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Bachelor of Multidisciplinary Studies at The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley

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The Bachelor of Multidisciplinary Studies (BMS), offered by the University of Texas Rio Grande Valley (UTRGV) as part of the Finish@UT program, is a highly flexible degree plan that offers a variety of concentrations. If you have completed the core curriculum or have earned a minimum of 60 credits you can select the concentrations that appeal to you and combine them, creating your own specialized degree. In addition, you have the option to select coursework seamlessly from three other partner institutions: the University of Texas at Arlington (UTA), the University of Texas at El Paso (UTEP), and the University of Texas of the Permian Basin (UTPB).

By completing this BMS you will be able to apply the knowledge and skills attained to expand your career and employment opportunities as well as continue your studies in a graduate degree or post-graduate professional program.

Working with your advisor, you will be able to design a degree plan tailored to fit your interests and goals.

Degree Plan

The BMS degree plan requires 120 total credits for completion. A 2.0 GPA and demonstration of language proficiency in a language other than English are required for graduation. You must also meet the following residency requirements for completing this degree:

  • 30 credits must be from coursework provided by UTRGV or one of the other partner institutions (UTA, UTEP, UTPB) and
  • at least 15 of these 30 credits must be taken from UTRGV.
     

Additional information about graduation requirements can be found in the UTRGV 2015-2017 Undergraduate Catalog.

The degree plan consists of:


* UTRGV students participating in the Finish@UT program may also select minors from the approved list. Consult with your advisor for online course offerings.

Please refer to the downloadable sample degree plan for reference.

General Education Core Curriculum (42 total credits)

The State of Texas requires students to complete a core curriculum that encompasses a variety of disciplines. The list included here notes the areas that are required for completion of the UTRGV core curriculum. Your transcript will be evaluated to determine which areas have already been fulfilled. If a student completes the core curriculum at another Texas institution, the student is considered core complete at UTRGV.

  • Communication - 6 credits
  • Mathematics - 3 credits
  • Life and Physical Sciences - 6 credits
  • Language, Philosophy, and Culture - 3 credits
  • Creative Arts - 3 credits
  • American History - 6 credits
  • Government/Political Science- 6 credits
  • Social and Behavioral Sciences - 3 credits
  • Integrative/Experiential Learning Option - 6 credits

 

Should you need to complete some areas listed, you may do so by:

 

  1. taking online courses through the Finish@UT in either accelerated sessions or traditional semesters;
  2. completing courses on campus or online at UTRGV; or
  3. completing courses at another college or university and having them transferred into UTRGV.

Concentrations and Minors (54 total credits)

As a Finish@UT student, you will choose three areas of concentration and/or minors. Each area of concentration is 18 credits and minors are a minimum of 18 credits, so your coursework will be at least 54 credits. Whether you pick a concentration or a minor, you will need to complete at least 15 credits from UTRGV. A minimum of 42 upper-division credits are required for the degree.

Concentrations

You will work with your BMS advisor to choose three areas of concentration. Concentration coursework must be taken at the upper-division level.

Your advisor will help you incorporate concentrations from other Finish@UT partner institutions into a personalized degree plan that best fits your previous study and your career goals. For example, you may wish to take two concentrations from UTRGV and work with your advisor to build a third concentration in some other area of study with the courses from other Finish@UT partner institutions.

The online concentration coursework is offered via Finish@UT in accelerated 7-, 8-, or 15-week sessions.

Courses listed below are suggested for each discipline based on the online courses from UTRGV. Other appropriate courses not listed here, either accelerated format or face-to-face or online courses in semester-length format, may be used to fulfill requirements for each area.

 

Students must take six courses (18 credits) to complete a concentration. All concentration coursework must be taken at the upper-division level.

