Interdisciplinary Studies (BIS)

Print Degree Planner (opens a new window) |

Interdisciplinary Studies (IDS) information

The Interdisciplinary Studies program, leading to a Bachelor of Interdisciplinary Studies (BIS) degree, provides students the opportunity to design individualized programs of study based on personal needs and interests. There are two pathways for completion:

• Accelerated Online Degree Completion Pathway (AODC)
• Traditional Pathway

Requirements

A. Pathway of Choice

One of the following pathways:

Accelerated Online Degree Completion Pathway

A student-designed plan of study consisting of at least 30 credits and encompassing two or more certificate programs. The program of study is bookended by two required courses. The first is an introductory course emphasizing the development of integrative approaches and methodologies in the humanities, social sciences and natural sciences, with a focus on data and technological literacy, in which students develop a portfolio of reflective learning they will augment in subsequent courses. The final course is a capstone (General Education requirement) that integrates the student’s learning within a framework of lifelong learning and in which students complete their learning portfolios.

1. Gateway Course

IDS 301 - Introduction to Lifelong Learning in a Rapidly Changing World (3)

2. Certificate Programs (24 credits)

All requirements of at least two 12-credit certificate programs developed specifically for the Accelerated Online Degree Completion pathway, delivered in an online 7-week format.

Choose two:

3. Capstone (3 credits)

IDS 497 - Lifelong Learning Capstone (3)

4. Electives (90 credits)

Additional courses to complete a total of 120 credits.

Traditional Pathway

A student-designed program of study consisting of at least 39 credits plus a 6-credit senior project approved by the College of Arts and Sciences Curriculum Committee.

1. Plan of Study (39 credits)

The plan of study will be thematic and designed to address the specific needs of the student wishing to pursue a particular course of study not available within currently offered majors. In the spirit of the interdisciplinary nature of the program, the plan must draw from two or more disciplines, including at least one from the College of Arts and Sciences, from which the majority of credit will be drawn, subject to the following rules:
• The student will select at least two appropriate faculty advisors, one from each of the departments or programs from which the student will be taking the majority of courses. These advisors will serve as the “Board of Study” and will assist the student with the design of the course of study. At least 24 credits in the course of study must be taken after the semester in which the course of study is approved by the Curriculum Committee.
• The course of study will be submitted to the IDS coordinator in the office of the Dean of the College of Arts and Sciences. The IDS coordinator will verify that the course of study meets all degree requirements and will then submit it to the Curriculum Committee for approval.
• The proposal must include a rationale for the composed course of study, complete with specific education objectives and a description of how it will be determined that these objectives will have been met (portfolio, internship, research, major paper).
• Any subsequent changes to the course of study must be presented to the Curriculum Committee for approval, and will follow the normal procedure for the waiving of degree requirements.
• In the senior year, the student will present or produce a final project. This final project will be subject to review by the Board of Study and one member of the CAS Curriculum Committee.
• Upon successful completion of the approved program of study, the Board of Study will present its recommendation that the Curriculum Committee grant final approval in anticipation of the conferral of the degree of Bachelor of Interdisciplinary Study.

2. Senior Project (6 credits)

3. Electives (75 credits)

Additional courses to complete a total of 120 credits.

B. Additional Requirements

All College of Arts and Sciences (CAS) degree requirements and University of Michigan-Flint graduation requirements:
• At least 120 credits including:
• CAS General Education Program requirements
• A minimum of 33 credits in courses numbered 300 and higher, with at least 30 taken at the UM-Flint
• The last 30 credits taken at the UM-Flint
• Cumulative grade point averages of 2.0 (C) or better in the program and in the total work at the University of Michigan-Flint.

Honors Program

All bachelor-degree-seeking students with GPAs of 3.5 or higher are eligible to apply to the University of Michigan-Flint Honors Program. Please contact the Honors Program Manager or the Honors Program Director for further information.