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The Bachelor of Integrative Studies (BIS) degree at Oakland University is a university-wide degree program that enables you to create an integrative major that prepare you for careers in a world that increasingly bridges academic disciplines. The program offers students the opportunity to make decisions about their course of study by designing their own major. The degree is intended for students whose goals and interests cannot be met through a traditional Oakland University major. It is also for students who are interested in meeting their individual goals through a unique program of integrative study.
Goal and Mission:
The program began in 1975 as part of the University Center for General and Career Studies. In the Fall of 2007 the program's name was changed to the Bachelor of Integrative Studies, while the name changed the mission remained the same. The program is unique within the university because the students are presented with an opportunity to design their own programs of study. Since its inception, students were required to submit a written plan of study with a written rationale to substantiate educational goals from across numerous disciplines.
The program weaves flexibility and decision making into an opportunity for students to achieve unique personal and career goals. Students in the program have clearly identified educational goals and academic needs that can be achieved better through the BIS degree than through a traditional major. The goals of the program are as follows:
- Offer students with cross-departmental interests the opportunity to develop their own curricular programs.
- Offer students a baccalaureate program that integrates past course work with present career and personal goals.
- Prepare students for post-baccalaureate education in cross-departmental fields.
- Encourage students to take responsibility for educational and career planning.
- Assist students in educational and personal development.
Purpose:
The original purpose of the program as outlined in the 1975 enabling legislation was "to enable the university to better respond to the needs (especially, but not exclusively) of its adult, 'nontraditional,' largely evening population." More than 25 years later, the purpose remains essentially the same. The intent is to provide students who are primarily non-traditional in age with decision-making opportunities to design an educational program that is flexible and different from existing majors.
The 350+ Integrative Studies students enrolled in each major semester attest to the continuing relevance of the program in addressing the needs of the target population. The program is also relatively consistent with those offered by about 100 other institutions across the country, including several within our state and region.
Unique Characteristics:
The BIS program is unique within the university because the students are presented with an opportunity to design their own programs of study (with approval of a BIS counselor, a faculty mentor, and the BIS Faculty Admissions Committee).
Advisement is a strong component of the BIS program. With the help of the faculty mentor, students design their individualized study plan, utilizing courses from a variety of academic departments. Students are required to write an application statement (rationale) explaining their preference for a BIS degree as well as their choice of courses included in their study plan. The plan of study constitutes the students’ individualized major, utilizing course work from a variety of disciplines that may include one or more minors or concentrations. While the number of planned credits varies depending on each student’s prior progress towards graduation, a minimum of 24 credits must be included in the planned portion of the program. The role of the faculty mentor is to assist students with clarifying their academic plans and writing their goals statement. A mentor’s signature indicates approval of the plan and rationale. Each student’s study plan, along with the application statement, also is reviewed by a BIS counselor and approved through the counselor’s signature before it is submitted to the Faculty Admissions Committee for final approval and signature.
"Two-plus-two" has been an integral component of the BIS program since it began. Although credits transferring from other institutions usually are evaluated according to the university’s transfer policies on a course-by-course basis, some students transferring from community colleges may have their course work evaluated under a two-plus-two plan. The two-plus-two part of the program provides for transfer of up to 62 semester credits from accredited two-year community colleges in Michigan. Students with associate degrees in any area (except nursing) may qualify for the two-plus-two aspect of the BIS program. Holders of associate degrees in nursing are subject to a course-by-course evaluation. The program requires that courses accepted for transfer under two-plus-two must have a grade of C or above, that at least 12 semester credits have been earned in liberal arts courses, and that all course work being transferred has been taken at accredited institutions. The two-plus-two transfer component for BIS students has been further clarified through articulation agreements with several neighboring community colleges.
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October 30, 2008
Initial due date for applications to major standing for students intending to use credits from the Winter 2009 semester as part of their minimum 24 credit plan of study.
For more information about application deadlines visit the plan of study page.
BIS Faculty Council Approves New Major Application
At the last meeting the Faculty Council for BIS voted to adopt a new form to accompany students' application to major standing.
For more information about application this new form visit the applicaiton essay page.
BIS Alumni Starts Med School
Zoe Thill (08), Integrative Studies, was accepted to the Unviversity of Michigan's Medical school for Fall of 2008.
Walk-In Advising Available
The Integrative Studies office is glad to offer walk-in advising for students needing some brief advising assistance. To find out if you should attend and to see the schedule visit the Walk-In Advising page.
BIS Ranked Third
According to a recent study by Oakland University's Office of Institutional Research and Assessment, BIS students have an average composite ACT score of 21.98, making BIS third within the academic divisions.
For more information about BIS student success visit the news page.
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