At which campus can I study this program?
Program Description
The objectives of the Multidisciplinary Studies major are to broaden the student's understanding, interests, and skills; to help the student become a more responsible, productive member of the family and community; and to offer a degree program with sufficient electives to permit some specialization according to the student's interests or career plans. Multidisciplinary Studies is a complete two-year degree major. However, graduates who later seek admission to baccalaureate degree majors may apply baccalaureate credits toward the new degree.
In addition to a wide variety of baccalaureate majors offered at University Park campus, graduates of the Multidisciplinary Studies major may qualify for admission to the baccalaureate degree majors in Behavioral Sciences, Elementary Education, Humanities, or Public Policy offered at Penn State Harrisburg. Or they may qualify for any of a large number of baccalaureate degree majors offered by Penn State Erie, The Behrend College, in business, the liberal arts, and sciences.
Entrance to Major
Students must have a minimum 2.0 GPA to change to this Associate degree after admission to the University.
Degree Requirements
For the Associate in Arts degree in Multidisciplinary Studies, a minimum of 60 credits is required:
| Requirement | Credits |
|---|---|
| General Education | 21 |
| Electives | 15 |
| Requirements for the Major | 30 |
6 of the 21 credits for General Education are included in the Requirements for the Major. This includes 6 credits of General Education GWS courses.
Requirements for the Major
The required credits of General Education and Requirements for the Major must be baccalaureate-level courses. For students intending to seek admission to a baccalaureate program upon graduation, it is recommended that most, if not all, of the courses be at the baccalaureate level. For those students who will seek a bachelor of arts degree upon graduation from Multidisciplinary Studies, it is strongly recommended that a foreign language be taken since admission to a bachelor of arts program in the College of the Liberal Arts requires one college-level course, or the equivalent, in a foreign language.
Courses that will satisfy the arts, humanities, social and behavioral sciences, natural sciences, and quantification requirements are defined on the Multidisciplinary Studies checksheet, which may be obtained from the College of the Liberal Arts associate dean for undergraduate studies at the University Park campus or from any Multidisciplinary Studies representative at other locations.
A grade of C or better is required for all courses in the major. To graduate, a student enrolled in the major must earn at least a C grade in each course designated by the major as a C-required course, as specified by Senate Policy 82-44.
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Prescribed Courses | ||
| Prescribed Courses: Require a grade of C or better | ||
| CAS 100 | Effective Speech | 3 |
| ENGL 15 | Rhetoric and Composition  | 3 |
| Additional Courses | ||
| Additional Courses: Require a grade of C or better | ||
| Select one of the following: | 3 | |
| Effective Writing: Writing in the Social Sciences | ||
| Effective Writing: Writing in the Humanities | ||
| Effective Writing: Technical Writing | ||
| Effective Writing: Business Writing | ||
| Supporting Courses and Related Areas | ||
| Supporting Courses and Related Areas: Require a grade of C or better | ||
| Select 3 credits in any course designated as arts | 3 | |
| Select 3 credits in any course designated as humanities | 3 | |
| Select 3 credits in any course designated as social and behavioral sciences | 3 | |
| Select 3 credits in any course designated as physical, biological, or earth sciences | 3 | |
| Select 9 credits in any one of the following areas: arts, humanities, social and behavioral sciences, natural sciences and quantification, and foreign language skills 1 | 9 | |
- 1
If foreign language courses are chosen, it is recommended that these courses be in one foreign language sequence.
General Education
Connecting career and curiosity, the General Education curriculum provides the opportunity for students to acquire transferable skills necessary to be successful in the future and to thrive while living in interconnected contexts. General Education aids students in developing intellectual curiosity, a strengthened ability to think, and a deeper sense of aesthetic appreciation. These are requirements for all associate degree students and are often partially incorporated into the requirements of a program. For additional information, see the General Education Requirements section of the Bulletin and consult your academic adviser.
The keystone symbol appears next to the title of any course that is designated as a General Education course. Program requirements may also satisfy General Education requirements and vary for each program.
Foundations (grade of C or better is required and Inter-Domain courses do not meet this requirement.)
