Home » Catalog » Programs » Bachelor of Multidisciplinary Studies (BMS) Degree Completion Program information

UTEP's BMS is for you!The University of Texas at El Paso now offers an online option to complete a Bachelor of Multidisciplinary Studies (BMS) Degree. The program will launch fall 2009 in a traditional 15-week format, but will move to an eight-week format in fall 2010 as part of the Bachelor Accelerated Completion (BAC) program so you can finish your degree faster.

The BMS degree gives you the unique opportunity to tailor the credit hours you have earned into a multi-disciplinary program of study. If you

  • want flexibility in your course of study and want to help plan your own undergraduate study, or;
  • have accumulated semester credit hours in various programs, but the combination of those courses has not led to the completion of a degree, or;
  • are a working student who has accumulated semester credit hours and desire professional advancement that only a degree can provide, or;
  • interrupted your studies for any of these or other reasons,

the Bachelor of Multidisciplinary Studies might be for you.

BMS Degree Plan & Requirements

The Bachelor of Multidisciplinary Studies gives you the flexibility to select a program that best fits your educational goals. Your advisor designs an individualized program that includes three concentrations of study from programs offered at UTEP. For example, you may select courses from social sciences, humanities, and cultural studies as your three areas of study. An academic advisor will help you tailor your program to your own interests.

If you’re a transfer student or have accumulated semester credit hours already, your academic advisor can help you make the best use of your credits by applying them to the Bachelor of Multidisciplinary Studies.

The BMS degree requires a minimum of 120 semester hours, including at least 45 hours at the advanced/upper division (junior and senior) level. In addition to completing the 42 semester hour University core curriculum, you will define, in consultation with a BMS advisor, three areas of concentration totaling 45 semester hours. Each area of concentration includes 15 hours, 9 hours of which must be advanced, for a minimum of 27 hours of advanced work. The goal of the concentration is to give you an interdisciplinary foundation that satisfies your individual educational and professional goals while maintaining academic rigor and integrity. Thirty-three hours of electives, 18 of which must be advanced, bring the degree total to a minimum 120 semester hours.

Core Curriculum (42 total semester credit hours) which includes:

  • Communication - 9 hours
  • Mathematics - 3 hours
  • Natural Science - 6 hours
  • Humanities - 3 hours
  • Visual and Performing Arts - 3 hours
  • U.S. History - 6 hours
  • Political Science - 6 hours
  • Social and Behavioral Science - 3 hours
  • University 1301 or 2350 - 3 hours

Three concentrations (45 semester credit hours total) which include:

  • Area One - 15 hours (9 of which must be upper division courses)
  • Area Two - 15 hours (9 of which must be upper division courses)
  • Area Three - 15 hours (9 of which must be upper division courses)

  • Electives - 33 hours (18 of which must be upper division courses)

Total hours in degree program: 120 semester credit hours  (2.0 GPA required for graduation.)

PROGRAM COURSES:

To find out when the courses will be offered, link to the course catalog, select the program and click search. Catalog search results will return the schedules for at least two semesters, but not all programs are scheduled that far in advance.

Below are examples of courses from UT Permian Basin and UT El Paso that could possibly be used to create your three areas of concentration. (Your advisor will instruct you on how to register for UTPB courses.) Each concentration is made up of 6 hours of lower division (LD) credit and 9 hours of upper division (UD) credit. Courses may be used only once on the degree plan.

Concentration 1: Humanities

  1. ANTH 1302 Intro to Cultural Anthropology (LD) - UTEP
  2. HIST 2301 World History to 1500 (LD) - UTEP
  3. HUMN 3301 Backgrounds and Foundations (UD) - UTEP
  4. HUMN 3302 From Faith to Reason (UD) - UTEP
  5. HUMN 3303 Challenges of modern Culture (UD) - UTEP  

Concentration 2: Social Sciences 

  1. PSYC 1301 Introduction to Psychology (LD) - UTPB
  2. HIST 2301 World History to 1500 (LD) - UTEP
  3. SOCI 3347 Sociology of Work (UD) - UTPB
  4. ANTH 4380 Theory in Anthropology (UD) - UTEP
  5. POLS 4313 Southwestern Border Politics (UD) - UTEP  

