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2010–2012 Undergraduate Catalog

Bachelor of Science Degree in Multidisciplinary Science

The Bachelor of Science degree in Multidisciplinary Science (MDS) is designed for future scientists or future secondary science teachers, and gives students broad training across the sciences. The MDS degree, coupled with a concentration at the upper-division level in a single science field (major requirements A and C, below), is ideal for future scientists interested in an interdisciplinary approach in science. The MDS degree also offers a composite science certification track through the College of Education and Human Development (COEHD), which is designed to prepare students for a career in teaching secondary school science (major requirements A and B, below). Students seeking teacher certification should contact the COEHD Advising and Certification Center as early in their educational program as possible, but no later than their fourth semester of study, for information about certificate requirements and admission procedures. Undergraduates seeking elementary teacher certification must complete the interdisciplinary studies degree.

The minimum number of semester credit hours required for this degree, including the Core Curriculum requirements, is 121 hours without teacher certification and 136 hours with teacher certification.

All candidates seeking this degree must fulfill the Core Curriculum requirements and the degree requirements, which are listed below.

Core Curriculum requirements: Students seeking the Bachelor of Science degree in Multidisciplinary Science must fulfill University Core Curriculum requirements in the same manner as other students. The courses listed in the table below satisfy both major requirements and Core Curriculum requirements; however, if these courses are taken to satisfy both requirements, then students may need to take additional courses in order to meet the minimum number of semester credit hours required for this degree. For a complete listing of courses that satisfy the Core Curriculum requirements see pages 5–9 of this catalog.

Degree Requirements

NOTE: All coursework must be completed with a grade of “C” or better.

1. 40 semester credit hours of required science courses:
   
   AST  1013, 1031   Introduction to Astronomy and Laboratory
   BIO  1122            Laboratory Investigations in Biology
   BIO  1404            Biosciences I
   BIO  1413            Biosciences II
   CHE  1103           General Chemistry I
   CHE  1113, 1132  General Chemistry II and Laboratory
   GEO  1103, 1111  Introduction to Earth Systems and Laboratory
   GEO  1123, 1131  Earth History and Laboratory
   MAT  1093           Precalculus
   
   Either
   PHY  1603, 1611  Algebra-based Physics I and Laboratory
   PHY  1623, 1631  Algebra-based Physics II and Laboratory
   or
   *PHY  1943, 1951  Physics for Scientists I and Laboratory
   *PHY  1963, 1971  Physics for Scientists II and Laboratory
   
   *Note that the prerequisites for Physics for Scientists are Calculus I and II (MAT 1214 and MAT 1224). These can be included among the elective courses in sciences and mathematics.
   
   
2. MDS Degree with Certification (composite science emphasis):
   
   1. 30 semester credit hours of required science courses:
      
      BIO  2313            Genetics
      BIO  3283, 3292   Principles of Ecology and Laboratory
      BIO  3323            Evolution
      BIO  3413, 3422   Advanced Physiology and Laboratory
      GEO  3153, 3162  Paleontology and Stratigraphy and Laboratory
      GEO  3163           Oceanography
      GEO  4193           Field-Based Inquiry
      STA  1053           Basic Statistics
      
      
   2. 33 semester credit hours of electives to satisfy certification requirements as follows:
      
      BBL  3403   Cultural and Linguistic Diversity in a Pluralistic Society
      SPE  3603   Introduction to Exceptionality
      
      COM  1043  Introduction to Communication
      or
      COM  2123  Oral Interpretation
      
      UTE  1011   UTeach Mathematics/Science I
      UTE  1021   UTeach Mathematics/Science II
      UTE  1031   UTeach Mathematics/Science III
      or
      IDS  2013   Introduction to Learning and Teaching in a Culturally Diverse Society
      
      AND
      
      21 semester credit hours of professional education courses
      
      
3. MDS Degree without Certification:
   
   48 semester credit hours of approved electives in geology, biology, chemistry, physics, environmental science, and/or mathematics, including a sufficient number of upper-division hours to meet the UTSA minimum of 39 upper-division hours.
   
   Students seeking an MDS degree as preparation for a graduate degree in science should follow as closely as possible the degree requirements of their chosen science as those courses are most likely to be required by graduate schools in that field. Non-certification-seeking students should, at a minimum, pursue a minor in any one or more science. It is possible through careful planning to achieve a double major in MDS and another science. All MDS students should create a four-year plan through the College of Sciences Undergraduate Advising Center as early as possible in their course of study, and continue to check in on a course-by-course basis should those plans change.

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