Bachelor of Interdisciplinary Studies
The purpose of the bachelor’s degree in interdisciplinary studies is to enable a student
to follow a program of study not provided by existing concentrations. It may not be a
minor variation of an existing program. Students will design a course of study that will
draw from two or more CAS departments/programs or from a CAS department/program
and a department/program in another College.
General Degree Requirements
A. Completion of at least 120 credits, not less than 58 of which must be earned at a
campus of the University of Michigan. At least 33 credits must be in upper
division courses from any discipline; that is, courses numbered 300 or above,
from any discipline.
B. Completion of at least 45 credits in departments/programs/colleges which are
appropriate to the thematic component of the degree and are previously
endorsed by a board of study and approved by the Curriculum Committee.
C. A cumulative grade point average of 2.0 or better in the student’s total work at
the University of Michigan-Flint. The grades for any courses transferred from
other schools and colleges of the University are included in the computation.
D. Two three-credit courses of Independent Study in the senior year entitled
Interdisciplinary Studies Thesis I and II.
E. Completion of the general education requirements in English composition, fine
arts, humanities, social sciences, natural sciences, and the area options.
By the end of the first semester of the junior year, students must present a proposed
program of study already endorsed by a board of study, to the Curriculum
Committee. The board of study must consist of two to five appropriate faculty advisors
one from each of the departments/programs/colleges from which the student will be
taking the majority of their courses. Both the program and the names proposed for the
board of study must be approved by the Curriculum Committee. Please include a
rationale for your composed major complete with specific education objectives and
describe how it will be determined that these objectives will be met [portfolio, internship,
research, major paper]. Subsequent requests for changes in the course of study must
be presented to the Curriculum Committee for approval.
In their final semester, the student will present/produce a final project. This final project
will be subject to review by the Board of Study and one member of the Curriculum
Committee. Upon completion of the approved program of study, the Board of Study will
present their recommendation that the Curriculum Committee grant final approval in
anticipation of the conferral of the degree of Bachelor of Interdisciplinary Studies.
Name: ________________________________Student Number: __________
Bachelor of Interdisciplinary Studies Curriculum Worksheet
University of Michigan-Flint
Degree Requirements (_____ -- _____ Catalog)
Please note "Complete" on the blank line to the right of each requirement as you fulfill it.
1. Complete minimum 120 credits
a. Thirty-three (33) credits in 300-level or above courses
b. UM-Flint course work (minimum 45 credits)
2. Complete at least 45 credits in a program previously endorsed by
a board of study and approved by the Curriculum Committee.
Board of Study:
_________________________________________________
_________________________________________________
_________________________________________________
_________________________________________________
3. Cumulative grade point average of 2.0 or better in the student's total
work at the University of Michigan-Flint. The grades for any courses
transferred from other schools and colleges of the University are
included in the computation.
4. Two (2) three-credit (3 cr.) courses of Independent Study in the senior year:
IDS 498 - Interdisciplinary Studies Thesis I
IDS 499 - Interdisciplinary Studies Thesis II
5. General Education (minimum 50 general education credits)
6. Major: ___________________________ (Completion of at least ______ credits)
7. Minor: ____________________________ (Completion of at least ______ credits)
(Please note that a minor is not required for a BIS degree.)
8. Electives: __________ (Enter number of credits to be completed as electives)
Upper Division Courses (300-level or above) Credits AR/GE1 Grade Semester
1
AR/GE is an abbreviation for Area Option/General Education credit.
Bachelor of Interdisciplinary Studies
Curriculum Worksheet
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General Education
Requirements
1. English Composition (ENG 112 or equivalent) __________
2. Fine Arts (3 credits) __________
3. Humanities (9 credits in at least 2 fields) __________
4. Natural Sciences (8 credits in laboratory science courses) __________
5. Social Sciences (9 credits in at least 2 fields) __________
6. Area Options (complete two options -- 17-18 credits) __________
7. Additional Courses (to bring total number of general education credits to 50) __________
I. English Composition Credits AR/GE Grade Semester
English 111 (if needed) none
English 112 none
COMPLETE TOTAL 3-6
II. Fine Arts Credits AR/GE Grade Semester
f
COMPLETE TOTAL 3
III. Humanities Credits AR/GE Grade Semester
h
h
h
COMPLETE TOTAL 9
IV. Natural Sciences (8 credits including Credits AR/GE Grade Semester
2 labs)
n
n
n
COMPLETE TOTAL 8
V. Social Sciences Credits AR/GE Grade Semester
s
s
s
COMPLETE TOTAL 9
Bachelor of Interdisciplinary Studies
Curriculum Worksheet
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General Education (continued)
VI. Area Options [select two; nine (9) credits each except for Foreign Language which is eight (8)
credits]
1. Analytic Reasoning (two [2] categories) __________
2. Cultural Studies (three [3] categories) __________
3. Foreign Language (FRN/GER/SPN/RUS/JPN 112, LAT 105, or by examination) __________
4. Values Inquiry (both categories) __________
5. The Foundations of Western Civilization (both categories) __________
Option I: ______________________ Credits AR/GE Grade Semester
(group #)
COMPLETE TOTAL
Option II: _____________________ Credits AR/GE Grade Semester
(group #)
COMPLETE TOTAL
VII. Electives (Additional Courses)
(from fine arts, humanities, natural sciences, social sciences, foreign languages, linguistics, mathematics,
and computer science, but excluding discipline of concentration)
Course Credits AR/GE Grade Semester
Bachelor of Interdisciplinary Studies
Curriculum Worksheet
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Major
Please include a rationale for your composed major, complete with specific educational objectives, and
list courses you've taken or intend to take that apply to your major in the table below.
Write major here: _________________________
Course Credits AR/GE Grade Semester
Minor
Please include a rationale for your composed minor and list courses you've taken or intend to take that
apply to your minor in the table below. (NOTE: A minor is not required to complete a BGS degree.)
Write minor here: _________________________
Course Credits AR/GE Grade Semester
Interdisciplinary Studies Thesis I and II
Please include a rationale for your Interdisciplinary Studies Thesis I and II, complete with specific
educational objectives, and list them below.
Course Credits AR/GE Grade Semester
Bachelor of Interdisciplinary Studies
Curriculum Worksheet
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Electives
Electives you've taken or intend to take in the table below.
Course Credits AR/GE Grade Semester
Notes