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Bachelor of Integrative Studies (BIS) Program

What is Integrative Studies? Integrative Studies has been defined as learning that leads students to make connections, integrating the various facets of their overall education and connecting their academic learning with the world outside the academy. While interdisciplinary learning may be part of one’s academic plan, integrative learning requires students to adapt their learning to new contexts through reflection and engagement.

The BIS is a degree program that allows students of all ages to design a course of study that reflects the mission of Ferris while providing a pathway for students to meet their personal career goals.   The 21^st century workforce calls for individuals who have multiple talents who must be flexible and have the ability to contract their skills in a variety of contexts. The BIS asks students to focus on multiple capacities that they wish to develop and combine for individualized career paths. While each self-styled program is different, the orientation/capstone experiences and general education core provide commonality. Regardless of concentrations, minors, associates that are combined to create the individual’s program of study, the culminating experience requires students to demonstrate exceptional communication skills, presentation skills, as well as a self-assessment skills in order to market themselves in their chosen career path. In recognition of the changing demands of this new workforce and the need for life-long learning, students are additionally required to plan for ongoing professional development. 

1. Graduates will demonstrate exceptional communication skills as demonstrated by written pieces in the program portfolio, including a personal philosophy statement, a skills assessment statement, as well as selected pieces of writing that demonstrate specific competencies of the individual’s academic plan and general education.
2. Graduates will demonstrate exceptional presentation skills both in an oral presentation in the electronic portfolio that demonstrates the individual’s specific competencies as outlined in his or her academic plan as well the ability to articulate the interrelatedness of the separate disciplines within the academic plan.
3. Graduates will demonstrate self assessment skills and the ongoing development of those skills in the program portfolio both in reflective journal assignments and semester assessment rubrics.
4. Graduates will demonstrate team building skills as demonstrated through cooperative learning experiences in the orientation and capstone courses as well as individual service learning experiences.
5. Graduates will demonstrate discipline competencies including knowledge of content area as well as the ability to use the language of the specific disciplines demonstrated through selected works in the portfolio.

• Completion of the University General Education requirement;
• a minimum of 120 credits with a minimum of 40 at the 300 or higher level;
• a minimum of 30 credits taught by FSU;
• a cumulative grade point average of 2.0 or higher;
• completion of the approved BIS Program Option in consultation with the Program Coordinator;
• and all other University requirements.

• Required Courses
• Choosing BIS
• Advisory Board Members
• BIS Scholarship
• Student Awards