Interdisciplinary Studies, B.I.S. (5420)

The Bachelor of Interdisciplinary Studies (B.I.S.) is an individualized degree program. Created to meet the needs of working adults and others whose educational objectives are unmet by the traditional degree programs, the B.I.S. is a self-designed general studies degree in which students choose the academic courses that best meet their career goals. There are no specific course requirements beyond 38 hours in “core” courses, and students may receive up to 12 hours of academic credit for previous non-college learning experiences. The B.I.S. is a full, four-year baccalaureate degree that complies with all university requirements. The student interested in the B.I.S. degree prepares an individualized degree program in consultation with his/her adviser. Any modification to the student’s program of study must be approved by the BIS Coordinator.

332 Gooch Hall
Martin, TN 38225
(731) 881-7589
bis@utm.edu

General Education	38 hours
Area of Interest (includes Experiential Credit where appropriate)	42-54 hours
IDST 490: Senior Seminar	3 hours
Electives	25-37 hours
TOTAL	120 hours

DEGREE REQUIREMENTS

University Degree Requirements

120 credit hours are required
Minimum 30 credit hours completed at The University of Tennessee at Martin
36 credit hours in Upper Division coursework (courses numbered 300-499)
At least 18 credit hours in Upper Division coursework must be taken in the Area of Interest
Minimum 60 credits earned at an accredited four-year institution required.
A minimum overall GPA of 2.0 is required.
A minimum institutional GPA of 2.0 is required.
Must meet all General Education Requirements
Must meet all Exit Exam Requirements
General Education Exam
If a student is admitted to the University of Tennessee at Martin with documented entrance deficiencies OR is subject to mandatory placement requirements, then the student must meet those requirements.

COURSEWORK REQUIRED FOR THE DEGREE

General Education Core Curriculum Requirements

Major in Interdisciplinary Studies (120 credit hours)

36 credit hours in Upper Division coursework (courses numbered 300-499)
At least 18 credit hours in Upper Division coursework must be taken in the Area of Interest

Senior Seminar Required Course (3 Hours)

The following course is required for the Bachelor of Interdisciplinary Studies degree:

IDST 490: Senior Seminar (3 credit hours)

Area of Interest (42-54 Hours)

This portion of the student’s program provides for the in-depth examination of some area of study. In traditional terms, it would comprise the courses of the major and the minor or the courses of the major plus an integrated cluster of related and supportive courses. The Area of Interest will include no fewer than 42 semester hours and no more than 54 semester hours. A minimum of 18 upper-division hours is required within the Area of Interest. No more than 36 semester hours in one discipline may be used within the Area of Interest and no more than 50 hours in one discipline counted toward the degree. The student must earn a grade of C or better in all courses offered for the Area of Interest. Students should work closely with their advisers to determine the appropriate coursework to support their area of interest.

Experiential Credit (0-12 Hours)

While not required, students may be awarded up to 12 hours credit for learning that has taken place in settings other than the college classroom or lab. Examples of non-college learning that can be converted into college credit include real estate schools, banking institutes, military training, business programs, law enforcement academies, fire and safety institutes, technical/vocational certificates, seminars, workshops, in-service training, or formal job training. A portfolio, documenting all experiential learning for which credit is sought, will be presented by the student. At the time of submission of the portfolio, the student will be required to pay a $300 charge per subject area. A Council for Adult and Experiential Learning (CAEL) certified -university evaluator will be appointed to evaluate the portfolio and may recommend to the Interdisciplinary Studies Council that the student receive from 0-12 hours credit. If experiential credit is awarded, it becomes part of the student’s university transcript; it may not substitute for any general education requirement; and it may only be applied to the Bachelor of Interdisciplinary Studies degree. Portfolio credit does not apply towards minimum credits at the University of Tennessee at Martin; however, it does apply toward four-year institutional hours.

Electives (25-37 Hours)

Sufficient electives must be taken to bring the total credits for the program to 120 semester hours.

ADDITIONAL NOTES:

No more than 8 hours of PACT classes can be applied to this degree. No more than 29 hours of Business classes (ACCT, BADM, BLAW, ECON 300/400, FIN, INFS, MGT, MKTG, and SPMG) can be applied towards this degree. No more than 50 credit hours in one discipline can be applied towards this degree.