Photo: Student preparing for class in Reynolds Hall
Your academic journey doesn’t always follow a straight line. Maybe you want to design a degree around a career goal, return to college to finish what you started, or transition from an in-person program to an online option that fits your life.
WVU offers three online flexible degree paths to meet students where they are and help them move forward.
Multidisciplinary Studies, B.MdS. - Design a Degree Around Your Goals
The online Bachelor of Multidisciplinary Studies, B.MdS. is a comprehensive undergraduate program that puts you in control of your education. You’ll build a customized degree by combining 3 online minors into one cohesive plan of study.
This program is a strong fit if you:
- Want a degree aligned with a specific career or graduate school goal
- Have some college credit but need a structured, forward-looking plan
- Are transitioning from an in-person program to online learning
You’ll work closely with an advisor to select minors and connect them through coursework that blends theory, methods, and real-world application.
The Multidisciplinary Studies degree offers students deep study into three different fields. Instead, it provides a more comprehensive academic experience, including:
- Career-focused Eberly Edge courses
- A capstone course where you synthesize what you’ve learned in your unique MDS journey.
- 3 courses of Multidisciplinary Studies to introduce you to this interdisciplinary field.
Graduates are well prepared for professional roles or continued study. MDS graduates have gone on to law school, entered graduate school, started their own business, and expanded their careers.
Regents Bachelor of Arts, R.B.A. - Turn Your Experience Into Progress
The online Regents Bachelor of Arts, RBA is a unique degree completion program in West Virginia that is designed for adults returning to college. To enroll, you must be at least 3 years out of high school.
This program is a strong fit if you:
- Have prior college coursework from WVU or another institution
- Are balancing work, family, or military service
- Need a bachelor’s degree to advance your career
The R.B.A. helps you move forward by recognizing what you’ve already accomplished. You can:
- Apply F-Forgiveness to grades earned 3 or more years ago
- Earn Credit for Prior Learning through faculty-reviewed experience
- Receive credit for certifications, licenses, and training programs
Your coursework is tailored to your background and typically includes general education equivalents, electives aligned with your experience and goals, a course in professional development course, and a capstone course where you reflect on your academic journey.
Integrated Studies, B.I.S. - Finish Your Degree Without Starting Over
The online Bachelor of Integrated Studies, B.I.S. is a flexible degree completion option for students who need to change direction and keep moving forward. To enroll, you must be at least 2 years out of high school.
This program is a strong fit if you:
- Started a degree but didn’t finish
- Need to move from an in-person program to online
- Are changing majors
- Want to recover from earlier academic challenges
The program requires only 3 B.I.S.-specific courses, making it easy to bring your credits from other accredited schools. You can also pair your degree with one or more minors to strengthen your focus.
Key features include:
- F-Forgiveness for grades earned before entering the program
- Credit for Prior Learning
- A faster, flexible path to graduation
The B.I.S. program offers one of the fastest paths to finishing your degree and obtaining your educational goal.
Choosing the Right Path
Each program serves a different type of student and academic goal. Choosing the right path depends on where you are now and what you want to achieve next.
If you have any questions about which program is the best fit for you, reach out to Nick Sano-Francini, the Program Manager and Senior Academic Advisor of the Multidisciplinary Studies program at the Eberly College of Arts and Sciences. He can help you look at your academic and professional history and help you make the right choice for you and your future.