Bachelor of Interdisciplinary Professional Studies Online
Expand your career outlook in this customizable interdisciplinary program. Develop the high-level communication and critical thinking skills to qualify for a variety of professional roles.
Apply By
4/22/25
Program Overview
Diversify your career options with the Bachelor of Interdisciplinary Professional Studies
Design a degree that aligns with your unique academic interests and professional aspirations. The Bachelor of Interdisciplinary Professional Studies online from the University of Mount Saint Vincent increases your proficiency in key areas such as technical communication, editing, and systems theory as a tool for analysis. Choose 30 credit hours from two dynamic fields of study, Organizational Leadership or Communication and Media Studies, and tailor your education to your career goals.
Designed for working professionals, this online program is an ideal opportunity to complete your degree quickly and conveniently by transferring up to 90 credit hours. Take advantage of the Mount’s flexible academic calendar and fast, 7-week courses as you develop the competence and problem-solving skills to thrive in any industry.
As a graduate of this online interdisciplinary studies degree program, you will be prepared to:
- Utilize workplace and technical communication and editing appropriate to diverse professions
- Identify organizational problems and settings to create resolution methodologies with an emphasis on systems theory as a tool for analysis
- Think statistically by understanding the vocabulary of data analysts and using various software programs to become a critical consumer of information
- Analyze contemporary political institutions and behavior, focusing on the American governmental system
- Become a better writer, speaker, and strategic thinker
- Articulate the processes by which the behaviors, thoughts, and feelings of the individual are influenced by his/her social environment
- Utilize workplace and technical communication and editing appropriate to diverse professions
- Identify organizational problems and settings to create resolution methodologies with an emphasis on systems theory as a tool for analysis
- Think statistically by understanding the vocabulary of data analysts and using various software programs to become a critical consumer of information
- Analyze contemporary political institutions and behavior, focusing on the American governmental system
- Become a better writer, speaker, and strategic thinker
- Articulate the processes by which the behaviors, thoughts, and feelings of the individual are influenced by his/her social environment
Interdisciplinary studies careers:
- Accounting Assistant
- Actuary
- Marketing Coordinator
- Bookkeeper
- Digital Marketing Specialist
- Team Leader
- Assistant Project Manager
- Accounting Assistant
- Actuary
- Marketing Coordinator
- Bookkeeper
- Digital Marketing Specialist
- Team Leader
- Assistant Project Manager
Also available:
The Mount has multiple undergraduate degree programs online. Explore our online bachelor’s degrees.
Per Credit Hour
$324
Transfer Credits
Up to 90
Credit Hours
120
Accreditation
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College of Distinction
Designated a "College of Distinction" in the Business, Education, Nursing, and Career Development categories by Colleges of Distinction, 2023-2024
Tuition
Get an exceptional education at an affordable price
At the University of Mount Saint Vincent, we are committed to providing a high-quality education for less than you would expect. Tuition for the interdisciplinary studies degree program online is affordable and can easily fit into your budget.
| Program | Per Credit Hour | Per Course | Per Program |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bachelor of Interdisciplinary Professional Studies | $324 | $972 | $38,880 |
Tuition Breakdown
Per Credit Hour
$324
Per Course
$972
Calendar
Choose the start date that best fits your schedule
The Bachelor of Interdisciplinary Professional Studies is designed with working adults in mind. We offer multiple start dates and faster course completion time to help you earn your degree when it’s convenient for you.
| Term | Start Date | App Deadline | Document Deadline | Registration Deadline | Tuition Deadline | Class End Date | Term Length |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Summer 1 | 5/19/25 | 4/22/25 | 4/22/25 | 4/28/25 | 5/15/25 | 7/6/25 | 7 weeks |
Now Enrolling
Apply By
4/22/25
Start Class
5/19/25
Ready to take the rewarding path toward earning your degree online?
Admissions
Requirements for this interdisciplinary studies degree program online
The streamlined admission process at the University of Mount Saint Vincent makes it easier to apply and helps you start your academic journey faster. Please read the full admission requirements for the online bachelor’s degree in interdisciplinary studies.
