Interdisciplinary Studies, Bachelor of Interdisciplinary Studies (558)
Program Coordinator
Cortney S. Basham, cortney.basham@wku.edu, (270) 745-6343
The Bachelor of Interdisciplinary Studies (BIS) degree provides an academic option offering more flexibility than most traditional major programs. The BIS empowers students to select complementary courses from different disciplines or academic programs to create a course of study suited to individual interests and needs. This flexibility allows BIS students to complete their degree 100% online (if desired).
Areas of Emphasis
- Emphasis in Arts (GSAR)
- Emphasis in Business (GSBU)
- Emphasis in Education (GSED)
- Emphasis in Health (GSHE)
- Emphasis in Humanities (GSHU)
- Emphasis in Military Studies (GSMS)
- Emphasis in Organization and Communication of Ideas Science (GSCO)
- Emphasis in Social and Behavioral (GSSB)
- Emphasis in Science (GSSC)
- Emphasis in Social Justice and Equity Studies (GSSJ)
- Emphasis in Sustainability (GSSU)
- Emphasis in Technology (GSTE)
Program Requirements (36 hours)
A baccalaureate degree requires a minimum of 120 unduplicated semester hours. More information can be found at www.wku.edu/registrar/degree_certification.php.
Students who began WKU in the Fall 2014 and thereafter should review the Colonnade requirements located at: https://www.wku.edu/colonnade/colonnaderequirements.php.
The student must complete an emphasis of at least 36 semester hours. These hours include a capstone course (student may choose from IDST 495 or IDST 499). Students pursuing a minor as a secondary area of study must meet the published requirements for that minor. Courses in the minor may not duplicate those used to satisfy the BIS emphasis.
The 12 broad areas of emphasis for the Interdisciplinary Studies degree program include:
- Arts
- Business
- Education
- Health
- Humanities
- Military Studies
- Organization and Communication of Ideas Science
- Social and Behavioral
- Science
- Social Justice and Equity Studies
- Sustainability
- Technology
Students also have the option of requesting a broad area of emphasis not listed above. The written request, based on specific individual objectives, must be made by the student and approved by a BIS advisor, the Director, and the Dean of University College.
Minimum Academic Requirements for the Bachelor of Interdisciplinary Studies
-
36 hours in the Area of Emphasis
-
42 hours of upper-level credits, including 12 upper-level hours in the Area of Emphasis
- No more than 24 semester hours in a single academic discipline, no more than 24 semester hours from the School of Journalism & Broadcasting, no more than 30 semester hours in courses administered by the Gordon Ford College of Business, no more than 12 upper-level semester hours from the Gordon Ford College of Business.
| First Year | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Fall | Hours | Spring | Hours |
| ENG 100 | 3 | COMM 145 | 3 |
| MATH 116 or MATH 109 | 3 | ENG 200 | 3 |
| IDST 175 | 3 | HIST 101 or HIST 102 | 3 |
| Foreign Language (if Level II is not appropriate in the first semester) | 3 | Foreign Language II (meets world language requirement) | 3 |
| Colonnade: Natural & Physical Sciences | 3 | Colonnade: Arts & Humanities | 3 |
| 15 | 15 | ||
| Second Year | |||
| Fall | Hours | Spring | Hours |
| ENG 300 | 3 | Colonnade: Natural & Physical Science w/Lab | 3-4 |
| Colonnade: Social & Behavioral Science | 3 | Area of Emphasis 2 | 3 |
| Area of Emphasis 1 | 3 | Area of Emphasis 3 | 3 |
| General or Certificate Elective | 3 | General or Certificate Elective | 3 |
| General or Certificate Elective | 3 | General or Certificate Elective | 3 |
| 15 | 15-16 | ||
| Third Year | |||
| Fall | Hours | Spring | Hours |
| IDST 395 | 3 | Colonnade: Connections (Local to Global) | 3 |
| Colonnade: Connections (Social & Cultural) | 3 | Area of Emphasis 6 | 3 |
| Area of Emphasis 4 | 3 | Area of Emphasis 7 | 3 |
| Area of Emphasis 5 | 3 | Area of Emphasis 8 | 3 |
| General or Certificate Elective | 3 | General or Certificate Elective | 3 |
| 15 | 15 | ||
| Fourth Year | |||
| Fall | Hours | Spring | Hours |
| Colonnade: Connections (Systems) | 3 | IDST 495 or IDST 499 | 1-3 |
| Area of Emphasis 9 | 3 | Area of Emphasis 11 | 3 |
| Area of Emphasis 10 | 3 | Area of Emphasis 12 | 3 |
| General or Certificate Elective | 3 | General or Certificate Elective | 3 |
| General or Certificate Elective | 3 | General or Certificate Elective | 3 |
| 15 | 13-15 | ||
| Total Hours 118-121 | |||