The University of New Mexico

Plan of Study

The most important component in your education through the University Studies program is the Plan of Study you design in collaboration with a B.U.S. advisor.  A Plan of Study is a specific list of 36 or more credit hours that identifies your proposed remaining courses for degree completion.  This is the substance and core of both your application and your degree creation process.  The template forms for both the Interdisciplinary and Multidisciplinary Plans of Study are found in the Forms and Downloads page.

The first decision to make in designing a Plan of Study is whether it will be an interdisciplinary program (comprised of courses from two subject areas) or a multidisciplinary, theme-based program (comprised of courses from more than two subject areas that are linked by a concept, or “theme”).

When creating your Plan of Study, please be aware that various academic departments are restricted.  This means that courses in particular subject areas are restricted to only those who are majoring in that particular subject area.  Examples include:

  • Architecture
  • Engineering
  • Health Sciences (Nursing, Radiologic Sciences, EMS, etc.)
  • Management (limit to upper division credit hours)
  • Education (EDUC entirely, PEP and Nutrition specific course restrictions)

Your Plan of Study must be approved by your University Studies advisor in order for you to be admitted into the program. In addition, any changes you wish to make to your Plan of Study must be approved by your advisor. When it comes time to do a graduation check, your advisor will determine whether or not you have followed your Plan of Study. Students who do not adhere to approved plans of study risk not graduating on time.

Interdisciplinary Plan of Study

Interdisciplinary plans of study combine courses from two academic programs or departments at UNM. For example, a student might create an interdisciplinary plan of study by combining 12-18 credits from Sociology and 12-18 credits from Psychology. Other fairly typical interdisciplinary combinations include: Anthropology and Biology, Latin American Studies and Spanish, English and Political Science, Art Studio and Communications, as well as History and Religious Studies.

A example of a strong interdisciplinary Plan of Study is the combination of U.S. History & Media Arts (Film) classes in preparation for graduate study in American Studies or Ethnology (Cultural Anthropology). Interdisciplinary plans are most often used to prepare for careers in academia/research:

  • M.A.
  • M.S.
  • M.D.
  • Ph.D.

Multidisciplinary Plan of Study

Multidisciplinarity is a much older and more established concept than the newer and integrated approach of the interdisciplinary plan. It takes the best of many disciplines particular strengths and focuses them on a particular theme - usually a subject that has evolved from its original discipline. 

University Studies students may structure their degree plans around a theme – linking courses from up to four (4) disciplines at UNM. The following are examples of multidisciplinary, theme-based plans of study.  Examples of a theme-based degree plan may include:

  • Theme: Human Development and Culture:  This theme-based plan of study might combine courses from such areas as Art and Anthropology, Art History, Biology, Education, Family Studies, Linguistics, Mathematics, Music, Philosophy, Psychology, Religious Studies, and Theatre.
  • Theme: Law Enforcement:  This plan might combine courses from such areas as American Studies, Communication, Family Studies, Health Education, Management, Psychology, Sociology, and Women’s Studies.
  • Theme: The Business of Sport:  This plan would combine areas of science such as anatomy, physical education and nutrition with broadcast communications and management skills.
  • Theme: Wellness & the Arts:  This plan might be comprised of courses from Art, Dance, Music, and other Fine Arts departments, as well as courses from American Studies, Educational Psychology, Health Education, Nutrition, Physical Education, and Psychology.
  • Theme: Organizational Development:  This plan might include courses from Communication & Journalism, Economics, Management, Organizational Learning (O.L.I.T.), Professional Writing (English), and Public Administration.

A strong example of a multidisciplinary Plan of Study is the field of forensic science. A strong combination of Physical Anthropology and Biology courses will build skills in the medical half of the plan, while Sociology and Psychology classes will build skills in the counter-balancing legal half. It is known that this combination of skills and perspectives from all four disciplines are needed to be successful in the emerging fields of Forensic Pathology and Criminalistics.

Multidisciplinary degree plans are often used to prepare for careers in academia/research:

  • M.S.W.
  • M.Div.
  • M.Ed.
  • J.D.
  • Pharm.D.