Program Overview
A degree in the Human Dimensions of Organizations (HDO) teaches students to use the disciplines of the liberal arts – the humanities and the social/behavioral sciences – to understand workplace interactions and how organizations can best serve their employees, customers, and clients. This major is intended for students who envision themselves solving human-centered problems in organizations including business, government, nonprofits, and the military. Career paths from HDO include human resources, people management, nonprofit leadership, project management, and government service, among others. Disciplines in the liberal arts have always taught critical thinking skills and effective communication, which are crucial to success in organizations. These disciplines also provide a deeper understanding of culture, motivation and behavior, group dynamics, and individual psychology.
Specific graduation requirements for this program beyond university bachelor's degree requirements.
A student graduating with a Bachelor of Arts in Human Dimensions of Organizations (HDO), is required to demonstrate proficiency (beginning, intermediate or advanced) in a foreign language. Proficiency can be demonstrated by:
- Earning 6 credits of foreign language through successful completion of coursework
- Earning 6 credits through a foreign language college credit exam (e.g., AP, CLEP, International Baccalaureate)
- Demonstrating proficiency by meeting the WebCAPE scores approved by the Department of Writing and Language Studies
- Demonstrating proficiency by an exam approved by the Department of Writing and Language Studies
Core Curriculum - 42 hours
The Core Curriculum serves as a broad foundation for the undergraduate degree. All candidates for a bachelor’s degree must achieve core student learning outcomes, including communication, critical thinking, empirical and quantitative skills, teamwork, personal responsibility and social responsibility, by completing courses within each category or component area of the Core Curriculum as outlined below.
The University has approved specific courses that satisfy Core Curriculum Requirements. Approved courses can be found on the Core Curriculum Page. Students seeking the most efficient way to complete the core curriculum and major or minor requirements are advised to take approved courses that can fulfill both requirements. Although core curriculum courses can also be used to fulfill major or minor requirements, earned credits hours are only applied once.
Major Requirements - 30 hours
Required Courses - 9 hours
HDOS 2301 | Introduction to the Human Dimensions of Organizations | 3 |
HDOS 3320 | Multidisciplinary Methods for Exploring Organizations | 3 |
HDOS 3379 | Applying the Human Dimensions of Organizations | 3 |
Prescribed Electives - 21 hours
Students must take 21 credit hours across the four categories below. Students must complete at least 3 credit hours for a total of 12 credit hours. The remaining 9 credit hours may be taken from any of the four categories. Students cannot exceed 12 credit hours in a single category. A minimum of 6 credit hours must be at the advanced level.
Quantitative Reasoning: 3 to 12 hours
Choose from:
CRIJ 3305 | Statistical Applications in Criminal Justice | 3 |
ENGL 3361 | Introduction to Descriptive Linguistics | 3 |
ENST 1301 | Introduction to Environmental Studies | 3 |
PHIL 1340 | Introduction to Logic | 3 |
POLS 2470 | Introduction to Political Science Research | 4 |
PSYC 3325 | Research Methods in Psychology | 3 |
PSYC 3343 | Tests and Measurements in Psychology | 3 |
SOCI 3301 | Statistics for the Behavioral Sciences | 3 |
Qualitative Reasoning: 3 to 12 hours
Choose from:
ANTH 2351 | Introduction to Cultural Anthropology | 3 |
ANTH 4364 | Religion in Society | 3 |
COMM 4315 | Persuasive Communication | 3 |
COMM 4345 | Conflict Management | 3 |
HIST 3300 | Historiography and Methods | 3 |
PHIL 1362 | Race, Sexuality, and Class | 3 |
PHIL 3370 | Philosophy of Law | 3 |
PHIL 4310 | Epistemology | 3 |
PHIL 4320 | Moral Theory | 3 |
PHIL 4322 | Political Philosophy | 3 |
PHIL 4323 | Radical Political Philosophy | 3 |
PHIL 4325 | Capitalism and Philosophy of Economics | 3 |
PHIL 4327 | Philosophy of Propaganda | 3 |
PHIL 4350 | Religion and Science | 3 |
Creativity and Innovation: 3 to 12 hours
Choose from:
ANTH 4351 | Global Health: Critical Perspectives | 3 |
CRIJ 4350 | Peace, Nonviolence and Justice | 3 |
CRIJ 4356 | Law and Society | 3 |
CRIJ 4357 | Crime Prevention Techniques | 3 |
ENGL 3307 | Introduction to Film Studies | 3 |
