Interdisciplinary Studies – Home

The College of Education, Health and Behavioral Sciences offers the Bachelor of Interdisciplinary Studies degree. The BIS degree is an individualized degree that allows students to choose courses that best match their career goals. Created to meet the needs of working adults and others whose educational objectives are unmet by traditional degree programs, the BIS is a self-designed general studies degree. There are no specific course requirements beyond 38 hours in “core” courses, and students might receive academic credit for previous non-college learning experiences; up to 12 hours. The BIS is a full, four-year baccalaureate degree that complies with all university requirements.

This degree can either be obtained through traditional on-campus coursework or online. The online BIS degree is a degree completion program that allows students to complete a degree that they started but never finished. An individualized degree program is constructed in consultation with an adviser. 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 may be counted towards the degree. The student must earn a grade of C or better in all courses offered for the area of interest. The area of interest plan must be submitted prior to the semester in which they will earn 90 hours toward the degree. It then becomes the student’s official program of study. Any modification to the student’s program must be approved by the Interdisciplinary Studies Council.

For More Information Contact:

Program Resource Specialist: 731-881-7589

Interdisciplinary Studies Advisor: Melanie Morris mmorris@utm.edu 731-881-7168

Coordinator: Beth Edwards bedwards@utm.edu 731-881-7701