Multidisciplinary Studies (BA.MDS)

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The Multidisciplinary Studies (MDS) major provides students with broad exposure to four key liberal arts fields: English, history/social sciences, mathematics, and science. While open to all students, the MDS major is particularly designed for students seeking to become elementary education teachers. (Such students must also complete the courses for Elementary Education Licensure or Elementary Education Licensure with Special Education Endorsement .)

The MDS major is overseen by the Faculty Assemby Committee on Teacher Education.

Educational objectives:

Students will demonstrate knowledge of appropriate content in the areas of English Language Arts, particularly the conventions of written English and the dimensions of quality writing and types of writing, as well as a wide variety of quality, age-appropriate literature across genres, and strategies for textual analysis. Furthermore, students will practice appropriate pedagogy for teaching writing as well as textual analysis of literature.
Students will demonstrate knowledge of historical and social science content, concepts, and skills in the areas of historical thinking; history; cultural geography; diversity, unity, identity, and interdependence; and citizenship as delineated in current national professional standards.
Students will demonstrate knowledge of essential numeracy concepts and their development, as well as content in the areas of number and operations; algebra and functions; geometry in the areas of numbers and operations, geometry and measurement; and data analysis, statistics, and probability.
Students will demonstrate knowledge of scientific content, concepts and skills in the areas of development of students' scientific inquiry process; life sciences; physical sciences; Earth, environmental, and atmospheric sciences
Students will demonstrate content knowledge in depth for one of four liberal arts content areas.

Note: For students seeking licensure, no courses for the MDS major may be taken on a pass/no pass basis.

Complete the requirements of the four content areas (English, History/Social Sciences, Mathematics, and Science):

Science Requirements (16 cr):

Complete 16 credits from the courses listed below.

At least 7 of the 16 credits must be chosen from the list of Life Science courses, and at least 7 of the 16 credits must be chosen from the list of Physical Science courses.

Life Science
AHS 1010 - Contemporary Health Issues 3 cr
BIO 1010 - Human Biology and Laboratory 4 cr
BIO 1141 - Organisms and Adaptations I 4 cr
BIO 1160 - Flora of Vermont 3-4 cr
BIO 1270 - Horticulture of Medicinal Plants 3 cr
BIO 1310 - Explorations in Biology 1 cr
BIO 1320 - Tropical Diversity 4 cr
BIO 2140 - Botany 3 cr
BIO 2035 - Animal Diversity 4 cr
Physical Science
CHE 1311 - Chemistry in the Classroom 3 cr *
CHE 1312 - Chemistry in the Classroom Activities 1 cr *
GEO 2220 - Weather and Climate 3 cr
GEY 1030 - Dynamic Earth 4 cr
GEY 1040 - Environmental Geology 4 cr
GEY 1050 - The Earth through Time 4 cr
PHY 1110 - Introduction to Astronomy 3 cr
PHY 1140 - Astronomy: Exploring the Universe 4 cr
PHY 1150 - Physics for Elementary Teachers 4 cr *
*Students seeking Elementary Licensure must select one pedagogy lab; these courses are indicated with an asterisk.

And complete a Concentration in one of the four content areas (12 cr):

Concentration in English

Complete 12 credits in ENG courses, approved by the chair of the English Department.

Concentration in HGEP

Students wishing to concentrate in HGEP are required to submit a signed contract to the Registrar by the end of their sophomore year. This contract must be approved by both the student’s HGEP advisor and the chair of the HGEP Department.

Complete ONE of these courses:
ECO 1010 - Economics and Society 3 cr
ECO 1040 - Global Economic Issues 3 cr
And complete this course:
HIS 2070 - Vermont History 3 cr
And complete two Electives:

Complete two elective courses at the 3000 level or above in History, Geography, Economics or Political Science. The two courses must be in different disciplines. (HIS 2335 - Asia through Food and Film , may be substituted for one 3000-level class.)

Concentration in Mathematics

Complete 12 credits in MAT courses, approved by the chair of the Mathematics Department.

Concentration in Science

Complete 12 additional credits in science chosen from the Life Science and Physical Science lists above.

(Credits required for the major: 64-65 cr)

And complete the college's Gen Ed requirements

Click here to review the Gen Ed requirements