academic advisor for individualized degree plans. Progress within this guide depends upon such factors as course availability, individual student academic preparation, student time management, work obligations, and individual financial considerations. Students may choose to take courses during Summer terms to reduce course loads during long semesters.
B.S. in Multidisciplinary Studies – Four-Year Academic Plan
Plan of Study Grid | First Year |
|---|
| Fall |
|---|
| AIS 1203 | Academic Introduction and Strategies () | 3 |
HIS 1043
| United States History: Pre-Columbus to Civil War Era ()
or United States History: Civil War Era to Present
or Texas History | 3 |
| WRC 1013 | Freshman Composition I () | 3 |
| 3 |
| 3 |
| | Credit Hours | 15 |
| Spring |
|---|
| WRC 1023 | Freshman Composition II () | 3 |
| 3 |
| 3 |
| 3 |
| 3 |
| | Credit Hours | 15 |
| Second Year |
|---|
| Fall |
|---|
| 3 |
| 3 |
| 3 |
| 3 |
| 3 |
| | Credit Hours | 15 |
| Spring |
|---|
| MDS 2023 | Introduction to Multidisciplinary Studies | 3 |
| POL 1013 | Introduction to American Politics () | 3 |
| 3 |
| 3 |
| 3 |
| | Credit Hours | 15 |
| Third Year |
|---|
| Fall |
|---|
POL 1133
| Texas Politics and Society ()
or Civil Rights in Texas and America | 3 |
| 3 |
| 3 |
| 3 |
| 3 |
| | Credit Hours | 15 |
| Spring |
|---|
HIS 1043
| United States History: Pre-Columbus to Civil War Era ()
or United States History: Civil War Era to Present
or Texas History | 3 |
| 3 |
| 3 |
| 3 |
| 3 |
| | Credit Hours | 15 |
| Fourth Year |
|---|
| Fall |
|---|
| 3 |
| 3 |
| 3 |
| 3 |
| 3 |
| | Credit Hours | 15 |
| Spring |
|---|
| MDS 4983 | Senior Seminar for Multidisciplinary Studies | 3 |
| 3 |
| 3 |
| 3 |
| 3 |
| | Credit Hours | 15 |
| | Total Credit Hours | 120 |