Admission Requirements
- No ACT/SAT score required
- Transfer up to 90 credit hours
- GPA of 2.0 or higher
You must meet the following requirements for admission to the Bachelor of Interdisciplinary Professional Studies online program:
- Submit online application
- Official transcripts from all colleges and universities attended
- Minimum GPA of 2.0 on a 4.0 scale
- First time freshman must be out of high school for 2 years
Official transcripts and other documents should be sent from the granting institutions to our Office of Admissions:
Email address: [email protected]
Mail address:
Office of Admission
University of Mount Saint Vincent
6301 Riverdale Avenue
Riverdale, NY 10471
Admission Requirements
- No ACT/SAT score required
- Transfer up to 90 credit hours
- GPA of 2.0 or higher
Courses
Browse the courses for the Interdisciplinary Professional Studies Bachelor program
For the University of Mount Saint Vincent’s Bachelor of Interdisciplinary Professional Studies online, the curriculum is comprised of 40 courses for a total of 120 credit hours, including nine Professional Studies major courses.
GNED 103: Professional Communication
Duration: 7 Weeks weeks
Credit Hours: 3
Practice in developing and improving writing for professionals. This course emphasizes workplace and technical communication and editing appropriate to diverse professions. Students investigate and practice selected types of discourse employed in professional writing situations, and are prepared for different systems of writing that are relied on during the professional careers of business manager. Students examine and analyze examples from the writing of workplace professionals and use them as models to demonstrate the transition from casual to professional writing. This course also includes strategies and techniques for effective presentations in the business and managerial professions. An emphasis is placed on oral and visual techniques for formal and informal situations including leadership, conflict resolution, interviewing, negotiation, and group communication.
GNED 104: Self, Society, and Institutions
Duration: 7 Weeks weeks
Credit Hours: 3
Self-understanding and the quest for personal and professional realization are mediated by a host of social and institutional forms, including the family, social class, the economy, schools and modern governmental and corporate structures. This course will select and organize readings and other relevant materials in sociology, political science and economics to enable students to analyze some contemporary institutional forms and to appreciate the dynamic interaction between such forms and the individual’s personal experiences and areas of study.
PSYC 103: Introduction to Psychology I
Duration: 7 Weeks weeks
Credit Hours: 3
This course provides students with a fundamental grasp of the research, principles, and theories of psychology. Students will acquire a better understanding of their behavior through such topics as development, learning, memory, personality, social behavior, abnormal behavior and therapy.
By the end of this course, students will be able to:
- Master terms, names, concepts, scientific experiments, and theories vital to the understanding of psychology as a science
- Demonstrate understanding of theories and concepts from major content areas of psychology including: memory, learning, development, social psychology, personality, and abnormal psychology
- Develop the ability to analyze and solve problems from psychological perspective in everyday life, and communicate these ideas effectively
- Adopt and understand values of the APA ethics code, particularly in reference to human subjects research
GNED 204: Informed Use of Statistical Analysis
Duration: 7 Weeks weeks
Credit Hours: 3
This course is an introduction to statistical techniques commonly used in the analysis of data from many sources. Emphasis is placed on the assumptions, restrictions, and uses of various methods of analyzing data rather than on the mathematical derivation of formulae. The basic objectives of the course include: overcoming some of the myths and fears associated with statistical analysis; learning to think “statistically” and to share the vocabulary of data analysts; providing a basic working knowledge of fundamental statistical analyses; introducing you to various software programs and the Internet; preparing students to become critical consumers of information; and stimulating an intellectual curiosity about the use of statistics in our professional and personal lives.
GNED 205: Technology, Information, Exchange, and Social Transformations
Duration: 7 Weeks weeks
Credit Hours: 3
This course investigates the impact of information and information systems, technology, practices, and artifacts on how people organize their work, interact, and understand experience. Social issues in information systems design and management: assessing user needs, involving users in system design, and understanding human-computer interaction and computer-mediated work and communication are explored. Students will also discuss the use of law and other social policies to mediate the tension between free flow and constriction of information. The underlying philosophy behind this course is the belief that designing and managing effective information systems requires an understanding of the circumstances of their use: real people use them for specific purposes under specific circumstances. Information systems both shape and are shaped by their users and their context. Therefore, the course considers the social nature of information and information systems, and their design and use as part of how people make sense out of their worlds, interact with one another, and coordinate action across time and space. The course also considers such issues as the social construction of information; knowledge communities (including organizations) and the collaborative nature of knowledge; the self and community in an electronic world; assessing user needs; involving users in system design; and issues in human-computer interaction, and computer-supported cooperative work
GNED 304: Politics, Government, and Public Affairs
Duration: 7 Weeks weeks
Credit Hours: 3
This course includes a review of major philosophical concepts that have shaped government in the United States and an analysis of contemporary political institutions and behavior, focusing on the American governmental system. An introduction to political power and how the domestic policy process works; how to evaluate American domestic policy; and the content of several major domestic policies such as energy, environment, health, education, welfare, economic stability, labor, and justice and social order.
