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Integrative Studies - B.I.S.

Integrative Studies - B.I.S.

Customize your education with the Integrative Studies program. Our Bachelor of Integrative Studies degree allows you to design a curriculum tailored to your unique interests and career goals. With a flexible program structure that lets you combine courses from various disciplines, you'll gain a broad range of knowledge and skills that are highly valued in today's job market.

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Bachelor's Degree in Integrative Studies

Kent State University's Bachelor of Integrative Studies (B.I.S.) provides students with a flexible and personalized educational pathway, allowing them to design a curriculum that aligns with their unique interests and career goals. This interdisciplinary program encourages students to explore multiple fields of study, integrating knowledge and skills from various disciplines to address complex real-world issues. Through a combination of core courses and electives, students develop critical thinking, problem-solving, and communication skills that are highly valued in today’s diverse job market. The B.I.S. prepares graduates for a wide range of careers in fields such as education, business, public service, and social advocacy, equipping them to become adaptable and innovative leaders in their chosen professions.

More About The Program

The Kent State University Bachelor of Integrative Studies degree program gives you the tools you need to change your life on your terms; matching classwork and internships to your goals and experiences, working within your timeline, and offering flexible class options.

Learn more about Integrative Studies

Program Information for Integrative Studies - B.I.S.

Program Description

Full Description

The Bachelor of Integrative Studies degree provides a path to degree completion utilizing an integrative approach while maintaining a focus on career and professional goals. Students consult with an advisor to research and develop a plan of study.

The Integrative Studies major comprises the following concentrations:

  • The Integrative Studies-General concentration allows students to choose a minimum of 30 credit hours from a minimum of two interrelated programs that support their career aspirations.
  • The Integrative Studies-Two Minors concentration allows students to complete two university-recognized minors and/or certificates. Students select courses from a minimum of two academic departments and develop a rationale for the ways in which these courses support their career goals.

Students may apply early to the M.S. degree in Emerging Media and Technology and double count 9 credit hours of graduate courses toward both degree programs. See the Combined Bachelor's/Master's Degree Program policy in the University Catalog for more information.

Admissions for Integrative Studies - B.I.S.

Admission Requirements

The university affirmatively strives to provide educational opportunities and access to students with varied backgrounds, those with special talents and adult students who graduated from high school three or more years ago.

Students who have completed 30 credit hours (excluding credit earned while in high school, e.g. College Credit Plus) may declare the Bachelor of Integrative Studies degree. Students should schedule an appointment with a B.I.S. advisor to evaluate completed coursework, discuss future academic and career goals and determine which concentration will be reflected on the degree audit.

This degree program may not be earned as a double major or dual degree with another major and cannot be earned as an additional degree after another degree at the same or higher level has been earned previously.

International Students: All international students must provide proof of English language proficiency (unless they meet specific exceptions to waive) by earning a minimum 71 TOEFL iBT score, minimum 6.0 IELTS score, minimum 47 PTE score or minimum 100 DET score, or by completing the ELS level 112 Intensive English Program. For more information on international admission visit the admissions website for international students.

Learning Outcomes

Program Learning Outcomes

Graduates of this program will be able to:

  1. Integrate theoretical and empirical material from across traditional disciplines.
  2. Design, research and execute a scholarly project of high quality.
  3. Articulate connections between their chosen coursework at Kent State and their plans to make a contribution to their community after graduation.
Coursework

Program Requirements

Major Requirements

Major Requirements (courses count in major GPA)
IGST 40099SENIOR PROJECT (ELR) (WIC) 11-3
Additional Requirements (courses do not count in major GPA)
UC 10001FLASHES 101 1
Kent Core Composition6
Kent Core Mathematics and Critical Reasoning3
Kent Core Humanities and Fine Arts (minimum one course from each)9
Kent Core Social Sciences (must be from two disciplines)6
Kent Core Basic Sciences (must include one laboratory)6-7
Kent Core Additional6
General Electives (total credit hours depends on earning 120 credit hours, including 39 upper-division credit hours) 20-52
Concentrations
Choose from the following:30-82
Integrative Studies-General 3
Integrative Studies-Two Minors 4
Minimum Total Credit Hours:120
1

A minimum C grade must be earned to fulfill the writing-intensive requirement.

2

Students are encouraged to complete internships or utilize individual investigations for more nuanced work; the total hours that can be completed in internship (xxx92) and/or individual investigation (xxx96) courses can not total more than 15 hours.

3

The Integrative Studies-General concentration allows students to choose a minimum of 30 credit hours from a minimum of two interrelated programs that support their career aspirations. 

4

The Integrative Studies-Two Minors concentration allows students to complete two university-recognized minors and/or certificates. Students select courses from a minimum of two academic departments and develop a rationale for the ways in which these courses support their career goals.

Graduation Requirements

Minimum Major GPA Minimum Overall GPA
- 2.000
  • The B.I.S. degree requires a minimum total of 120 earned credit hours, of which 39 credit hours must be at the upper-division (30000-40000) level.
  • Students in both the Integrative Studies-General concentration and the Integrative Studies-Two Minors concentration are required to complete IGST 40099, as well as all university requirements and college requirements.
Program Delivery
  • Delivery:
    • Fully online
    • In person
  • Location:
    • Ashtabula Campus
    • East Liverpool Campus
    • Geauga Campus
    • Kent Campus
    • Salem Campus
    • Stark Campus
    • Trumbull Campus
    • Tuscarawas Campus