Academic Affairs
124 Ellison Hall
633 Elm Ave.
Norman, OK 73019
Phone: (405)325-4411
Fax: (405)325-7429
mds@ou.edu
ou.edu/cas/students/advising/departments/mds
Academic Advising:
Justin Wollenberg (justinwollenberg@ou.edu): Students with a last name of A-E and U-Z
Ryan Peters (ryanpeters@ou.edu): Students with a last name of F-M and S-T
Bart Hanna (barthanna@ou.edu): Students with a last name of N-R
Multidisciplinary Studies
Multidisciplinary Studies (MDS) is an individualized major program that allows students with a specific field of study interest that is not covered by any available OU major the opportunity to design their own degree program. This process is discussed and overseen by the student’s assigned MDS academic advisor and all plans are reviewed through the Provost office. This is a highly selective and rigorous program and there is no guarantee that an application will be approved. A student’s major design should include a minimum of synthesizing content from two disciplines (typically the minors from those fields) plus additional supporting courses to the selected field of study.
Graduation Requirements
The MDS major requires a minimum GPA of 2.00. Students within the MDS major program must complete a minimum of 120 total college credit hours with at least 48 hours at the upper division (3000-4000 level). Within these total hours students must also fulfill all stipulated General Education and designed major requirements.
Programs Offered
Courses
OCL 5603. The Science of Community Engagement.3 Credit Hours.
Prerequisite: Graduate standing. This course provides an evidence-based foundation of knowledge to prepare participants for the collaborative world of community engagement. Lectures/discussions will cover a range of subjects including organizational dynamics, anatomy of a community, and aspects of community observation and interaction. Levels of helping and psychology of helping and being helped will also be covered. (Irreg.)
OCL 5613. The Tools of Community Engagement.3 Credit Hours.
Prerequisite: Graduate standing and OCL 5603. The course focuses on methods of conducting community assessments, theories of developing and implementing programs and systems of change, public policy and administration as modes of transformation, and measuring successes and program evaluation. (Irreg.)
OCL 5623. Community Engagement Apprenticeship.3 Credit Hours.
Prerequisite: Graduate standing, OCL 5603, and OCL 5613. Learners will work with a mentor associated with a community partner. The apprenticeship entails shadowing, observing, and actively learning from a community partner mentor that provides a "deep dive" into community engagement. During the course of the apprenticeship, the learner will identify a key problem or issue within the community partner organization and formulate a "Capstone Prospectus." (Irreg.)
OCL 5633. Community Engagement Capstone.3 Credit Hours.
Prerequisite: Graduate standing, OCL 5603, OCL 5613, and OCL 5623. Learners will apply all they have learned in the preceding courses to address a real-world problem or issue affecting a community partner. In this course, learners will implement the program they developed in the Community Engagement Apprenticeship course. Learners will collect measures and other forms of data at baseline and at points following implementation of their program. (Irreg.)
OCL 6813. Prospectus Development for Doctoral Dissertation.3 Credit Hours.
Prerequisite: Graduate standing and departmental permission. May be repeated; maximum credit six hours. The course is designed for advanced doctoral students/candidates. Students will develop a research topic and write a topic proposal as a starting point to work from and further develop with the dissertation chair and committee. (F, Sp, Su)
OCL 6980. Research for Doctoral Dissertation.2-16 Credit Hours.
2 to 16 hours. Prerequisite: Graduate standing and permission of instructor; May be repeated. Directed research culminating in the completion of the doctoral dissertation. (F, Sp, Su)
OCL 6990. Independent Study.1-3 Credit Hours.
1 to 3 hours. Prerequisite: Graduate standing and permission of instructor. May be repeated with change of content; maximum credit twelve hours. Contracted independent study for a topic not currently offered in regularly scheduled courses. Individual research in areas of organizational and community leadership. Independent study may include library and/or laboratory research and field projects. Specific objectives and work requirements should be established by prior agreement between the instructor and student. (F, Sp, Su)