Concentration 3: Social Issues

  1. PSYC 1301 Introduction to Psychology (LD) - UTPB
  2. ANTH 1302 Intro to Cultural Anthropology (LD) - UTEP
  3. POLS 4313 Southwestern Border Politics (UD) - UTEP
  4. CCJO 4354 Ethics in Criminal Justice (UD) - UTPB
  5. PSYC 4305 Drugs and Behavior (UD) - UTPB

Concentration 4: Cultural Studies

  1. ANTH 1302 Intro to Cultural Anthropology (LD) - UTEP
  2. HIST 2322 World Civilization (LD) - UTPB
  3. MUSI 3308 Music History I (UD) - UTPB
  4. POLS 4313 Southwestern Border Politics (UD) - UTEP
  5. HUMN 3303 Challenges of modern Culture (UD) - UTEP

Concentration 5: Behavioral Studies 

  1. SOCI 1310 Cultural Geography (LD) - UTEP
  2. PSYC 1301 Introduction to Psychology (LD) - UTPB
  3. PSYC 3350 Positive Psychology (UD) - UTPB
  4. CHLD 3310 Motor Development (UD) - UTPB
  5. PSYC 4305 Drug and Behavior (UD) - UTPB

Concentration 6: Criminology 

  1. PSYC 1301 Introduction to Psychology (LD) - UTPB
  2. ANTH 1302 Intro to Cultural Anthropology (LD) - UTEP
  3. CCJO 4354 Ethics in Criminal Justice (UD) - UTPB
  4. CCJO 4356 Probation and Parole (UD) - UTPB
  5. BIOL 4395 Toxicology (UD) - UTEP 

In development:

  • Leadership Studies
  • Intelligence and National Security
  • Studies in the Western Hemisphere

Course which can be taken online to satisfy 42 hours of Core requirements for Fall 2009:

3 Hours of Mathematics:

3 Hours of Humanities:

3 Hours of Visual and Performing Arts:

3 Hours of Social & Behavioral Sciences:

DEGREE GRANTING INSTITUTION AND ADVISOR

The University of Texas at El Paso
University College
218 Academic Services Building
El Paso, TX 79968
Advisor: Julio Rogers
Phone: (915) 747-5151
Email: bmsonline@utep.edu

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

  • What can you do with a Bachelor of Multidisciplinary Studies? You have many options when you complete your Bachelor of Multidisciplinary Studies. Many students find they have new job opportunities or the opportunity for job promotions with their degree. Others enroll in graduate school. BMS graduates can start careers in business, government, education or not-for-profit organizations.
  • How many semester credit hours are required to complete the program? The Bachelor of Multidisciplinary Studies degree requires a minimum of 120 semester hours. (See the degree requirements above.)
  • How much will it cost? Students are billed by the UT institution offering the course. Links to campus tuition and fee information can be found on the cost & financial information page
  • Will I have to visit the campus at any time? Students will not be required to visit the campus at any time. The program is designed to meet the needs of both traditional and non-traditional students.
  • How can I find more information? Contact the advisor if you have additional questions.

GETTING STARTED

To participate in the Bachelor's of Multidisciplinary Studies Degree Completion Program, you must apply to and be accepted by UT El Paso. Apply for undergraduate admissions at www.utep.edu/admit or call (915) 747-5890 for admissions information.

Admissions Requirements

  • New, transfer, and returning students may declare their intention to work toward a BMS degree if they meet UTEP’s admission requirements.
  • All students admitted into the BMS program are required to consult regularly with a BMS advisor to select their concentrations and electives.

Once you have been admitted to UTEP as a new student or decide to return as a continuing student, call the University College at (915) 747-5151 to set up an advising appointment to have your BMS degree plan prepared.

Please refer to the UT El Paso Academic Calendar pages for a schedule of admissions and registration deadlines. For additional information on registration and course access, please link to Enrollment Services.