I. Business – Management (18 credits)

  • INFS 3390 Management Information Systems
  • INFS 4312 E-Commerce Design
  • MARK 3300 Principles of Marketing
  • MGMT 3361 Principles of Management
  • MGMT 3362 Human Resource Management
  • MGMT 4356 Foundations of Entrepreneurship

II. Educational Technology (select 18 credits from the following)

  • EDTC 3310 Introduction to Educational Technology
  • EDTC 3320 Instructional Design for the Corporate Trainer
  • EDTC 3321 Computer/Web-Based Training
  • EDTC 3323 Designing Instructional Multimedia
  • EDTC 3325 Computer-Mediated Communication and Collaboration
  • EDTC 3327 Personal Learning Networks
  • EDTC 3332 Application of Instructional Technology

III. Health Services (select 18 credits from the following)

  • HPRS 3301 Introduction to the Evolving Healthcare System
  • HPRS 3302 Medical Law/Ethics for the Health Professional
  • HPRS 3309 Leading and Managing the Healthcare Team
  • HPRS 3316 Nutrition Concepts for Allied Health Practitioners
  • HPRS 3320 Patient Education in Health Sciences
  • HPRS 3324 Teaching in the Health Sciences
  • HPRS 4301 Introduction to Health Data Utilization
  • HPRS 4302 Continuous Quality Improvement
  • HPRS 4312 Applied Pathophysiology
  • HPRS 4334 Issues and Trends in Health Care

IV. Legal Studies (select 18 credits from the following)

  • ALAW 3300 Foundation of Law
  • ALAW 3307 Civil Litigation Advanced
  • ALAW 3309 Workforce Ethics
  • ALAW 3312 Evidence
  • ALAW 3315 Criminal Law and Procedure-Advanced
  • ALAW 4301 Legal Research and Writing
  • ALAW 4310 Legal Analysis and Writing

V. Technology Education and Corporate Training (select 18 credits from the following)

  • TECT 3301 Foundations of Technology Training
  • TECT 3302 Technology Training Methods and Strategies
  • TECT 3303 Training Methods in Industry
  • TECT 4304 Consulting Practice in Technology Training
  • TECT 4305 Current Issues in Technology Training
  • TECT 4306 Multicultural Technology Training
  • TECT 4307 Technology Leadership Foundations
    (Technology Training Certificate awarded for 18 credit training block)


Minors

As a Finish@UT student that has selected UTRGV as a home campus, you have the option to choose minors from the approved list in addition to the concentrations offered. Each minor requires a minimum of 18 credits of which at least 12 credits are upper-division. UTRGV offers approximately 70 minors. Your advisor will help you incorporate concentrations and minors into a personalized degree plant that best fits your previous study and your career goals.

Minor coursework may not be available online.

Electives (24 credits)

A total of 24 credits of electives are needed. Lower-division requirements and prerequisites to the upper-division coursework can be taken to fulfill the elective requirement.

Frequently Asked Questions

What can you do with a BMS degree?

A Bachelor of Multidisciplinary Studies degree can open many doors. Some graduates may qualify for new job opportunities or a promotion at their current place of employment. The opportunities for BMS graduates are extensive, including careers in business, government, or non-profit organizations. Others may choose to enroll in graduate school or pursue alternative teacher certification.

How many semester credits are required to complete the degree?

UTRGV’s BMS degree plan requires a minimum of 120 semester credits. The online concentration coursework is offered via Finish@UT in traditional semester-length format. Other Finish@UT partner institutions offer courses in accelerated 7-8-week sessions.

How many semester credits should I have completed before enrolling in UTRGV's BMS program?

UTRGV’s BMS is designed as a completion program, so you should have completed the general education core curriculum or have at least 60 credits prior to enrolling in the concentration coursework. If you don't have the required credits, additional online courses are available for you through UT institutions via the Finish@UT.

What is the difference between a minor and a concentration?

Minors and concentrations are structured plans of study consisting of a minimum of six courses for at least 18 credits. Concentration coursework is offered fully online while the minor coursework may not be. Minors are only available for students that have chosen UTRGV as their home campus.

What if I want to take a concentration from another Finish@UT degree plan?

Working closely with your advisor, you’ll be able to incorporate concentrations made up of some combination of Finish@UT courses from other partner institutions in a personalized degree plan that best fits your previous study and career goals. UTRGV’s BMS degree plan requires 6-course concentrations, while the other partner institutions have 5-course concentrations. You can take a concentration from another Finish@UT degree plan, but you will have to add another course in the same subject. You must complete at least 15 credits from UTRGV (whether they are core, concentration, or elective credits) to be awarded this degree.

What is the cost of BMS courses?

The cost of Finish@UT courses depends on the tuition and fee structures of the campuses hosting them and is based on residency status. Refer to the Cost Information page for more details.

What institution will issue my degree and what will the diploma read?

When you complete the BMS program, your degree will be from The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley and your diploma will be for a Bachelor of Multidisciplinary Studies.