Can you do a minor in BDIC?

No. You can design your major in BDIC but there is no design-your-own minor.  Students interested in an interdisciplinary minor can explore some of the minors or certificates offered elsewhere on campus, such as the Information Technology Minor, the Religious Studies Certificate, etc.  These minors don't permit as much individuality as a BDIC major but they do offer a lot of choice in course selection.  For a list of minors and certificates, click here.

The management school is not letting me take all the business classes in my concentration plan.  What should I do?

The main way BDIC students get into ISOM classes is by registering on the ISOM course request list that is kept in the BDIC office.   BDIC students should start by requesting Marketing 301 and Management 301.  These are good introductory classes and they are also the prerequisites for some other ISOM classes.  In general, students are able to get into the 301 classes; the challenge is with other classes.  Besides registering on the course request list, it is sometimes a good idea to communicate with the professor offering the class. 

Also very imporant--UMass Amherst is a big university and good courses on business, economics, and organizational leadership can be found in other departments.  The Building and Construction Technology department sometimes offer business classes.  So do the Economics and Sociology departments.  BDIC itself is now offering the Entrpreneurship Initiative.  The EI offers a 1-credit class, Intro to Entrepreneurship, and a 2-credit class, Leadership and Networking.  Students who take both may count ithe combination toward the BDIC concentration. 

BDIC faculty supervisor MJ Alhabeeb is a professor in Resource Economics.  MJ holds office hours in BDIC to advise students with business interests.  Call 545-2504 for MJ's hours.

 

I'd like to be a BDIC major.  I know you have to take the proposal writing class first.  How does this work?

Yes, to be admitted to BDIC, you must take the 1-credit proposal writing class.  It's offered every semester.  You must apply for the proposal class by writing a brief description of your intended concentration in BDIC and by submitting your academic transcript.  The application is available here.  We advise students to submit the application for the proposal class as early in the semester as they can.  Applications are received on a rolling basis but it is to your advantage to apply before the middle of the semester in order to take the proposal class the following semester.

The proposal class itself is an eight-week course co-taught by UMass faculty and advisors.  Students read texts about creativity and interdisciplinary theory.  They also learn how to make their way through the university effectively as BDIC students--how to develop relations with professors in other departments, find internships, etc.  And students construct a detailed plan for their BDIC concentration.  Once your plan is accepted, you are officially a BDIC major!