- Quantification (GQ): 3 credits
- Writing and Speaking (GWS): 3 credits
Knowledge Domains
- Arts (GA): 3 credits
- Humanities (GH): 3 credits
- Social and Behavioral Sciences (GS): 3 credits
- Natural Sciences (GN): 3 credits
Note: Up to six credits of Inter-Domain courses may be used for any Knowledge Domain requirement, but when a course may be used to satisfy more than one requirement, the credits from the course can be counted only once.
Exploration
- Any General Education course (including GHW and Inter-Domain): 3 credits
University Degree Requirements
Cultures Requirement
3 credits of United States (US) or International (IL) cultures coursework are required and may satisfy other requirements
Writing Across the Curriculum
3 credits required from the college of graduation and likely prescribed as part of major requirements.
Total Minimum Credits
A minimum of 60 degree credits must be earned for a associates degree. The requirements for some programs may exceed 60 credits. Students should consult with their college or department adviser for information on specific credit requirements.
Quality of Work
Candidates must complete the degree requirements for their major and earn at least a 2.00 grade-point average for all courses completed within their degree program.
Limitations on Source and Time for Credit Acquisition
Credit used toward degree programs may need to be earned from a particular source or within time constraints (see Senate Policy 83-80). For more information, check the Suggested Academic Plan for your intended program.
Program Learning Objectives
- To express ideas effectively orally and in writing.
- To enhance students' appreciation of cultural diversity and global/international perspectives.
- To provide students with a broad foundation in arts and sciences.
- To enable students to select a concentration of 9 credits in one area.
Academic Advising
The objectives of the university's academic advising program are to help advisees identify and achieve their academic goals, to promote their intellectual discovery, and to encourage students to take advantage of both in-and out-of class educational opportunities in order that they become self-directed learners and decision makers.
Both advisers and advisees share responsibility for making the advising relationship succeed. By encouraging their advisees to become engaged in their education, to meet their educational goals, and to develop the habit of learning, advisers assume a significant educational role. The advisee's unit of enrollment will provide each advisee with a primary academic adviser, the information needed to plan the chosen program of study, and referrals to other specialized resources.
