Human Dimensions of Organizations, Bachelor of Arts

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 2301Introduction to the Human Dimensions of Organizations

3

HDOS 3320Multidisciplinary Methods for Exploring Organizations

3

HDOS 3379Applying 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 3305Statistical Applications in Criminal Justice

3

ENGL 3361Introduction to Descriptive Linguistics

3

ENST 1301Introduction to Environmental Studies

3

PHIL 1340Introduction to Logic

3

POLS 2470Introduction to Political Science Research

4

PSYC 3325Research Methods in Psychology

3

PSYC 3343Tests and Measurements in Psychology

3

SOCI 3301Statistics for the Behavioral Sciences

3

Qualitative Reasoning: 3 to 12 hours

Choose from:

ANTH 2351Introduction to Cultural Anthropology

3

ANTH 4364Religion in Society

3

COMM 4315Persuasive Communication

3

COMM 4345Conflict Management

3

HIST 3300Historiography and Methods

3

PHIL 1362Race, Sexuality, and Class

3

PHIL 3370Philosophy of Law

3

PHIL 4310Epistemology

3

PHIL 4320Moral Theory

3

PHIL 4322Political Philosophy

3

PHIL 4323Radical Political Philosophy

3

PHIL 4325Capitalism and Philosophy of Economics

3

PHIL 4327Philosophy of Propaganda

3

PHIL 4350Religion and Science

3

Creativity and Innovation: 3 to 12 hours

Choose from:

ANTH 4351Global Health: Critical Perspectives

3

CRIJ 4350Peace, Nonviolence and Justice

3

CRIJ 4356Law and Society

3

CRIJ 4357Crime Prevention Techniques

3

ENGL 3307Introduction to Film Studies

3

ENGL 3308Literature and Film Adaptation

3

ENGL 3350Gallery

3

ENGL 3351Creative Writing I

3

ENGL 3352Creative Non-Fiction

3

ENGL 3353Creative Writing: Cross-Genre Writing

3

ENGL 4307Topics in Film Theory

3

ENGL 4308Topics in International Film

3

ENGL 4309Special Topics in Film

3

ENST 4380Environmental Studies Directed Research

3

ENST 4390Environmental Studies Internship

3

MASC 3325Latino Health

3

PHIL 2326Ethics, Technology and Society

3

POLS 3393Internship

3

Culture and Communication: 3 to 12 hours

Choose from:

ANTH 4306Anthropology of Borders

3

ANTH 4309Anthropology of Sex & Gender

3

ANTH 4310Food and Culture

3

ANTH 4311Medical Anthropology

3

ANTH 4323Mexican American Culture

3

ANTH 4348Peoples and Cultures of Mexico

3

ANTH 4350Mexican American Folk Medicine

3

ANTH 4377Global Cultural Heritage Issues and Debates

3

COMM 3313Business and Technical Communication

3

COMM 3316Intercultural Communication

3

COMM 3332Organizational Communication

3

COMM 3345Gender and Communication

3

COMM 4309Nonverbal Communication

3

ENGL 3309Introduction to Cultural Studies

3

ENGL 3322Hemingway

3

ENGL 3334Ethnic Women Writers

3

ENGL 3335Women's Literature

3

ENGL 3337Children's and Adolescent Literature

3

ENGL 3342Technical Communication

3

ENGL 3343Business Communication

3

ENGL 3346Writing and Culture

3

ENGL 3370Language and Culture

3

ENGL 4302Postcolonial Literature and Theory

3

ENGL 4310Chaucer

3

ENGL 4311Shakespeare

3

ENGL 4312Milton

3

ENGL 4316Beat Generation

3

ENGL 4318South Texas Literature

3

ENGL 4362Contrastive Grammar

3

ENGL 4385Topics in Border Studies

3

GWSP 1301Introduction to Gender, Women's, and Sexuality Studies

3

HIST 3307Women, Gender, and Sexuality in World History

3

HIST 4329Black History and Thought

3

HIST 4330Race and Ethnicity in America

3

MASC 3308Introduction to Latina/o Literature

3

MASC 3332Mexican American History

3

MASC 3365Chicana and Latin American Feminisms

3

MASC 4317Mexican-American Literature

3

MASC 4331Mexican-American Civil Rights

3

MASC 4332Chicano Movement

3

MASC 4370Introduction To Border Language

3

PHIL 2306Introduction to Ethics

3

PHIL 3360Feminist Philosophy

3

PHIL 4318Philosophy of Food

3

PHIL 4328Environmental Philosophy

3

PHIL 4345Mexican/Mexican-American Philosophy

3

POLS 3352Media and Politics

3

POLS 4350Political Socialization and Civic Engagement

3

PSYC 2319Social Psychology

3

PSYC 3338Psychology of Gender

3

PSYC 4326Cross-Cultural Psychology

3

PSYC 4330Human Motivation

3

PSYC 4328Psychological Issues in the Mexican-American Community

3

PSYC 4343Human Factors

3

SOCI 3346Hispanics in Global Society

3

SOCI 4313Race and Ethnic Relations

3

SOCI 4323The Mexican American Experience

3

SOCI 4352Social Stratification

3

TRSP 3341Introduction to Spanish/English Translation

3

TRSP 3342Advanced Spanish to English Translation

3

TRSP 3343Advanced English to Spanish Translation

3

TRSP 4342Interpreting

3

TRSP 4345Topics 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.