Multidisciplinary Studies, BS

Director of Interdisciplinary Programs: Lisa Ellison (3307 Bate Building; 252-328-2617; ellisonl15@ecu.edu)

Multidisciplinary Studies is an interdisciplinary program in the Thomas Harriot College of Arts and Sciences . The goals of the program are to foster multidisciplinary study among various schools and departments, enable motivated students to pursue degrees in specialized or new fields, and encourage undergraduates to pursue research interests while working closely with faculty.

To major in Multidisciplinary Studies, students must select an area of study, have completed 30 s.h., and have a minimum GPA of 2.0.

An area of study is a repeatable curriculum that is not outlined in the catalog. An area of study can be selected from existing areas (listed below), or can be designed in consultation with faculty in the appropriate disciplines, by a student (1) who has clear interests and objectives that overlap schools, departments, degrees, or concentrations; (2) whose interests and objectives cannot reasonably be met through existing majors, minors, and electives; and (3) whose program is not fashioned in order to bypass a requirement of an existing program. For a new area of study, a formal proposal, including the list of faculty who will supervise the student, is submitted to the Director of Interdisciplinary Programs for approval by the Multidisciplinary Studies Committee. The nature of this program requires that the student be highly motivated and disciplined and that faculty advising the student be closely involved in the process from the proposal preparation stage through the completion of the program. The program is not a general studies degree and program guidelines prohibit approval into the program of students who have not developed a coherent and academically respectable course of study that meets program guidelines. For a general studies degree, see University Studies, BS .

Students interested in proposing an area of study, and faculty interested in proposing an area of study or concentration should contact the Director of Interdisciplinary Programs for procedures and guidelines.

Requirements for areas of study include MULT 3500 and MULT 4999 or comparable substitutions approved by the Multidisciplinary Studies Committee or relevant academic advisor, from among thesis, senior summary, and upper division content courses.

The degree requires a minimum of 120 s.h. as follows:

1. General education requirements - 40 s.h.

(For information about courses that carry general education credit view the General Education Program section.)

2. Core - 42 s.h.*

MULT 3500 - Research in Multidisciplinary Studies or comparable concentration course.
MULT 4999 - Seminar in Multidisciplinary Studies or comparable concentration course.
A minimum of 36 s.h. of approved courses in the major.

3. Minor or approved electives - 18 s.h.*

4. Electives to complete requirements for graduation.

*Note:

A minimum of 24 s.h. from sections 2 and 3 must be above 2999.

ECU Minor Requirements Policy

The university’s policy regarding double counting credits between major and minor can be found in the Academic Advisement, Progression and Support Services section of this catalog. See “Minor Requirements”.

No more than 9 credit hours required for satisfying a major can count towards the credits required for satisfying a minor, excluding specified cognates (required courses but outside of the major discipline).
Individual programs may have additional restrictions.
A student may not major and minor in the same discipline as defined by the program’s 6-digit CIP code.

If you have questions, please reach out to your program coordinator or director.