Getting Started
College: Other
Information below is meant to guide first year students in getting starting with this major and choosing appropriate courses. More advanced students interested in this major would also likely start with proposed foundation/pre-requisite courses. Please refer to the Major page located in the left menu bar to learn about the full major requirements.
How to Explore the Major
Suggested General Education Courses
All Undergraduates are required to satisfy the General Education Requirements. Guidelines for students are available at https://www.umass.edu/gened. Students should choose a wide variety of Gen Ed courses, providing breadth of experience.
Whenever possible, students should select courses that both fulfill general education requirements AND are prerequisites to upper level courses in fields/departments that they want to include in their major.
Suggested Major and Pre-requisite Courses
- Students should take a broad assortment of General Education courses and electives to help determine which departments they want to include in their area of concentration.
- First-year students are encouraged to take BDIC 191, How to Design Your Own Major and BDIC 192C, Wicked Problems.
- Students should use their first year to explore courses and options. They should also meet with an advisor at BDIC to sort out their ideas.
How to Declare/Change into the Major
For current & admitted students: This major is restricted, which means students must apply through an on-campus process to be accepted into the major. The majors may have criteria for admission/acceptance into the major (e.g., specific courses, GPA)
In order to be accepted into the major, a student must first complete the BDIC Proposal Writing class, BDIC 396P. Although a 2.0 G.P.A. and at least 12 credits are the minimum requirements for entrance into BDIC 396P, a number of other criteria are considered, as well. Admission is highly competitive. Upperclassmen should meet with an advisor at BDIC for help in understanding the Program and its requirements
During BDIC 396P, the student works on an individual basis with a peer advisor who will help with the development of a proposal outlining his/her chosen concentration. This includes a rationale as to why the student wants to pursue a non-traditional degree at the University and a description of what courses the student plans to take as part of his/her major curriculum. The proposal must then be approved by the student’s chosen Faculty Sponsor and BDIC Faculty Supervisor.
Applications to BDIC 396P are available online on the BDIC website at www.umass.edu/bdic. Deadlines for applications are: April 10 for summer and fall semesters and November 15 for spring semester. There is a four-semester commitment to the BDIC Program, so students should apply to BDIC 396P, the Proposal Writing class, early in their academic careers.
Summary of Requirements for the Major
Minimum total # of credits required: 39
Over the span of four semesters, students must take twelve courses at the 300-level or above which are drawn from three or more departments that provide a cohesive interdisciplinary focus. In addition to this 36-credit curriculum, a three-credit course in junior year writing (BDIC 350), an integrative experience class (BDIC 494I), and a Senior Summary with Abstract are also required. Five-College courses, international and domestic exchange work, independent studies and internships are encouraged.
Refer to the Major page located in the left menu bar to learn more.
Is there a minor?
No! A minor is not available.
For further information, contact:
BDIC Office
545-2504
bdic@bdic.umass.edu