Multidisciplinary Studies Degree

Design your own major with Penn State Scranton's Multidisciplinary Studies degree. 

The multidisciplinary studies degree at Penn State gives you the opportunity to design a major based on your interests, strengths and career goals. Instead of following a traditional major, you can combine courses from different subject areas to create a program that meets your needs.

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Create a Major That Fits Your Goals

Built around flexibility and support, this major can be customized to match your interests. You'll work with faculty advisers to develop a plan of study that is focused, purposeful and tailored to your academic and professional goals.

Whether your goal is law school, medical school, or another graduate or professional program, this bachelor of arts degree can help you get there. With careful course selection, you can build an academic pathway that aligns with your future educational and career aspirations.

My adviser and professor, Paul Perrone, was incredibly easy to work with. He helped tailor my educational plan so I could get the most out of my time here. His guidance made a huge difference in my academic journey.

Sara Sasscer, Major: Multidisciplinary Studies

Design Your Own Major

With a major in multidisciplinary studies you can:

1. Combine courses from multiple academic areas
2. Focus on topics that support your academic and career goals
3. Explore interests that may not fit within a traditional major
4. Develop skills and knowledge from different disciplines
5. Create a degree plan with guidance from faculty advisers

How it Works

To enter the multidisciplinary studies major students must submit a proposal outlining their planned course of study. The proposal must identify a central theme and include courses from at least three different subject areas. The proposed program cannot duplicate an existing major offered by the University.

Students work closely with a faculty adviser to develop a program that meets their goals and maintains the academic standards and program requirements of a Bachelor of Arts degree. 

Students complete a minimum of 123 credits to earn the Bachelor of Arts in Multidisciplinary Studies.

36 Credits to build a unique major

Within the degree, 36 major credits are designed around your chosen area of study:

Core Courses (12 credits)

These are core courses that build essential skills in research, communication, critical thinking and applying ideas across disciplines.

Thematic Coursework (24 credits)

Take advanced courses from multiple disciplines that support your theme, including a capstone experience that allows you to bring together and demonstrate what you have learned.

Multidisciplinary Studies Academic Plan