Introducing multidisciplinary study at The Open University
Introduction
Our Open qualifications are one of the most popular pathways of study at The Open University (OU). These qualifications allow you to combine different subjects in your qualification, enabling you to see how they can relate, connect and even influence each other. This is also known as multidisciplinary study.
There are a number of modules and qualifications at the OU which support multidisciplinary study from the Social Sciences, Arts and Sciences curriculum areas. However, for this course, we’re focusing on the Open qualifications which are the OU’s most flexible qualifications. The Open qualifications include:
- BA/BSc (Hons) Open degree
- BSc (Hons) Combined STEM degree
- MA/MSc Open
Activity 1
Watch our short animation introducing our qualifications. What are your first impressions? What do you think the value of qualifications like these are?
Transcript: Video 1: The Open qualifications
In today’s world solutions to key challenges like pollution, climate change, or sustainable growth require expertise from a range of subjects.
Exploring everyday problems through the lens of different disciplines provides exciting opportunities to find ways in which subjects connect and influence each other.
Flexible study has always been at the heart of the Open University.
Our unique Open qualifications allow you to combine subjects and develop your knowledge and skills across a range of disciplines.
Enabling you to study in a multidisciplinary way.
You set the direction of your learning, creating a personalised pathway to match your interests, aspirations and objectives.
The BA or BSc Open is one of the most flexible qualifications in the UK, you can study many subjects in various combinations.
From criminology and computing to business and languages.
Or you can build your own individual science, technology, engineering and mathematics degree with the BSc Combined STEM.
Finally, the MA/MSc Open is an innovative masters degree, which means you can expand your existing discipline-related knowledge to pursue options related to your professional development.
People change jobs and careers throughout their life. The open qualifications enable you to align your study to your goals and aspirations.
Complex problems need flexible and creative solutions from people who can adapt.
With the Open qualifications the sky is the limit.
What will your Open qualification look like?
Discussion
This type of study enables students to draw on the skills, knowledge and expertise of different subjects and is said to be the future of learning. Being able to understand and analyse a project or problem from a number of viewpoints or through different lenses can generate creative solutions to some of the world’s most challenging problems, like climate change or poverty.