Getting Started

College: Other

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. 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.

Suggested Major and Pre-requisite Courses

Information below is meant to guide first year students in getting started with the major and choosing appropriate 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/FYS, Interdisciplinary Approaches to Real World Issues.
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.

To declare or change into the major, students must first apply, and if accepted, complete the BDIC Proposal Writing course (BDIC 396P). While a 2.0 G.P.A. and at least 12 credits are required for entrance into BDIC 396P, additional criteria are also considered. Prospective students are encouraged to meet with an advisor at BDIC to discuss the Program and its requirements.

During BDIC 396P, students prepare a rationale explaining their interest in pursuing a non-traditional degree at the university, along with a description of the courses they plan to include in their major curriculum. The proposal must be approved by the course instructor and the chief academic advisor before the student may formally declare the BDIC major.

Applications to BDIC 396P are available online on the BDIC website at www.umass.edu/bdic. Deadlines for applications are: April 10 for the fall semester and November 15 for the spring semester. The BDIC Program normally involves a four-semester commitment, but in certain circumstances, students with fewer remaining semesters may be considered. Students are encouraged to apply to BDIC 396P, the Proposal Writing course, early in their academic careers.

Summary of Requirements for the Major

Minimum total # of credits required: 38-44

Over the span of four semesters, students must take twelve upper-division courses which are drawn from three or more departments that provide a cohesive interdisciplinary focus. In addition to this 36-credit curriculum, the two credit proposal writing class (BDIC 396P), 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
413-545-2504
bdic@bdic.umass.edu