This degree track allows students to study a broad range of leadership topics while leveraging the skills acquired through ROTC and military training. The broad range of topics and focus on leadership skills create a comprehensive experience leaving students primed to successfully transition into a leadership role in the public or private sector (e.g., for-profit, non-profit, government and education). Our multidisciplinary program design allows for customization to fit your interests and professional goals.

JudyAnn Armijo- Assistant Professor of Practice / Cyber Intelligence & Strategic Leadership and Defense UGAR

Contact

JudyAnn Armijo- Assistant Professor of Practice / Cyber Intelligence & Strategic Leadership and Defense UGAR

Assistant Professor of Practice / Cyber Intelligence & Strategic Leadership and Defense UGAR

Main Campus: GSR 2.104 W

judyann.gonzalez@utsa.edu

Curriculum

The minimum number of semester credit hours for this degree is 120, at least 39 of which must be at the upper-division level.

Students seeking a B.A. degree in the Strategic Leadership & Defense path of Multidisciplinary Studies must fulfill the university core curriculum requirements.

Students seeking a B.A. degree in the Strategic Leadership & Defense path of Multidisciplinary Studies must fulfill the following 78 semester credit hours.

  • Technology Requirement: IS 1403 or CS 1033 (3 semester credit hours)
  • Communication Requirement: COM 1043, COM 1053, COM 2113, or ENG 2413 (3 semester credit hours)

All candidates for this degree must complete three areas of focus. Courses selected to satisfy each area must be approved by the Multidisciplinary Studies Program Coordinator and the Dean of Undergraduate Studies. Furthermore, the courses used to satisfy each focus area must be completed with at least a 2.0 grade point average. This path is currently limited to students currently enrolled in the UT San Antonio Army ROTC Program or the UT San Antonio Air Force ROTC Program.

All candidates for this degree must complete MDS 2013: Introduction to Multidisciplinary Studies.

All candidates for this degree must complete MDS 4983: Senior Seminar for Multidisciplinary Studies.

All candidates for this degree must complete 27 semester hours of free electives, at least 15 of which must be at the upper-division level.

BA-MDSL Strategic Leadership and Defense 2026-2028 Catalog

FIRST YEAR - FALL

The table shows courses available to take the fall semester of your first year.
Course Code Course Name Credit Hours
AIS 1203 or 1223 Academic Inquiry and Scholarship 3
CORE American History 3
CORE Mathematics 3
WRC 1013 Freshman Comp I (Q) 3
MDS 2013 Intro to Multidisc Studies 3
TOTAL  - 15

FIRST YEAR - SPRING

The table shows courses available to take the spring semester of your first year.
Course Code Course Name Credit Hours
CORE American History 3
CORE Life & Physical Sciences 3
WRC 1023 Freshman Comp II (Q) 3
ELEC (LD) Focus Area I 3
Technology Requirement CS 1063, 1083, 1173, DS 4003, 4013, IS 1413, 1053 3
TOTAL  - 15

SECOND YEAR - FALL

The table shows courses available to take the fall semester of your second year.
Course Code Course Name Credit Hours
POL 1013 Introduction to American Politics 3
CORE Life & Physical Sciences 3
ELEC (LD) Focus Area 2 3
ELEC (LD) Focus Area 3 3
COM Requirement COM 1043, 1053, 2113, 2343, 2733, ENG 2413 3
TOTAL  - 15

SECOND YEAR - SPRING

The table shows courses available to take the spring semester of your second year.
Course Code Course Name Credit Hours
POL 1133 or 1213 Texas Politics and Society 3
CORE Lang, Philosophy & Culture 3
CORE Creative Arts 3
ELEC (LD) Focus Area 1 3
ELEC (LD) Focus Area 2 3
TOTAL  - 15

THIRD YEAR - FALL

The table shows courses available to take the fall semester of your third year.
Course Code Course Name Credit Hours
CORE Social & Behavioral Sciences 3
CORE Component Area Option 3
ELEC (UD) Focus Area 1 3
ELEC (UD) Focus Area 2 3
ELEC (LD) Focus Area 3 3
TOTAL  - 15

THIRD YEAR - SPRING

The table shows courses available to take the spring semester of your third year.
Course Code Course Name  Credit Hours
ELEC (UD) Focus Area 1 3
ELEC (UD) Focus Area 2 3
ELEC (UD) Focus Area 3 3
ELEC Free Elective 3
ELEC Free Elective 3
TOTAL  - 15

FOURTH YEAR - FALL

The table shows courses available to take the fall semester of your fourth year.
Course Code Course Name Credit Hours
ELEC (UD) Focus Area 1 3
ELEC (UD) Focus Area 3 3
ELEC (UD) Free Elective 3
ELEC (UD) Free Elective 3
ELEC Free Elective 3
TOTAL  - 15

