Interdisciplinary Studies Major, BIS

The BIS is designed for the older-than-typical student who has an associate’s degree, or at least 60 semester hours (SH) of transferable credit, and whose goals may be met by a more general Bachelor’s degree rather than a traditional major. The BIS follows the 2+2 curriculum model used by the Bachelor of Science in Applied Science program for the benefit of hundreds of graduates since 1974, with minor changes—and a new distance learning concentration. To earn the BIS degree, students must fulfill requirements for General Studies, an area of Specialization, and electives, as indicated below

Basic Requirements for the Bachelor of Interdisciplinary Studies Degree - for the student admitted with the following backgrounds:

1. An Associate of Applied Science Degree

• 64 semester hours (SH) are transferred for the AAS degree.
• Complete the balance of WSSU’s General Studies Core.
• Complete 30 SH with grades of C and above in an approved Depth Study or 36 SH for the Integrative Studies concentration.
• Complete 6 SH in Interdisciplinary Studies (IDS) courses; students with the Integrative Studies concentration will have met this requirement.
• Complete a total of 120 SH minimum for the entire program, including transfer credits.
• Include at least 25 SH of Upper Division Courses among the 120 SH total credits required for the degree. (Exception to the general university requirement)
• Demonstrate computer competency (usually through a computer science or information systems course).
• Maintain a minimum grade point average of 2.0 (C) for WSSU courses taken.
• Complete a minimum of 30 SH of credit in WSSU courses.

2. An Associate of Arts or Associate of Science Degree

• 64 SH are transferred for the AA or AS degree.
• The General Studies Core is completed for graduates of NCCCS institutions.
• Complete 30 SH with grades of C and above in an approved Depth Study or 36 SH for the Integrative Studies concentration.
• Complete 6 SH in Interdisciplinary Studies (IDS) courses; students with the Integrative Studies concentration will have met this requirement.
• Complete a total of 120 SH minimum for the entire program, including transfer credits
• Include at least 40 SH of upper division courses among the 120 SH total credits required for the degree.
• Demonstrate computer competency (usually through a computer science or information systems course).
• Maintain a minimum grade point average of 2.0 (C) for WSSU courses taken.
• Complete a minimum of 30 SH of credit in WSSU courses.

3. A Minimum of Sixty (60) Transferable Semester Hours of Credit from All Sources

• A course by course evaluation of transfer courses is conducted.
• Complete the balance of WSSU’s General Studies Core.
• Complete 30 SH with grades of C and above in an approved Depth Study or 36 SH for the Integrative Studies concentration.
• Complete 6 SH in Interdisciplinary Studies (IDS) courses; students with the Integrative Studies concentration will have met this requirement.
• Complete a total of 120 SH minimum for the entire program, including transfer credits.
• Include at least 40 SH of upper division courses among the 120 SH total minimum credits.
• Demonstrate computer competency (usually through a computer science or information systems course).
• Maintain a minimum grade point average of 2.0 (C) for WSSU courses taken.
• Complete a minimum of 30 SH of credit in WSSU courses. of credit in WSSU courses.

Note: AAS graduates will usually require about 20 semester hours of General Studies core courses. AA and AS graduates will usually require about 20 semester hours of electives or a secondary area of academic emphasis.

Areas of Specialization: Concentration and Depth Studies

Integrative Studies Concentration – On-Line (approved fall 2004; implementation spring 2005)

The Concentration in Integrative Studies at Winston-Salem State University is available through Distance Learning (primarily via the Internet). It shares the following characteristics of scores of similar programs in other American colleges and universities: (1) helping students develop and refine their skills in communications, abilities in critical and creative thinking/ problem solving, and knowledge of one’s own and other cultures; (2) valuing cross-disciplinary and interdisciplinary approaches to learning and scholarship through historical, regional, thematic, or problem-focused study; and (3) exploring societal issues. Integrative Studies is also an alternative for students who need or seek a broader educational experience—as proposed in The University of North Carolina White Paper on E-Learning (July 21, 2003, p. 4.) The occupational focus for graduates in Integrative Studies tends to be in areas of management, government, and public service; or professional or graduate education in business, counseling, law, and librarianship; or for enhancement of one’s current employment.

The 36 SH requirement includes at least four of the following courses: IDS 3310, Native American Studies I; IDS 3323, Cultures of the Spanish Speaking World;  IDS 3383, Topics in Interdisciplinary Studies; IDS 4370, Research in Interdisciplinary Studies; IDS 4371, American South in Popular Culture, and 24 SH in other approved courses drawn primarily from the Humanities and Social Sciences. A goal of the Integrative Studies concentration is to improve students’ understanding of a variety of past and present cultures through interdisciplinary learning experiences. As other appropriate courses are developed, they will be added as options to the courses already available for the program.

Prerequisites

Because of the strong liberal arts component to this program, students must complete the following General Education courses prior to enrollment in the upper level Integrative Studies

Concentration courses:

1. 6 SH of composition
2. 3 SH of history
3. 3 SH of another social science
4. 3 SH in mathematics
5. 3 SH in science
6. 3 SH in literature
7. 3 SH in African American Culture
8. 3 SH in speech
9. 3 SH computer abilities equivalent to “Computer and Its Uses” or “Introduction to Data Processing”