USCA offers a Bachelor of Arts or Science in Interdisciplinary Studies. This unique degree program can be structured to meet an individual student's specific educational and career goals. Students in this program typically select two academic disciplines for concentrated study instead of majoring in one discipline. Students may select only those disciplines in which USCA offers upper-level courses. Numerous combinations of concentrations are possible. Some examples are: art studio and biology; computer science and accounting; English and history; sociology and public administration; theater and speech communications; political science and psychology; and philosophy and art history. In addition, some concentrations offer several options, such as political science or public administration; performance theater or design/technical theater; and English-literature or English-writing.
Admission into the BIS program is by application only. (This is in addition to the application for admission to the University.) Normally a student will not be admitted until she or he is a sophomore. Application should be made at least two weeks prior to the beginning of the semester in which the student plans to enter the program. The application procedure includes the completion of a statement of educational and career goals and the selection of two academic concentrations. After a student submits an application, a three-member faculty advisory committee is formed to decide if the student should be accepted into the program. If the student is accepted, the committee creates an individualized program of study. At least 30 credit hours of study must be completed under the supervision of the student's advisory committee. In addition, the BIS program requires that a minimum of 30 hours must be taken from courses at the 300 level or above.
Application forms for this degree are available from the Director of the BIS program. Students who have taken course work at another college should consult the section on Transfer Admission in the USCA Bulletin for more information on what kinds of courses are normally transferable to USCA.
General Education Requirements
Hours
I. Skills and Competencies
1. English 101 and l02-
Composition and Literature........................ 6
2. Math/Statistics/Logic.................................. 6
3. Applied Speech Communication................ 3
4. Foreign Language* .................................... 6- 8
Total hours required...................................... 21-23
II. Methods and History of Disciplines **
1. Natural Sciences....................................... 8
Biology, Chemistry, Physics, Geology,
Astronomy (2 labs)
2. Social and Behavioral (2 areas) ............... 6
Psychology. Sociology, Anthropology,
Economics, Political Science, Geography
3. Humanities
History, Literature, Fine Arts History,
Religion, Philosophy (not logic),
Speech (not applied)
AHUM (at least 2 areas) .......................... 9
History of Civilization............................... 6
4. For a B.A. degree, one additional Humanities,
Behavioral or Social Sciences Course
For a B.S. degree, one additional Mathematics
or Science Course
Total hours required......................................... 32
II. Interdisciplinary Studies
Program Requirements
With the student's educational and career goals in mind, the faculty comprising the student's advisory committee selects the courses that will be required in each concentration in the student's program of study. Due to the individualized nature of the BIS program, the required number of hours for students varies. However, there is a minimum of 15 and a maximum of 30 hours in each concentration, so that programs of study range from 30 to 60 hours. A 2.0 grade point ratio is required within each concentration. In addition, in certain concentrations there is a requirement of a grade of "C" or higher in each course in the concentration.
III. Electives
The number of elective hours required for the degree varies depending on the number of required hours in the two concentrations. Developmental courses such as Reading 121; Mathematics 098, 099 and l00; and English 100. Will not be credited toward the total 120 hours required for a Bachelor of Interdisciplinary Studies degree.
* Two (2) semesters of the same language.
** At least 3 hours must be a Non-Western World studies.