COURSE CURRICULUM

The Interdisciplinary Studies (BIS) degree (120 hours) is designed to give students a flexible academic pathway that allows them to combine multiple fields of study into a customized program aligned with their interests and career goals, while still completing a structured set of general education and core requirements. The program begins with the General Education Curriculum, which includes written communication through ENG 101 and ENG 102, natural sciences with lab-based coursework from disciplines such as biology, chemistry, or physics, humanities courses including world literature and history (HIS 101 or HIS 102 required within selections), aesthetic values such as art, music, theatre, or dance appreciation, social and behavioral sciences including psychology, sociology, economics, or anthropology, and a mathematics requirement such as MAT 100 or MAT 101 or higher-level math depending on placement. Students must also complete a writing-intensive course approved by the program, a speaking-intensive communication course such as public speaking or interpersonal communication, and a senior-level capstone experience (IDS 402 Integrative Capstone Experience) that brings together knowledge from their chosen fields. The major core emphasizes interdisciplinary thinking through courses such as IDS 401 Integrative Research Methods and Design, IDS 402 Capstone, and one elective from areas like leadership, sustainability, gender studies, health humanities, disability studies, African American studies, or other approved interdisciplinary topics. A defining feature of the BIS program is its concentration structure, where students complete either two 18-credit concentrations or one 36-credit concentration, chosen from approved academic areas and designed in consultation with advisors. These concentrations allow students to blend disciplines such as business, social sciences, health, humanities, or education into a unified degree plan. Overall, the BIS program prioritizes flexibility, critical thinking, and applied problem-solving, preparing students for diverse careers or graduate study that require adaptable, interdisciplinary skill sets rather than a single traditional major focus.