GNED 305: Interpersonal Relations, Diversity, and Multiculturalism
Duration: 7 Weeks weeks
Credit Hours: 3
This course begins with an introduction to basic principles of interaction between two people. Emphasis is on enhancement of skills in a variety of interpersonal contexts. Theory and research on the development, maintenance, and termination of interpersonal relationships will be covered. The course will also examine the multiplicity of cultures and subcultures within the contemporary United States and will explore personal awareness and appreciation of multiculturalism. Skill development will include activities for experiencing diverse cultural perspectives. Skills for recognizing, analyzing, and mediating cultural and psychological factors impacting conflict and accord between diverse cultures will also be considered.
GNED 403: Globalization
Duration: 7 Weeks weeks
Credit Hours: 3
The concept of “Globalization” will be explored through contemporary readings. Recognizing the reality that increasingly we live in a world that is economically, politically, and environmentally connected, this course seeks to challenge students to think beyond their immediate surroundings and view themselves as part of a larger global community. The course focuses on the complex set of global, intercultural, political, and economic issues that we face as citizens in this global community.
GNED 404: Leadership and Literature
Duration: 7 Weeks weeks
Credit Hours: 3
Readings on leadership will be examined with particular attention to issues which resonate with the modern-day business world and the leadership it demands. Weekly readings will require reaction papers and the submission of questions for class discussion. A final comprehensive paper will be required.
GNED 405: Ethics, Values, and the Common Good
Duration: 7 Weeks weeks
Credit Hours: 3
In this course, the student is challenged to formulate a philosophy of life, providing the base for such concerns as ethics in business, accountability in government, respect for human rights, and responsible lifestyle in our contemporary world. Ethical theories and personal values are examined through readings, analysis of the workplace, and classroom discussions. The concept of the “common good” is also explored, providing an undercurrent, or theme, for classroom discussions. What exactly is “the common good”, and why do many ethicists advocate that it should occupy a critical central place in current discussions of problems in our society? As Newsweek columnist Robert J. Samuelson recently wrote: “We face a choice between a society where people accept modest sacrifices for a common good or a more contentious society where group selfishly protect their own benefits.”
ENGL 325: Professional Writing
Duration: 7 Weeks weeks
Credit Hours: 3
This is a course in transactional writing to help students develop practical writing skills while analyzing discourses and documents from a variety of disciplines. Forms include analyses, reports, proposals, case studies, business letters and memos, resumes and letters of application.
COMM 344: Introduction to Public Relations
Duration: 7 Weeks weeks
Credit Hours: 3
This course is designed to introduce students to principles of public relations and the field. Students will learn about the development and maintenance of relationships between a variety of different kinds of organizations/clients and their publics. Class assignments are structured to encourage students to become better writers, speakers, designers, and strategic thinkers.
By the end of this course, students will be able to:
- Understand the fundamentals of PR departments, competencies, tactics, and tools
- Evaluate and write PR essential documents such as media kits, press releases, pitch letters, etc
- Analyze and critique actual PR case studies
- Develop a PR portfolio
- Demonstrate computer literacy
PSYC 321: Social Psychology
Duration: 7 Weeks weeks
Credit Hours: 3
This course studies the processes by which the behaviors, thoughts, and feelings of the individual are influenced by his/her social environment. Topics include: social perception and attribution, attitude development and change, interpersonal attraction and interpersonal relations, such as friendship, aggression, and prosocial behavior.