FOURTH YEAR - SPRING

The table shows courses available to take the spring semester of your fourth year.
Course Code Course Name Credit Hours
MDS 4983 Seminar for Multidisc Studies 3
ELEC (UD) Free Elective 3
ELEC (UD) Free Elective 3
ELEC Free Elective 3
ELEC Free Elective 3
TOTAL  - 15

Focus Area 1

Focus Area 1 - 15 hours required (Army ROTC)
Depends on Military Service student selected, MSC or ASC

The table shows some of the courses you can take in the focus area of the Army ROTC Required Curriculum.
Course Number Title Prerequisite C- or better
MSC 1013 Introduction to the Army 
MSC 1023 Foundations of Leadership
MSC 2013 Leadership and Ethics 
MSC 2023 Army Doctrine and Decision Making  
MSC 3014 Training Management and Warfighting Function
MSC 3024 Applied Leadership in Small Unit Operations 
MSC 4014 The Army Officer 
MSC 4024 Company Grade Leadership 

Focus Area 1 - 15 hours required (Air Force ROTC)
Depends on Military Service student selected, MSC or ASC

The table shows some of the courses you can take in the focus area of the Air Force ROTC Required Curriculum.
Course Number Title Prerequisite C- or better
ASC 1031 Heritage and Values of the United States Air Force I
ASC 1041 Heritage and Values of the United States Air Force II ASC 1031
ASC 2031 The Evolution of United States Air Force Air and Space Power I  
ASC 2041 The Evolution of United States Air Force Air and Space Power II ASC 2031
ASC 3013 Air Force Leadership and Communication Studies I
ASC 3023 Air Force Leadership and Communication Studies II ASC 3013
ASC 4013 National Security Affairs/Preparation for Active Duty I  
ASC 4023 National Security Affairs/Preparation for Active Duty II ASC 4013

Focus Area 1 - 15 hours required (Non-ROTC)

The table shows some of the courses you can take in the focus area of the Air Force ROTC Required Curriculum.
Course Number Title Prerequisite C- or better
GLA 1013* US in the Global Context (Required)

 
NSS 4013* Leadership in the Global Arena (Required)   
NSS 4673* National Security Law and Ethics (Required)   
PAD 2013 Introduction to Public Policy 
PAD 3083 Project Management for the Public Sector   
PAD 3153 Administrative Law and Policy 
MSC 3033 American Military History  
HIS 3823 History of American Foreign Relations  
GLA/POL 3503 American Foreign Policy since World War II

GLA 1013 or POL 1013
GLA/POL 3033 Global Governance GLA 1013 or POL 1013
GLA 3543 Diplomacy GLA 1013 or POL 1013
GLA 4123 Decision-Making for National Security  GLA 1013 or POL 1013

Focus Area 2

Focus Area 2 - 12 hours required

The table shows some of the courses you can take in the focus area of China Regional Specialization.
Course Number Title Prerequisite C- or better
CSH 3823 Advanced Topics in World Cultures WRC 1023
CSH 4003 Colloquium in East Asian Culture CHN 1024, JPN 1024 or KOR 1024
GLA/POL 3443 Governments and Politics of East Asia GLA 1013 or POL 1013
GLA/POL 3783 Democracy and World Politics GLA 1013 or POL 1013
HIS 3923 China in Revolution none
CHN 1014 Elementary Chinese I none
CHN 1024 Elementary Chinese II CHN 1014
HIS 2553 Introduction to East Asian Civilization none

Focus Area 2 - 12 hours required

The table shows some of the courses you can take in the focus area of Asia Regional Specialization.
Course Number Title Prerequisite
Cultures and History of Asia
CSH 3823 Advanced Topics in World Cultures WRC 1023 or the equivalent
CSH 4003 Colloquium in East Asian Culture CHN 1024, JPN 1024, KOR 1024 or consent of instructor
HIS 3973 Muslim South Asia: India, Pakistan, Bangledesh
HIS 3903 Modern Japan
HIS 2553 Introduction to East Asian Civilization
HIS 3973 Muslim South Asia: India, Pakistan, Bangladesh
HIS 3903 Modern Japan
HIS 2553 Introduction to East Asian Civilization
HIS 2583 Introduction to South Asian Civilization
HIS 3923 China in Revolution
PHI 3073 Asian Philosophy
HIS 2543 Introduction to Islamic Civilization
Politics of Asia
GLA/POL 3433 Politics and Geographies of Southeast Asia GLA 1013 or POL 1013
GLA/POL 3443 Politics and Geographies of East Asia GLA 1013 or POL 1013
GLA/POL 3783 Democracy and World Politics GLA 1013 or POL 1013
GES 3433 Politics and Geographies of East Asia
GLA 3493 Politics of the Middle East GLA 1013 or POL 1013
Languages of Asia
CHN 1014 Elementary Chinese I
CHN 1024 Elementary Chinese II CHN 1014, an equivalent, an appropriate placement test score, or consent of instructor
JPN 1014 Elementary Japanese I
JPN 1024 Elementary Japanese II JPN 1014, an equivalent, an appropriate placement test score, or consent of instructor
KOR 1014 Elementary Korean I
KOR 1024 Elementary Korean II KOR 1014, an equivalent, an appropriate placement test score, or consent of instructor

