Bachelor of Interdisciplinary Studies Program
The Bachelor of Interdisciplinary Studies program at Arizona State University offers students the opportunity to create an academic program customized to fit their own personal interests. This academic program allows students to study a wider selection of disciplines without having to spend the extra years in college. Students learn how to solve problems that take multiple disciplines to understand and solve. Students choose two concentrations, usually from different disciplines, to study. The students will learn each discipline as though they were single degrees, but will have to integrate them in their B.I.S. core courses.
I chose this program because I felt a general business degree would not be enough to prepare me for the real world. I chose Communications as my second discipline because I thought of the strongest weakness most Business students have, communicating. I feel my new Business/Communications concentrations will give me an advantage over someone with a basic Business degree.
B.I.S. Core Courses:
Foundations of Interdisciplinary Studies (BIS 301)
This course is designed as an introduction to what Interdisciplinary Studies is. Students learn how to approach and solve problems that require multiple disciplines to solve. Students finish this course by giving an oral report that solves a multidisciplinary problem that relates to their specific concentrations.
Interdisciplinary Principles (BIS 302)
This course is the next step in completing the Interdisciplinary degree. Here, students learn how to properly gather research and how to conduct professional interviews. They also learn how to transform useful information into measurable data. Students use this newfound information and create a thorough report using only academic research and scholarly sources.
Applied Interdisciplinary Studies (BIS 401)
This course gives the student the option of completing a field experiment or internship. The field experiment is working with an ASU faculty member in completing an academic report. The internship is working 125 hours for a professional company. Both options require the student to focus strictly on their concentrations only.
Senior Seminar (BIS 402)
This course acts as a comprehensive conclusion of the student's academic career.
