Skip to main content

    Multidisciplinary Studies, Arts Undeclared and Open Studies, which should I choose?

    November 3, 2023
    Bailey Fawcett

    Multidisciplinary Studies, Arts Undeclared and Open Studies may all sound similar, but there are some big differences between them! So, which one should you choose? Below we will outline these programs and why they may be the right choice for you.  

    Many students may be unsure on the degree they wish to apply for and wish to begin their studies in an open degree to help explore options. At UCalgary, we have several options for taking open courses which all sound similar, but there are big differences between them. Below we will outline these programs and why they may be the right choice for you.  

    To begin, here are the three options at UCalgary for students to consider when pursuing taking open courses or degree programs:

    Multi-Disciplinary Studies

    Arts Undeclared

    UCalgary Open Studies


    Multidisciplinary Studies

    Multidisciplinary Studies is an undergraduate degree program within the Faculty of Arts. This degree provides you with the opportunity to design your own program, which includes a primary and a secondary focus. The primary area of focus consists of the completion of a minor within the Faculty of Arts. This minor will target studies in one subject area or field of study and provide the opportunity for you to connect with peers who have similar interests. The secondary focus can consist of a second minor from any faculty or be a smaller selection of courses in one subject area. Your final year will include a capstone course designed to provide research experience and the opportunity to integrate what you’ve learned throughout your program. Outside of your primary and secondary areas of focus, your degree is completely customizable, and will include courses tailored to your strengths, interests, and academic goals.  

    Upon completion of this degree, you’ll graduate with a broad mix of skills in problem solving, critical thinking and with expanded perspective that allows you to see things from someone else’s point of view. This is a skillset many employers value. You’ll be prepared for career opportunities in areas such as the civil service, the non-profit sector, and the business world. A degree in Multidisciplinary Studies can also be used as a stepping-stone to graduate studies or another professional degree such as law, medicine, veterinary medicine, or education.


    Arts Undeclared

    Like Multidisciplinary Studies, Arts Undeclared is a program offered through the Faculty of Arts that gives you the flexibility to explore a variety of courses. However, the key difference between these programs is students are not able to graduate from Arts Undeclared. The Arts Undeclared program is intended for students entering post-secondary from high school to explore different programs and uncover their interests, before deciding which major program to pursue. As an Arts Undeclared Student, you should try to take courses that will allow you to:

    ·         Discover new strengths,

    ·         Explore potential majors,

    ·         Contribute toward degree programs of interest, and

    ·         Explore career options.

    It is important to note that you are required to apply and be accepted to a major before or upon completion of 60 units in the Arts Undeclared program. You will apply for a major by submitting a change of program application through your Student Centre between October 1st to February 1st of your first or second year. We recommend you connect with one of the exploratory advisors to help guide you through this process.


    Open Studies

    Open Studies is quite different from Multidisciplinary Studies and Arts Undeclared. As an Open Studies student you can take UCalgary credit courses, but you are not admitted into a degree program. Open Studies is a registration category that provides hundreds of academic courses for students looking to meet admission requirements for other programs or to explore personal interests.

    There are a few reasons you may want to explore Open Studies; we have divided them into three main categories here:

    Degree holders and non-degree holders

    Degree holders are students who have already graduated from a post-secondary degree program. Non-degree holders may have an academic history that includes a combination of high school and/or post-secondary coursework but not completion of a degree. In all cases, these students are not currently enrolled at another post-secondary institution. Students may want to take courses through Open Studies for professional development, personal enrichment, to meet admission requirements, or to take advantage of the Open Studies undergraduate admission guarantee.

    If you are considering Open Studies, we would highly encourage you to reach out to our team to discuss if this is the best option to support you in meeting your future goals.


    Visiting students and visiting student researchers

    Visiting Students and visiting student researchers are students who are enrolled at another university but are completing academic work at the University of Calgary. These students will be required to provide one of the following:

    • Visiting students - a letter of permission from their home institution indicating the specific courses they are approved to take and the term(s) they have been approved to attend the University of Calgary.
    • Visiting student researchers - a letter of support from a UCalgary researcher/supervisor detailing the specific research project they’ll be participating in, and how it aligns with their studies at their home institution. The letter of support must be signed by the department head and indicate the specific dates during which the student will be conducting research at the University of Calgary.

    If this is something you are interested in, please contact the Faculty Advisors at your current post-secondary institution, or the supervisor you wish to research with at the University of Calgary.


    Current high school students

    High school students who are looking for an opportunity to challenge themselves by taking post-secondary courses can enroll in our Dual Credit program. The Dual Credit program allows current high school to earn credit toward their high school diploma while also completing university-level coursework. Dual credit courses can help prepare high school students for the post-secondary environment and ease the transition from high school to university. UCalgary offers several Dual Credit courses in subject areas including Math, Psychology, Physics, Kinesiology, and English. Dual Credit courses will also apply toward most undergraduate degree programs at the University of Calgary.   

    If you attend a high school in the Calgary Board of Education and would like to learn more, please visit the CBE website or connect with your high school counsellor.

    Ready to apply?

    Click here to complete your online application to be considered for a degree program such as multidisciplinary studies. For students who wish to apply into Open Studies, click here.


    Looking for more content? View our other blogs by clicking here