Focus Area 2 - 12 hours required

The table shows some of the courses you can take in the focus area of Russia Regional Specialization.
Course Number Title Prerequisite
Cultures and History of Europe and Russia
CSH 3823 Advanced Topics in World Cultures WRC 1023 or the equivalent
HIS 3523 European Cultural History
HIS 3743 Imperial Russia
HIS 3753 The Soviet Union and After
HIS 3763 Russia before Peter the Great
RUS 4213 Topics in Russian Culture RUS 2013 or the equivalent
HIS 2563 Introduction to European Civilization
Politics of Europe and Russia
GLA/POL 3383 East European Politics GLA 1013 or POL 1013
GLA/POL 3403 European Governments GLA 1013 or POL 1013
GLA/POL 3783 Democracy and World Politics GLA 1013 or POL 1013
GES 3133 Geography of Europe
GES 3423 Geopolitics of Russia and Eurasia
GLA/POL 3423 Geopolitics of Russia and Eurasia
Languages of Europe and Russia
RUS 1014 Elementary Russian I
RUS 1024 Elementary Russian II RUS 1014, the equivalent, an appropriate placement score, or consent of instructor
FRN 1014 Elementary French I
FRN 1024 Elementary French II FRN 1014, the equivalent, an appropriate placement score, or consent of instructor
GER 1014 Elementary German I
GER 1024 Elementary German II GER 1014, the equivalent, an appropriate placement score, or consent of instructor
ITL 1014

Elementary Italian I 
ITL 1024 Elementary Italian II ITL 1014, the equivalent, an appropriate placement score, or consent of instructor

Focus Area 2 - 12 hours required

The table shows some of the courses you can take in the focus area of Latin America Regional Specialization.
Course Number Title Prerequisite
Cultures and History of Latin America
CSH 3823 Advanced Topics in World Cultures WRC 1023 or the equivalent
HIS 3293 Imperial Spain
HIS 3313 History of U.S. Relations with Latin America
HIS 3353 Latin America Since Independence
HIS 3373 Revolution in Latin America
HIS 2533 Introduction to Latin American Civilization
Politics of Latin America
GLA/POL 3393 Latin American Politics GLA 1013 or POL 1013
GLA/POL 3453 Politics of Mexico GLA 1013 or POL 1013
GLA/POL 3473 Latin America in the World GLA 1013 or POL 1013
GLA/POL 3593 Topics in Latin American Security GLA 1013 or POL 1013
GLA/POL 3783 Democracy and World Politics GLA 1013 or POL 1013
GES 3123 Geography of Latin America
GES 3143 Geography of Mexico
Languages of Latin America
SPN 1014 Elementary Spanish I
SPN 1024 Elementary Spanish II SPN 1014, the equivalent, or an appropriate placement test score

Focus Area 3

Focus Area 3 - 12 hours (9 semester credit hours required)

The table shows some of the courses you can take in the focus area of National Security Policy.
Course Number Title Prerequisite
NSS 4003* Introduction to National Security Studies (Required)
NSS 4233* Understanding Global Hotspots (Required) NOTE: Not in catalog yet 
NSS 4343* Irregular Warfare (Required)
GES 3643 Political Geography 
GLA 3003 International Law  GLA 1013 or POL 1013
GLA 3213 Theories of International Relations  GLA 1013 or POL 1013 or consent of the instructor 
GLA 3343 National Security and World Affairs  GLA 1013 or POL 1013
GLA 4133 Conflict, Law, and Security in Global Affairs GLA 1013 or POL 1013
GLA 4243 Terrorism and Counter-Terrorism GLA 1013 or POL 1013
GLA/POL 2603 Introduction to Global Politics GLA 1013 or POL 1013
GLA/POL 3033 Global Governance GLA 1013 or POL 1013
GLA/POL 3463 Politics of the Developing World GLA 1013 or POL 1013
GLA/POL 3513 International Organizations in World Politics GLA 1013 or POL 1013
GLA/POL 3523 Violence in International Politics  POL 1013
GLA/POL 3763 Globalization GLA 1013 or POL 1013
GLA/POL 4213 The Intelligence Community in World Affairs GLA 1013 or POL 1013
HIS 3543 History of Modern Warfare
POL 3643 Justice among Nations  POL 1013
POL 4023 Techniques in Global Analysis  POL 1013
GLA 2103 Introduction to Intelligence Studies GLA 1013 or POL 1013
GLA/POL 2633 Comparative Politics GLA 1013 or POL 1013

Archived Focus Areas by Year

2023 Focus Areas 

2024-2026 Focus Areas

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