READ SENATE POLICY 32-00: ADVISING POLICY
Abington
Pierce Salguero
Program Chair, Integrative Arts
1600 Woodland Road
Abington, PA 19001
215-881-7826
salguero@psu.edu
Altoona
Jennifer E. Slusser
Academic Adviser, Program Specialist, Division of Undergraduate Studies
Smith Building C112
3000 Ivyside Park
Altoona, PA 16601
814-949-5084
jzg3@psu.edu
Berks
Thomas Lynn
Program Coordinator, Associate Professor
Franco 117
Reading, PA 19610
610-396-6298
BKLettersArtSci@psu.edu
Brandywine
Paul deGategno
Professor of English
25 Yearsley Mill Road
Media, PA 19063
610-892-1465
pjd15@psu.edu
DuBois
Deborah Gill
Associate Professor of Spanish
1 College Place
220 Swift
DuBois, PA 15801
814-375-4783
djg25@psu.edu
Erie
Joshua Shaw
Associate Professor of Philosophy
140 Kochel
Erie, PA 16563
814-898-6444
jjs34@psu.edu
Fayette
Lindsey Simon-Jones
Associate Professor
2201 University Drive
Lemont Furnace, PA 15456
724-430-4249
lmj133@psu.edu
Harrisburg
J. Craig Haas, M.A.
Program Coordinator
Olmsted Building, W356
Middletown, PA 17057
717-948-6723
jch19@psu.edu
Hazleton
Charles Dewald
Program Coordinator, Multidisciplinary Studies
Butler 203
76 University Drive
Hazleton, PA 18202
570-450-3558
cxd35@psu.edu
Mont Alto
Megan Lundy
DUS Academic Adviser
1 Campus Drive
Mont Alto, PA 17237
717-749-6055
mol7@psu.edu
New Kensington
Ruth Ann Herstek
Academic Adviser
Academic & Career Success Center
3550 Seventh Street Road
New Kensington, PA 15068
724-334-6094
rah32@psu.edu
Schuylkill
Nicole Andel
Teaching Professor, English and Humanities
200 University Drive
Schuylkill Haven, PA 17972
570-385-6088
nikki@psu.edu
Scranton
Paul Perrone
Senior Instructor
13 Library Building
Dunmore, PA 18512
570-963-2660
pjp3@psu.edu
Shenango
Amy Petrucci-Effinite
Manager & Academic Advising
147 Shenango Avenue
Sharon, PA 16146
724-983-2860
alp23@psu.edu
University Park
Liberal Arts Academic Advising
814-865-2545
Use the Liberal Arts Meet the Academic Advisers web page to see the contact information for the specific adviser(s) of this program
Wilkes-Barre
Christyne Berzsenyi
Program Coordinator, Letters, Arts, and Sciences
44 University Drive
Dallas, PA 18612
570-675-9275
cab39@psu.edu
World Campus
Undergraduate Academic Advising
301 Outreach Building
University Park, PA 16802
814-863-3283
advising@outreach.psu.edu
Contact
Abington
DIVISION OF ARTS AND HUMANITIES
1600 Woodland Road
Abington, PA 19001
215-881-7826
salguero@psu.edu
https://www.abington.psu.edu/academics/multidisciplinary-studies/associate
Altoona
DIVISION OF ARTS AND HUMANITIES
Smith Building C112
3000 Ivyside Park
Altoona, PA 16601
814-949-5084
jzg3@psu.edu
https://altoona.psu.edu/academics/associate-degrees/multidisciplinary-studies/contact-information
Berks
DIVISION OF HUMANITIES, ARTS AND SOCIAL SCIENCES
Franco Building
Reading, PA 19610
610-396-6298
BKLettersArtSci@psu.edu
https://berks.psu.edu/academics/multidisciplinary-studies
Brandywine
25 Yearsley Mill Road
Media, PA 19063
610-892-1465
pjd15@psu.edu
https://www.brandywine.psu.edu/academics/associate-degrees/multidisciplinary-studies
DuBois
1 College Place
220 Swift
DuBois, PA 15801
814-375-4783
djg25@psu.edu
https://dubois.psu.edu/academics/degrees/mds
Erie
SCHOOL OF HUMANITIES AND SOCIAL SCIENCES
170 Irvin Kochel Center
4951 College Drive
Erie, PA 16563
814-898-6108
HSSOffice@psu.edu
https://behrend.psu.edu/school-of-humanities-social-sciences
Fayette
2201 University Drive
Lemont Furnace, PA 15456
724-430-4249
lmj133@psu.edu
https://fayette.psu.edu/academics/associate/letters-arts-and-sciences
Harrisburg
SCHOOL OF HUMANITIES
Olmsted Building, W356
Middletown, PA 17057
717-948-6189
mpf5451@psu.edu
https://harrisburg.psu.edu/humanities/multidisciplinary-studies-aa
Hazleton
Butler 203
76 University Drive
Hazleton, PA 18202
570-450-3558
cxd35@psu.edu
https://hazleton.psu.edu/associate-arts-multidisciplinary-studies
Mont Alto
1 Campus Drive
Mont Alto, PA 17237
717-749-6055
mol7@psu.edu
https://montalto.psu.edu/academics/associate/associate-letters-arts-sciences-degree
New Kensington
3550 Seventh Street Rd.
New Kensington, PA 15068
724-334-6094
rah32@psu.edu
https://newkensington.psu.edu/academics/2-year-letters-arts-sciences
Schuylkill
ACADEMIC AFFAIRS
200 University Drive
Schuylkill Haven, PA 17972
570-385-6088
nikki@psu.edu
https://schuylkill.psu.edu/academics/assoc-degrees/las
Scranton
13 Library Building
Dunmore, PA 18512
570-963-2660
pjp3@psu.edu
https://scranton.psu.edu/academics/degrees/associate/multidisciplinary-studies
Shenango
147 Shenango Avenue
Sharon, PA 16146
724-983-2860
alp23@psu.edu
https://shenango.psu.edu/academics/degrees/2-year-multidisciplinary-studies
University Park
118 Sparks Building
University Park, PA 16802
814-865-1438
laadvising@psu.edu
Wilkes-Barre
44 University Drive
Dallas, PA 18612
570-675-9275
cab39@psu.edu
https://wilkesbarre.psu.edu/academics/multidisciplinary
World Campus
FILIPPELLI INSTITUTE FOR E-EDUCATION AND OUTREACH
128 Sparks Building
University Park, PA 16802
814-863-3894
blm26@psu.edu