Bachelor of Individualized Studies BIS

The Bachelor of Individualized Studies (B.I.S) is administered by University College or the Office of the Provost as appropriate. Students interested in a B.I.S. program should contact an advisor to declare the general BIS undergraduate degree.

The B.I.S. is not intended to prepare students for a specific career path. However, it does provide an opportunity for degree completion to students in a number of situations:

Students who wish to earn a baccalaureate after completion of an associate degree in a discipline for which there is no formal program at the university (i.e., Art Therapy, etc.).
Students who have accumulated hours at other institutions, or at SSU, sufficient to earn a degree but in disparate areas, which, nonetheless, might be able to be combined into a coherent degree program.
Students seeking to combine two or more programs to constitute an interdisciplinary degree (i.e., Arts Administration, Communications and Marketing, Sociology and Anthropology, Urban Planning, etc.).
Students seeking a baccalaureate degree to improve advancement opportunities in their current careers.

This degree may be particularly useful to working students who are limited to evening, off-campus, or distance learning classes. Students planning to pursue graduate or professional degrees are encouraged to avoid the B.I.S., because most of these programs require a traditional major at the undergraduate level.

Admission to the Bachelor of Individualized Studies

After admission to the University, a student makes an appointment for a conference with an advisor in University College. During this conference, the advisor will explore with the student the appropriateness of the Bachelor of Individualized Studies, given his or her background, and academic or career goals. The University College advisor will then direct the students to a faculty advisor in the appropriate area(s) of concentration.

To obtain formal admission to the Bachelor of Individualized Studies, the student must complete a B.I.S. application form with the faculty advisor. This application for admission to the Bachelor of Individualized Studies will be reviewed by the student’s Faculty Advisory Committee, which will include: a Professional Advisor, and at least one faculty, suggested by the faculty advisor, in consultation with the appropriate college’s dean (i.e. CAS or CPS). If the application and proposed course of study is approved by the advisory committee, these items will be forwarded to the Dean of the University College for approval and the registration of these degree requirements by the Registrar.

Advising

The student pursuing an individualized studies major is encouraged to seek academic advising each semester.

Degree Requirements

Students seeking the Individualized Studies degree, must fulfill university requirements for baccalaureate programs and those requirements specific to this degree. These include:

A minimum of 120 semester credit hours, including the General Education Program.
A minimum of 2.00 cumulative grade point average for all courses taken at Shawnee State University.
Transfer Credits from another accredited university or college, can account for no more than 9 upper division hours in individualized/specialized area(s) of study and cognate areas. The University’s general policies regarding the transferability of courses from other colleges and universities will apply equally to this major.
The student must complete a minimum of 30 semester credit hours at Shawnee State University. The University’s general policies regarding the transferability of courses from other colleges and universities will apply equally to this major.
A minimum of 30 semester credit hours in the individualized/specialized area(s) of study and cognate areas.
A student may choose to complete a minor as part of the B.I.S. program.
A Capstone/Sr. Project/Seminar Course is required.
One semester hour of First Year Experience Course is required for students enrolling Fall 2016 or later.
Completion of the specific program of study initially approved by the student’s faculty advisory committee upon admission to the major. Any subsequent alterations in the program, including course substitutions, must receive the approval of the student’s advisory committee UC and faculty advisor.
The completion of at least 30 semester credit hours after approval of student’s program.
Petition for graduation in accordance with the rule prescribed by the University. The degree will read “Bachelor of Individualized Studies”.