Murray State University's Bachelor of Integrated Studies degree program

FIELD OF STUDY:

The field of study includes a planned academic concentration of 18 hours of course work determined by the student in consultation with the BIS adviser. It also includes 6 hours of research methods courses and a 6-hour senior project, which complete the 30 credit hour requirement. The field may be interdisciplinary, built on a traditional major or minor, or self-structured. These courses prepare the student for the field of studies project, a senior baccalaureate thesis required of every BIS student.

Field of Study Examples:

Some students build a field of study by following the requirements of a traditional major. This has been done in the field of criminal justice. Others design an interdisciplinary field of study. One student completed a field in Middle Eastern studies, combining courses from history, foreign languages, and political science; another completed a combined field in photography and creative writing. Students may also build a field that includes the courses required for admission to a masters degree program. BIS students have done this in psychology, safety, and economics.

NEW FIELD OF STUDY AT MADISONVILLE REGIONAL CAMPUS!

MSU is now pleased to offer a Health Care Administration option within the BIS degree program specifically designed for allied health professionals in the Madisonville area. Students who are pursuing or who have completed an associate degree in an allied health area are candidates for admission into Murray State’s BIS program with a Health Care Administration emphasis. Additional KCTCS courses may be required by the student for completion of the BIS program. These courses may be taken along with MSU health care and BIS courses. For more information, contact Maria Rosa at 1-800-669-7654 or email her at maria.rosa@murraystate.edu.

The options noted above are only a few of the many possibilities. A strong feature of the BIS degree is the flexibility the field of study component offers. Because BIS programs do not duplicate traditional degree programs, the BIS field of study employs distinctive names - for example, Human Service, Social Science, Natural Science, Administrative Science, Applied Science, and Communication, Health Care Administration. For additional information about all of the options available, contact your local adviser today.

Applying Business Courses: Students who wish to apply credits for business courses to the BIS degree requirements must consult a BIS adviser to determine whether they must complete the business core. Students who wish to apply more than thirty-two semester hours of business courses to the BIS degree program usually are required to complete the business core.

*Formerly the Bachelor of Independent Studies program. Beginning December 2007, students who graduate from the BIS program will earn a Bachelor of Integrated Studies degree.