ENGL 3308 | Literature and Film Adaptation | 3 |
ENGL 3350 | Gallery | 3 |
ENGL 3351 | Creative Writing I | 3 |
ENGL 3352 | Creative Non-Fiction | 3 |
ENGL 3353 | Creative Writing: Cross-Genre Writing | 3 |
ENGL 4307 | Topics in Film Theory | 3 |
ENGL 4308 | Topics in International Film | 3 |
ENGL 4309 | Special Topics in Film | 3 |
ENST 4380 | Environmental Studies Directed Research | 3 |
ENST 4390 | Environmental Studies Internship | 3 |
MASC 3325 | Latino Health | 3 |
PHIL 2326 | Ethics, Technology and Society | 3 |
POLS 3393 | Internship | 3 |
Culture and Communication: 3 to 12 hours
Choose from:
ANTH 4306 | Anthropology of Borders | 3 |
ANTH 4309 | Anthropology of Sex & Gender | 3 |
ANTH 4310 | Food and Culture | 3 |
ANTH 4311 | Medical Anthropology | 3 |
ANTH 4323 | Mexican American Culture | 3 |
ANTH 4348 | Peoples and Cultures of Mexico | 3 |
ANTH 4350 | Mexican American Folk Medicine | 3 |
ANTH 4377 | Global Cultural Heritage Issues and Debates | 3 |
COMM 3313 | Business and Technical Communication | 3 |
COMM 3316 | Intercultural Communication | 3 |
COMM 3332 | Organizational Communication | 3 |
COMM 3345 | Gender and Communication | 3 |
COMM 4309 | Nonverbal Communication | 3 |
ENGL 3309 | Introduction to Cultural Studies | 3 |
ENGL 3322 | Hemingway | 3 |
ENGL 3334 | Ethnic Women Writers | 3 |
ENGL 3335 | Women's Literature | 3 |
ENGL 3337 | Children's and Adolescent Literature | 3 |
ENGL 3342 | Technical Communication | 3 |
ENGL 3343 | Business Communication | 3 |
ENGL 3346 | Writing and Culture | 3 |
ENGL 3370 | Language and Culture | 3 |
ENGL 4302 | Postcolonial Literature and Theory | 3 |
ENGL 4310 | Chaucer | 3 |
ENGL 4311 | Shakespeare | 3 |
ENGL 4312 | Milton | 3 |
ENGL 4316 | Beat Generation | 3 |
ENGL 4318 | South Texas Literature | 3 |
ENGL 4362 | Contrastive Grammar | 3 |
ENGL 4385 | Topics in Border Studies | 3 |
GWSP 1301 | Introduction to Gender, Women's, and Sexuality Studies | 3 |
HIST 3307 | Women, Gender, and Sexuality in World History | 3 |
HIST 4329 | Black History and Thought | 3 |
HIST 4330 | Race and Ethnicity in America | 3 |
MASC 3308 | Introduction to Latina/o Literature | 3 |
MASC 3332 | Mexican American History | 3 |
MASC 3365 | Chicana and Latin American Feminisms | 3 |
MASC 4317 | Mexican-American Literature | 3 |
MASC 4331 | Mexican-American Civil Rights | 3 |
MASC 4332 | Chicano Movement | 3 |
MASC 4370 | Introduction To Border Language | 3 |
PHIL 2306 | Introduction to Ethics | 3 |
PHIL 3360 | Feminist Philosophy | 3 |
PHIL 4318 | Philosophy of Food | 3 |
PHIL 4328 | Environmental Philosophy | 3 |
PHIL 4345 | Mexican/Mexican-American Philosophy | 3 |
POLS 3352 | Media and Politics | 3 |
POLS 4350 | Political Socialization and Civic Engagement | 3 |
PSYC 2319 | Social Psychology | 3 |
PSYC 3338 | Psychology of Gender | 3 |
PSYC 4326 | Cross-Cultural Psychology | 3 |
PSYC 4330 | Human Motivation | 3 |
PSYC 4328 | Psychological Issues in the Mexican-American Community | 3 |
PSYC 4343 | Human Factors | 3 |
SOCI 3346 | Hispanics in Global Society | 3 |
SOCI 4313 | Race and Ethnic Relations | 3 |
SOCI 4323 | The Mexican American Experience | 3 |
SOCI 4352 | Social Stratification | 3 |
TRSP 3341 | Introduction to Spanish/English Translation | 3 |
TRSP 3342 | Advanced Spanish to English Translation | 3 |
TRSP 3343 | Advanced English to Spanish Translation | 3 |
TRSP 4342 | Interpreting | 3 |
TRSP 4345 | Topics in Translation | 3 |
Free Electives - 48 hours
Free elective credit hours at the advanced level may be needed to achieve the institutional minimum of 42 advanced hours.
Total Credit Hours: 42
Total Credit Hours: 120
View this program’s recommended roadmap to graduation.
UTRGV Roadmaps are a suggested sequence of courses designed to assist students in completing their undergraduate degree requirements. This is a term-by-term sample roadmap of courses required to complete the degree. Students must satisfy all requirements in their catalog including, but not limited to course prerequisites, grade point average and course grade benchmarks, progression requirements, and graduation requirements.
Students should meet with their academic advisor every semester to discuss their individualized path toward completion. Degree progress within this roadmap depends upon such factors as course availability, individual student academic preparation and readiness, student time management, work and personal responsibilities, and financial considerations. Students may choose to take courses during summer terms to reduce course loads during long semesters.