Bachelor of Multidisciplinary Studies, B.MDS.

Jan. 13, 2025

Next Start Date

Courses Required

$477

Cost Per Credit Hour
Military Pricing Applies

120

Total Credit Hours

Online Asynchronous

Learning Format

Design Your Own Degree

The online Bachelor of Multidisciplinary Studies degree, offered through the Eberly College of Arts and Sciences, gives you the flexibility to tailor a degree suited to your unique career needs. Instead of studying in one area, you will combine three minors to design your own degree. Your focus is up to you. Select minors from those offered by all the colleges at WVU and then blend them together into a course of study that will help you meet your goals. The program stresses breadth of knowledge and cross-disciplinary communication. The degree is unique to you and will allow you to develop the skills you need for the career you desire.

Online MDS students are required to have a 2.0 cumulative GPA.

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The online undergraduate Bachelors of Multidisciplinary Studies program, which is offered through Eberly College of Arts and Sciences, does not limit students to a course of study in one particular area. Students have the ability to tailor this degree to meet their individual career needs by choosing three minors instead of one major. By selecting three minors that work well together, students will obtain a breadth of knowledge from each subject area that can be used to market their unique skills. WVU has also partnered with several Community and Technical Colleges to make it easier to transfer in credits and finish the bachelor’s degree online. Upon graduation, students can attend graduate and professional school, pursue employment with government or corporate America, or even build their own business ventures. The B.MDS. degree requires 120 credit hours for completion, while offering students flexibility in both delivery and learning.

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Bachelor of Multidisciplinary Studies, B.MDS. Admission Requirements

Application

Students can apply throughout the year, but the recommended deadlines are:

Fall Term - mid-July
Spring Term - mid-November
Summer Term - mid-April

Admissions

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.

Request official transcripts from all institutions attended (other than WVU), or high school transcripts if fewer than 24 college credits be sent to:

WVU Office of Admissions
P.O. Box 6009
Morgantown, WV 26506-6009
or
Email: WVUadmissions@mail.wvu.edu

Admission Requirements 2024-2025

The Admission Requirements above will be the same for the 2024-2025 Academic Year.

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Tuition, Fees, and Financial Aid

Financial aid is available. Students are encouraged to file the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) form to determine their eligibility for federal and state funds as well as scholarships. WVU’s FAFSA Code is 003827.

The tuition rate per credit hour listed above is for the 2024-2025 academic year. Tuition and fees increase beginning in the fall term of each academic year.

Tuition and fees are usually not the only educational expenses you may have while pursuing a degree. You may have other costs such as books, supplies and living expenses. Please see the Estimate Costs and Aid webpage for how to estimate and plan for other potential expenses.

The future for graduates with a Bachelor’s in Multidisciplinary Studies

Multidisciplinary studies involve the study of multiple academic disciplines to gain a comprehensive understanding of a subject. Graduates in multidisciplinary studies possess a broad range of skills and knowledge that can make them highly competitive in the job market.

The future for graduates in multidisciplinary studies is promising, as employers are increasingly seeking candidates who possess a diverse range of skills and knowledge.

Career outlook for B.MDS. graduates

Multidisciplinary graduates can find employment in a wide variety of fields, including education, healthcare, government, nonprofit organizations, and the private sector.

In particular, graduates with multidisciplinary backgrounds may find opportunities in emerging fields that require an interdisciplinary approach, such as sustainable development, data science, and social innovation. With the rise of technology and automation, multidisciplinary graduates who possess both technical and people skills will be highly valued in the job market.

What can you do with an B.MDS. degree?

There are many career paths that can benefit from a person with a multidisciplinary degree, as they possess a broad range of skills and knowledge across multiple fields. Here are some examples of jobs that can use a person with a multidisciplinary degree: project manager, UX designer, sustainability specialist, data analyst, and technical writer.

General Education Foundations

Course	Title	Credit Hours
F1 ENGL 101 & ENGL 102 or ENGL 103	Composition & Rhetoric Introduction to Composition and Rhetoric and Composition, Rhetoric, and Research, Accelerated Academic Writing	3-6
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 199 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 199 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

Requirement	Credit Hours
University Requirements	70
Multidisciplinary Studies Major Requirements	50

Total hours: 120

University Requirements

Requirement	Credit Hours
General Education Foundations (GEF) 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, and 8	31-37
Outstanding GEF Requirements 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, and 8	36
MDS 191. First-Year Seminar	1
General Electives	33

Total hours: 70

Multidisciplinary Studies Major Requirements

Requirement	Credit Hours
Program Requirements, MDS 199. Orientation to MDS	2
Minor One	15
Minor Two	15
Minor Three	15
Capstone Experience, MDS 489. Capstone	3

Total hours: 50

View Online Minors

Frequently Asked Questions

What can I expect to gain from earning my bachelor’s degree in multidisciplinary studies?

Knowledge

Broad-based knowledge of three discrete areas of study
Understanding of synergistic advantage of multidisciplinary curriculum

Skills

Ability to think critically in each of three disciplines
Ability to partition and interpret information or events using the most appropriate discipline’s toolset
Ability to write a professional resume, conduct a job interview, and apply to graduate school
Ability to research and write a research paper

Attitudes

Positive attitude towards civic action, nonprofit organizations, and community engagement

Integrative Learning

Ability to explain Multidisciplinary Studies and its advantages to others
Ability to apply academic knowledge to contemporary political, social, scientific, and humanitarian questions

Why should I pursue this degree from WVU?

The Bachelor of Multidisciplinary Studies degree (BMDS) comprises a core of courses and three related minors. The program does not limit students to courses of study in a particular college or school, but rather stresses the importance of breadth of knowledge and cross-disciplinary communication. The BMDS degree emphasizes flexibility and problem solving. Students will learn to use specialized knowledge from individual disciplines to analyze problems from divergent perspectives.