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Interdisciplinary Studies & Non-Degree Seeking Admission

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To be eligible to apply to the BIS Program, prospective individualized track students must:

• Attend one orientation session
• Have a goal that cannot be met by another degree program at VCU
• Submit an application for review by the BIS advisor, designated faculty advisor, and the dean of University College, detailing a proposed plan for an interdisciplinary course of study that meets university and BIS program requirements.

 

Students apply for nontraditional, individualized and interdisciplinary courses of study by designing their own curricula. The advisor of the B.I.S program and a faculty adviser assist students in determining the appropriateness of this program, inform students of the B.I.S. curricular guidelines and provide guidance on the application process. With the assistance of the B.I.S. and faculty adviser, students define their educational goals and design their interdisciplinary curricula by drawing on a variety of course offerings. Each student’s plan must define a specific focus area that combines two or more areas of study.

The proposed interdisciplinary curriculum plan will be evaluated by the advisor of the B.I.S. program, the designated faculty adviser and the dean of University College. Each application will be evaluated based on compliance with university degree requirements as well as B.I.S. curriculum and individualized program requirements. Students will be notified in writing of the dean’s decision to accept or deny admission into the program.

 

After admission to the program, students will follow an approved, finalized, individualized curriculum plan. The finalized curriculum plan is the official permanent record of the student’s degree requirements and this must be approved by the director of B.I.S, the designated faculty adviser and the dean of University College. This document records all transfer credits applicable to the B.I.S. degree and lists the courses required to complete the degree.