Zachary M. Hilpert, Ph.D.
Interim director
(804) 827-8167
zhilpert@vcu.edu
Martha Harper
B.I.S. adviser
(804) 828-1110
harperma@vcu.edu
Marcie J. Walsh, Ph.D.
Assistant professor
walshmj2@vcu.edu
interdisciplinarystudies.vcu.edu
The Bachelor of Interdisciplinary Studies is an individualized and interdisciplinary program for students who wish to create an individualized curriculum not available in traditional curricular pathways within existing VCU degree programs. Students in this undergraduate degree program are able to design an individualized degree compatible with academic, career or personal goals.
The B.I.S. declaration process
To apply to the B.I.S. program, students should:
- Have learning goals that are suited to an interdisciplinary program of study
- Meet with the B.I.S. adviser
- Complete the B.I.S. application documents, including the detailed proposed curricular plan and rationale for interdisciplinary study, in consultation with the B.I.S. adviser, and submit the application for review
Students interested in the Bachelor of Interdisciplinary Studies design their own curricula in consultation with the B.I.S. adviser. The B.I.S. adviser and faculty work closely with students to develop an appropriate curricular program and provide guidance on the application process. Each student’s plan must define a specific focus area that combines two or more areas of study and define their educational goals by designing their interdisciplinary curricula from a variety of course offerings.
The proposed interdisciplinary curriculum plan will be evaluated by the B.I.S. adviser and program administrators before final approval by the director. Each application will be evaluated based on compliance with university degree requirements as well as B.I.S. curriculum and individualized program requirements. After admission to the B.I.S. program, students will follow an approved individualized curriculum plan. The finalized curriculum plan is the official record of the student’s degree requirements. This document records all transfer credits applicable to the B.I.S. degree and lists the courses required to complete the degree.
Individualized program requirements
Core education requirements
- Writing and research
Six credit hours: UNIV 111, UNIV 112 – This two-semester sequence is required of all first-year students and provides the foundation of the Core Education Program. Students begin their Core shared experiences through the summer reading program with follow-through in the FI sequence as they engage in similar assignments and projects both in and out of class.
Three credit hours: a research and academic writing course that emphasizes academic argument, information retrieval, analysis and documentation. UNIV 200 may be used to fill this requirement or an equivalent course designed by the department/school. - Quantitative literacy
Three credit hours (minimum) selected from following list of approved courses:Course Title Hours MATH 131 Introduction to Contemporary Mathematics 3 MATH 141 Algebra with Applications 4 MATH 151 Precalculus Mathematics 4 MATH 200 Calculus with Analytic Geometry I 4 SCMA 171 Mathematical Applications for Business 3 SCMA 212 Differential Calculus and Optimization for Business 3 SCMA 301 Business Statistics I 3 STAT 208 Statistical Thinking 3 - Core general education
Nine to 11 credits, including one course from each of the following areas:- Natural/physical sciences
Course Title Hours BIOL 101 Biological Concepts 3 BIOL 103 Environmental Science 4 CHEM 110 Chemistry and Society 3 ENVS 201 Earth System Science 3 FRSC 202 Crime and Science 3 INSC 201 Energy! 3 PHYS 103 Elementary Astronomy 3 - Humanities/fine arts
Course Title Hours AFAM 111 Play VideoPlay course video for Introduction to Africana Studies [View Image] Introduction to Africana Studies 3 ENGL 215 Reading Literature 3 ENGL 250 Reading Film 3 HIST 201 The Art of Historical Detection: ____ 3 MASC/INTL 151 Global Communications 3 PHIL 201 Introduction to Ethics 3 PHIL 250 Thinking About Thinking 3 RELS 108 Human Spirituality 3 UNIV 213 Play VideoPlay course video for The Truth About Lying [View Image] The Truth About Lying 3 UNIV 217 Finding Your Voice in Contemporary Society 3 UNIV 299 What's the Big Idea? 3 WRLD/INTL 203 Cultural Texts and Contexts: ____ 3 WRLD 230 Introduction to World Cinema 3 - Social/behavioral sciences
Course Title Hours ANTH/INTL 103 Introduction to Anthropology 3 ECON 101/INTL 102 Introduction to Political Economy 3 GSWS 201 Introduction to Gender, Sexuality and Women's Studies 3 HUMS 300 Great Questions of the Social Sciences 3 INTL 101 Human Societies and Globalization 3 POLI 103 U.S. Government 3 POLI/INTL 105 International Relations 3 PSYC 101 Play VideoPlay course video for Introduction to Psychology [View Image] Introduction to Psychology 4 SCTS 200 Science in Society: Values, Ethics and Politics 3 SLWK 200 Building a Just Society 3 SOCY 101 Play VideoPlay course video for Introduction to Sociology [View Image] Introduction to Sociology 3 UNIV 211 Food for Thought 3 UNIV 222 Pseudoscience 3
- Natural/physical sciences
Additional general education requirements
Nine credit hours: Select at least three courses offered by the College of Humanities and Sciences that are not required in the focus area.
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Focus area
The individually designed interdisciplinary focus area requires a minimum of 39 semester credits, 24 of which must be upper-level credit. The focus area has to combine at least two areas of study; one way to accomplish this is to complete the requirements for two minors as designated in the Undergraduate Bulletin. All interdisciplinary studies focus areas must include the interdisciplinary theory course (UNIV 301) and the senior capstone course (UNIV 499). UNIV 301 is the pre- or corequisite for UNIV 499. Students are expected to take UNIV 499 during their final semester of study, except under special circumstances.
| Course | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| UNIV 301 | Interdisciplinary Theory and Practice | 3 |
| UNIV 499 | BIS Senior Capstone | 3 |
| Approved relevant upper-level courses | 18 | |
| Approved relevant courses, any level | 15-21 | |
| Total Hours | 39-45 | |
Electives
Maximum of 51 credits
Other requirements
The curriculum plan must also meet the following university policies and degree requirements:
- At least 12 credits must be taken in the focus area after acceptance into the program.
- Interdisciplinary studies majors are required to participate in assessment activities (e.g., focus groups and exit surveys) as determined by the Interdisciplinary Studies Program. Assessment information is used to assist faculty in evaluating program effectiveness.
- Students have a variety of credit options, including CLEP examinations, credit for formal military training and credits for certain professional certifications when they do not duplicate college course work.