By the end of this course, students will be able to:
- Demonstrate knowledge of and ability to apply social psychological principles, concepts and theories
- Communicate effectively through writing
- Demonstrate knowledge of processes that lead to prejudice and discrimination
- Demonstrate understanding of how social psychological principles may vary across cultures
- Demonstrate competence in evaluating how empirical evidence is used to determine validity of social psychological theories and concepts
COMM 355: Organizational Communication
Duration: 7 Weeks weeks
Credit Hours: 3
This course is a theoretical exploration of communication processes in a variety of organizational contexts. The course explores how communication affects working relationships.
By the end of this course, students will be able to:
- The development of a variety of interpersonal and presentational skills for working in different work team situations and on a diversity of projects.
- The ability to use self-reflection in the process of improving one’s ability to function in different work team situations
- Be able to identify and articulate critical theory and principles of organizational communication
COMM 330: Communication and the Law
Duration: 7 Weeks weeks
Credit Hours: 3
This course covers legal issues and topics in media law including First Amendment, defamation, privacy, intellectual property, censorship, commercial speech, obscenity, broadcast and cable regulation, media ownership and evolving internet regulation.
COMM 343: Introduction to Advertising
Duration: 7 Weeks weeks
Credit Hours: 3
This course is designed to introduce students to the history of advertising in the U.S. and the development of brands. Students will learn fundamental strategies that advertisers use to capture consumer attention, create sales pitches, compete in the marketplace and adapt to the introduction of new technologies. Additional emphasis is given to ethical considerations as they relate to advertising and promotions.
By the end of this course, students will be able to:
- Analyze historical and modern advertisements through the lens of theoretical constructs and field-specific objectives
- Understand the advertising profession and basic functions of each role
- Understand brand development and its applicability to the field of advertising
- Apply copywriting techniques to written messages
- Create an effective advertising campaign that collectively integrates specific concepts, trends, and strategies across various mediums
COMM 210: Public Speaking
Duration: 7 Weeks weeks
Credit Hours: 3
This course is designed to develop effective and responsible public speaking skills. The course will focus on researching, organizing, writing, and presenting various types of speeches including informational and persuasive.
COMM 230: Media Writing
Duration: 7 Weeks weeks
Credit Hours: 3
This course is a study of the basic procedures and techniques of print news reporting, writing and editing as well as writing for the electronic news media, online sources, public relations, and advertising.
COMM 388: Survey of Experimental Media & Digital Arts
Duration: 7 Weeks weeks
Credit Hours: 3
An examination of shifts implicit in the inception and expansion of digital and electronic art since the 1960s, including dynamic data and visualization, interactivity, architectures of time, generative and evolutionary algorithms, digital video art, sound art and immersive virtual reality (VR).
PSYC 374: Organizational Psychology
Duration: 7 Weeks weeks
Credit Hours: 3
This is an analysis of human behavior in organizations. Topics include: organizational structures and dynamics, motivation and job satisfaction, management styles, and problems in human relations.
SOC 327: Power and Conflict
Duration: 7 Weeks weeks
Credit Hours: 3
This course examines the nature of political power and the dynamics of change in the United States and around the world. It will examine theories of distribution of political power, devices used by different groups to influence social change, and alternative modes for the distribution of political power. Special emphasis will be given to the role of social movements in political and social structures
By the end of this course, students will be able to:
- Understand the central sociological theories of power and resistance
- Decode complex texts and write clearly about each one and about several in relation to one another
- Apply theories of power, resistance, and ideology to the case of a social movement in a work of secondary research
SOC 331: Sociology of Organizations and Work
Duration: 7 Weeks weeks
Credit Hours: 3
Many spheres of human activity are dominated by organizational life. This course surveys complex organizations. Among the topics discussed are: organizational structure and types of organizations; organizations and technological change; organizational culture; informal processes within organizations; and how organizations interact with their environment.
By the end of this course, students will be able to:
- Develop intermediate competency for understanding core topics associated with the study of organizations such as: bureaucracy, power, conflict, rationality, authority, work, and technology
- Explore diverse frameworks for engaging normative and ethical questions
PSYC 344: Group Dynamics
Duration: 7 Weeks weeks
Credit Hours: 3
This course is an introduction to small group processes, including theory, research and application. Topics include leadership, power, decision-making, and conflict.
COMM 356: Small Group Communication
Duration: 7 Weeks weeks
Credit Hours: 3
Emphasis is on the dynamics and interaction of communication processes in small groups. Group development, problem solving, participant roles, and decision making are included.
