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Mission
The School of Interdisciplinary Programs and Community Engagement (SIPCE) combines the expertise and knowledge drawn from a broad array of faculty across UTRGV. We pursue an intersectional approach to multidisciplinary research, teaching, and learning that not only attends to the unique region of Río Grande Valley and South Texas but also the nation and world. SIPCE prepares students to address complex questions and develop meaningful solutions that promote a democratic society, social justice, and sustainable futures.
About the Bachelor of Multidisciplinary Studies (BMS)
Housed in the College of Liberal Arts' School of Interdisciplinary Programs & Community Engagement, the BMS allows students to custom design a plan of study that brings together coursework from three disciplines.
Students completing the BMS program will be able to apply the knowledge and skills to contribute to society in meaningful ways and to expand their career and employment opportunities as a result of a multidisciplinary education. They can also continue their studies in a graduate degree or post-baccalaureate professional program being fully prepared with the analytical skills necessary to succeed within demanding and highly competitive fields.
In order to earn a BMS, students have to fulfill the requirements for three different minors of their choice in addition to the general education core and free electives.
Academic Programs
Bachelor's
Bachelor's Degree
Human Dimensions of Organizations (BA)
Bachelor of Arts in Human Dimensions of Organizations
Program Modality: Campus
The Bachelor’s degree in Human Dimensions of Organizations (HDO) teaches students to use the disciplines of the liberal arts – the humanities and the social/behavioral sciences – to understand workplace interactions and how organizations can best serve their employees, customers, and clients. This major is intended for students who envision themselves solving human-centered problems in organizations including business, government, nonprofits, and the military.
Bachelor's Degree
Medical and Health Humanities
Bachelor of Arts in Medical and Health Humanities
Program Modality: Campus
Go beyond traditional healthcare education with a program that bridges the gap between science and the humanities. The Bachelor of Arts in Medical and Health Humanities is designed for students who want a well-rounded education that blends the humanities, social sciences, and natural sciences.
This program will prepare students to do more than just understand the human body—it equips them with the knowledge and skills to see the bigger picture in healthcare. Students will learn about the importance of ethics, empathy, and communication in medicine, making it an ideal foundation for those planning to pursue medical, pharmacy, or other professional degrees in the healthcare field.
One of the best features of this major is its flexibility. Choose from a variety of practical courses, such as nutrition, addiction studies, and clinical Spanish, all of which are highly relevant to a future in healthcare. Plus, there's room in the degree plan to add a minor or even pursue a double major, giving students even more options to tailor their education to their career goals.
Bachelor's Degree
Multidisciplinary Studies (BMS)
Bachelor of Multidisciplinary Studies in Multidisciplinary Studies
Program Modality: Campus
The bachelor's degree in Multidisciplinary Studies at UTRGV lets you build your path by combining three different areas of study. With this flexible program, you can choose three minors that interest you and create a degree that's uniquely yours. This means you can explore multiple fields at once, giving you more options for your future career.
Bachelor's Degree
Public Heritage and Community Engagement (BAIS)
Bachelor of Arts in Interdisciplinary Studies in Public Heritage and Community Engagement
Program Modality: Campus
The Public Heritage & Community Engagement degree combines the fields of Public History, Critical Cultural Heritage Studies, and Museum Studies to investigate the development, contestations, and implications of shared interpretation, valuation, and appreciation of places, buildings, natural landscapes, traditions, and objects. Program emphasis is placed on the critical role of community partnerships in these endeavors, helping students build the skills and networks that they will need for employment in multiple sectors after graduation.
Concentrations:
Minors
- Environmental Studies, Minor
- Coordinator: Roseann Bacha-Garza
- Food Studies, Minor
- Coordinator: Marla Perez-Lugo
- Medical Humanities, Minor
- Coordinator: Marla Perez-Lugo
- Military Science, Minor
- Coordinator: Suzanne LaLonde
Medical Humanities Program: The UTRGV Medical Humanities Minor offers students an interdisciplinary curriculum designed to develop an understanding of the cultural, economic, gender, and historical factors that influence health and healing. At the same time, the program will foster respect for the pluralistic diversity in society at large. For those who are interested in the practice of healthcare, this minor will be invaluable in examining crucial components of the healing arts, including ethical considerations in patient/client-caregiver relations and humanistic.
Elements of positive healthcare delivery, such as effective communication, respect amongst patients/clients and providers, integrity, excellence, compassion, empathy, altruism, and service. By participating in this program of study, students will have the unique opportunity to work with faculty in the humanities who have strong teaching and research interests in the area of healthcare. This minor encourages students to think innovatively about their own roles in improving health throughout the world, no matter their future profession or past background.
Environmental Studies Program: The Environmental Studies Program is a learning community of students and faculty who use the tools of the humanities and social sciences to identify, name, explain, and analyze the causes of our global ecological crisis. The program supports interdisciplinary, community-engaged approaches to designing and implementing solutions to this crisis that are humane, just, and sustainable. Students take courses across three categories: (1) environmental science, (2) environmental humanities, and (3) environmental justice, public policy, and political economy. The knowledge students acquire in these categories applies to all other majors and enhances post-graduate opportunities. Graduates of the program know the importance of social responsibility and are critical thinkers who can analyze quantitative and qualitative data to help solve pressing problems. The minor in Environmental Studies teaches information, values, and skills that are prized by employers.
Food Studies minor: This interdisciplinary minor will complement a wide range of majors for students who wish to add more perspectives from the humanities and social sciences to their major program on aspects of food (e.g. Sustainable Agriculture and Food Systems, Nutritional Sciences, Environmental Science, etc.), or for students who wish to add more of an emphasis on food and food systems to their humanities and social sciences major (e.g. History, Philosophy, Anthropology, Social Work, etc.). As is often pointed out in food studies, “Everybody Eats,” making food an excellent boundary object for bringing together a wide variety of topics and approaches. Food is a multibillion-dollar annual industry and a linchpin for economic systems as well as people’s daily life and health. Food is also central to culture and society – who we are, the ways we connect, and how social institutions function. Career opportunities in food-related professions are expanding rapidly, and this minor can help create pathways for supporting careers in nonprofit and NGO work, marketing, food production and distribution companies, food science, government positions ranging from local to international levels, retail food operations, multi-media publishing, and more.
Multidisciplinary Studies Program: The Multidisciplinary Studies degree program allows students to custom design a plan of study that brings together course work from three disciplines rather than the two disciplines reflected by the traditional academic major/minor format.
Human Dimensions of Organizations Program: A degree in the Human Dimensions of Organizations (HDO) teaches students to use the disciplines of the liberal arts – the humanities and the social/behavioral sciences – to understand workplace interactions and how organizations can best serve their employees, customers, and clients. This major is intended for students who envision themselves solving human-centered problems in organizations including business, government, nonprofits, and the military. Career paths from HDO include human resources, people management, nonprofit leadership, project management, and government service, among others. Disciplines in the liberal arts have always taught critical thinking skills and effective communication, which are crucial to success in organizations. These disciplines also provide a deeper understanding of culture, motivation and behavior, group dynamics, and individual psychology.