About This Program

The Master of Multidisciplinary Studies (MMS) provides students the opportunity to earn a graduate degree that builds marketable skills and knowledge in two or more complementary fields of study. The program is flexible, allowing graduate certificates and courses to be combined to provide individualized pathways for reskilling and upskilling. It is intended for students to build upon prior education and provide combinations of learning experiences that are not provided by graduate degrees in a single field of study. With the approval of the program’s advisor, students may apply prior graduate coursework at UTA towards this degree, if it has not been used for another graduate degree. Students may apply up to nine hours of transferred graduate coursework from another institution of recognized standing. The MMS is a 30-hour graduate degree in which students are required to complete a graduate certificate program (9-15 hours), combined with additional coursework in one or more other disciplines, including the option of obtaining a second certificate. If the required certificate has less than 12 required hours, additional courses must be taken in the same discipline to reach 12 hours. The additional coursework taken beyond these 12 hours must include at least 9 hours in a different discipline taught in another department, unless approved by the program’s graduate advisor.

Students will work with the program’s graduate advisor to select the required certificate and additional coursework. This individualized plan of study must be approved by the program’s graduate advisor. Review and approval of the plan of study will be based on how well it meets the student’s intended professional and personal goals, through study of multiple disciplines. All of the certificates and coursework used in the program are offered by the academic colleges. To complete the degree, students must satisfy the criteria established by the respective colleges for the required certificate. They must also satisfy prerequisites for courses they take. Course content, delivery, and grading will follow college policies. Students are admitted to the MMS program based upon the basic requirements for graduate admission in the university catalog and the admission requirements established for the required certificate they intend to complete. Applicants must also submit a personal statement identifying the certificate program they want to use for their required certificate, and the discipline they are interested in for their additional coursework. The personal statement should also describe how the intended studies will contribute to their professional and personal goals. Applicants are strongly encouraged to consult with the program’s graduate advisor while working on this statement.

Competencies

1. Upon completion, students will demonstrate the competencies developed by the certifications comprised in the individual degree plan.

Admissions Criteria

UNCONDITIONAL ADMISSION

The following are minimal requirements for Unconditional Admission into the Master of Multidisciplinary Studies program.

1. A bachelor's degree with a minimum undergraduate GPA of 3.0 on a 4.0 scale, as calculated by the Office of Admissions.
2. An applicant whose native language is not English must demonstrate a sufficient level of skill with the English language to assure success in graduate studies. Applicants are expected to submit a score of at least 6.5 on the IELTS or achieve a minimum TOEFL iBT total score of 79. Further, when the TOEFL iBT is taken, sectional scores of at least 22 on the writing section, 21 on the speaking section, 20 on the reading section, and 16 on the listening section are preferred.
3. A personal statement identifying the graduate certificate program they want to use for their required certificate, and the discipline they are interested in for their additional coursework. Graduate certificate programs are listed here. The personal statement should also describe how the intended studies will contribute to their professional and personal goals. Applicants are strongly encouraged to consult with the program’s graduate advisor while working on this statement.

PROBATIONARY ADMISSION REQUIREMENTS

Students will be considered for Probationary Admission if they have a minimum undergraduate GPA of 2.75 on a 4.0 scale. Students admitted on probation must maintain a GPA of at least 3.0 during their first 12 semester credit hours of coursework.

HOW TO APPLY

First, read the general instructions for applying to the graduate program and download the checklists available on the Office of Admissions webpage. Then, submit the application through ApplyUTA.

Curriculum

First Discipline/Certificate
Select at least 12 hours in any graduate certificate. (For 9 hour certificates, complete additional coursework.)		12
Second Discipline
Select up to 18 hours in graduate courses, at least 9 hours of which must be in a discipline and department different from that of the first discipline certificate.		18
Total Hours		30

Advising Resources