Bachelor of Integrated Studies

Morgan Hall
Room 108
(785) 231-1010 ext. 1636

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Source: 2005-2006 Catalog

The Bachelor of Integrated Studies requirements are based on the assumption that the depth of experience component of a baccalaureate degree may be adequately provided by utilizing a multi-disciplinary approach. In particular, those students who do not plan to seek post baccalaureate education in a specific field still might benefit greatly from a relatively brief exposure to fundamental aspects of selected disciplines relevant to their personal interests, goals, aspirations, or career path, despite never completing the full set of major requirements in a discipline.

Multi-disciplinary plans of study within the Bachelor of Integrated Studies may be created in one of two ways:

1. Unique, customized plan created by a student and
2. Standard multi-disciplinary plan created by a group of departments.

Creation of a Customized Plan. To meet the depth of experience component of the degree requirements, the student designs and submits for approval an Individualized Study Program (ISP). This ISP is formulated by selecting courses from two (or more) Emphasis Areas, or by selecting courses which are consistent with a specific focus, theme, or unifying conceptual principle.

A five-member Bachelor of Integrated Studies Advisory Committee (ISAC) chaired by the College of Arts and Sciences (CAS) Dean or the Dean's designee is charged with the responsibility of reviewing and approving each BIS Individualized Study Program (ISP). Working with a member of the ISAC, students will develop an ISP proposal. The committee will review ISPs submitted, and approve or modify ISPs. Generally, an ISP will have to be approved (by majority vote) at least one year (24 credit hours) before expected graduation. In exceptional situations, the ISAC at its discretion may consider appeals to approve an ISP one semester (12 credit hours) before graduation.

Completion of Departmentally-Generated Multi-Disciplinary Plan. As the world becomes more complex, the needs for interdisciplinary educational experiences increases. To respond to this trend, groups of departments may design a Multi-disciplinary Study Program (MDSP) for approval by the five-member Integrated Studies Advisory Committee (ISAC). Such Multi-Departmental Study Programs require the approval of the Dean of the College of Arts and Sciences as well as the Dean of any academic unit participating in such a program. Students who choose to pursue these "pre-approved" plans of study must complete the course-work identified by the participating departments.

Student Learning Outcomes

Washburn University students completing this degree, upon graduation, are expected to have:

• integrated diverse disciplines through a multi- departmental curriculum;
• constructed appropriate research questions, conduct research, develop a research argument; and
• integrated diverse materials into the writing of a research project.

The following pre-approved multi-departmental study programs (MDSPs) are currently available:

Administrative Communication, and Liberal Arts Pro gram Emphases: (Also available through on-line PLAN program).

Students enrolled in any one of these two emphases complete the following core coursework:

12 Hours of upper division Communication courses:

• CN300 Organizational Communication (3)*
• CN301 Advanced Organizational Communication (3)*
• CN330 Conflict and Negotiation (3)*
• CN350 Persuasion (3)*
  * Prerequisite for these courses is CN101 - Principles & Practices of Human Communication.

12 Hours of upper division Psychology courses to be chosen from the following:

• PY306 Cognition (3)*
• PY309 Theories of Personality (3)*
• PY310 Social Psychology (3)*
• PY326 Health Psychology (3)*
• PY395 Psychology of Everyday Life (3)*
  * Prerequisite for these courses is PY100 or PY101.

3 Hours of upper division Integrated Studies course-work to complete the required Capstone Project:

• IS389 Capstone Project Development (1)
• IS390 Capstone Project (2)

In addition to the required course-work, students must complete 12 additional hours in one of the two options.

The Administrative Communication option requires the completion of the following 12 hours of Business/Political Science/Sociology courses:

• BU342 Organization and Management (3)*
• BU345 Human Resources Management (3)*
• BU360 Marketing (3)*
• BU 381 Finance (3)*
• PO310 Politics & Strategies of Community Development (3)
• PO391 Public Personnel Administration (3)
• PO393 Public Budgeting
• PO401 Program Evaluation OR
• SO314 Organizations (3)
  * Prerequisite for these courses include EC200, EC201, and AC224.

The Liberal Arts option requires completion of 12 Hours of upper division coursework chosen from the College of Arts and Sciences (Note: MS310 and MS340 from the School of Applied Studies may also be used to partially satisfy this requirement).

Students interested in obtaining more information about the Bachelor of Integrated Studies should contact the College of Arts and Sciences Dean's office.

Each candidate for the Bachelor of Integrated Studies degree is required to complete the following:

• ISAC approval of Individualized Study Program (ISP) at least one year before intended graduation or completion of the requirements of a pre-approved multi-departmental study program (MDSP);
• grade of "C" or better required for designated courses I ISP or MDSP;
• ISP/MDSP consists of at least 36 graded hours, including 12 hours 300-400 level courses and a capstone project (IS389 & IS390 or substitute approved by ISAC);
• the first 36 hours of the ISP/MDSP may not be applied to the 84 hour "non-major" requirement;
• courses applied to the General Education distribution requirements may not also be utilized to meet ISP/MDSP requirements; and
• all requirements for the Bachelor of Arts degree must be met with the following exceptions:
  • no major requirements;
  • no foreign language requirement.