Bachelor of Integrated Studies

 

  • Mission Statment

    Background:

    • The Bachelor of Integrated Studies (BIS) is an interdisciplinary degree program that reports directly to the office of Academic Affairs.

     

    The BIS degree best suits the student who has developed a sense of his or her educational and life goals, and who is looking for ways to explore those goals through an individualized inquiry-based program. The BIS program served the needs of students who want to:

    • Create a personalized academic program
    • Obtain a broad liberal arts education
    • Prepare for specific career goals and/or graduate school

     

    Repko (2012) defined integrated studies as a process of answering questions, problem solving, and using inquiry to investigate issues too broad or complex to be addressed by a single discipline. Students must integrate and meld content knowledge, methodology, and problem-solving skills in completing their degrees.

    Thus, BIS students select three academic emphases for in-depth study and work closely with University faculty to conceptualize, draft, and create Capstone Projects that meld and synthesis knowledge, methods, and creativity into a cohesive whole.


    Mission Statement:

    • The mission of the BIS Department is to recruit, advise, and support students as they identify three academic areas of study; facilitate communications between students and mentoring faculty; and to prepare students to craft inquiry or service-learning Capstone Projects based on rigorous national standards.