Distributed Studies, BA

The Distributed Studies BA degree is perhaps the most misunderstood degree at UCCS.  It is not a “general studies” degree with assorted course work in a variety of subjects. Instead, Distributed Studies is a degree that is structured out of courses offered by two or more programs of study. The Distributed Studies major was initiated before minors were offered at UCCS; it served the needs of students who wanted a concentration of courses outside the major. Now, many students complete a major and minor rather than a distributed studies degree.

General Requirements

The Distributed Studies major requires 60 credit hours of course work, 30 of which must be upper-division (3000+ level), completed in two to three subjects areas. At least 30 credit hours of course work (15 of which must be upper-division), must be taken in one primary and in one secondary subject. Courses taken as part of a distributed studies major can be counted toward the college area requirements.

There are two approaches to a distributed studies degree: Individualized Distributed Studies Built on Stand-Alone Minors and Structured Interdisciplinary Programs.

Individualized Distributed Studies Built on Stand-Alone Minors

Students may design a distributed studies major around a core curriculum provided by the following stand-alone minors or others approved by their host department(s). Before embarking on such a program of study, a student must negotiate a Distributed Studies contract with the director of the stand-alone minor that will constitute the primary area of the program.

• American Sign Language Minor  
• Classics Minor  
• Cognitive Studies Minor and Certificate  
• Energy Science Minor  
• French Minor  
• Geology Minor  
• German Minor  
• Gerontology Minor  
• Japanese Language and Culture Minor  
• Mathematics as Liberal Art Minor  
• Museum Studies and Gallery Practice Minor  
• Political Economy Minor  
• Pre-Law Minor  
• Sustainable Development Minor  

In this option, a stand-alone minor becomes the primary curriculum for the degree. Because most minors do not require 30 credit hours, the student must negotiate the remaining credit hours of primary subject with the director of the minor program. At least 15 credit hours must be from upper-division (3000+ level) courses. No more than 8 credit hours of independent study can be applied to the primary subject area.

The student, in consultation with the director of the primary subject, selects a secondary subject area in which he or she completes 30 credit hours (these cannot include credit hours taken to complete the primary subject requirement). The secondary subject area will consist of 30 credit hours in one discipline, or 30 credit hours divided between two disciplines (15 and 15, or 18 and 12). The degree requires 60 total credit hours, and students must maintain a 2.0 grade point average in all course work included in the program.

Structured Interdisciplinary Program Options

These include options in business economics, justice studies, and public administration. These programs include a standard set of courses and electives. Students should check with department advisors before enrolling. The structured interdisciplinary program options are described below.