Integrated Studies, B.I.S.

Department website: https://mds.wvu.edu/

Degree Offered

• Bachelor of Integrated Studies 

Nature of the Program

The Bachelor of Integrated Studies allows flexible learning options to complete an undergraduate degree. The required coursework in the major provides integrative skills to connect student learning to their personal and professional goals after graduation. Students in this degree program may receive F-forgiveness as well as credit for prior learning.

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Faculty

Director

• Scott Davidson - Ph.D. (Duquesne University)

Associate Professors

• Renee K. Nicholson - M.F.A. (West Virginia University)
• Louis Slimak - Ph.D. (Purdue University)
• Carol Zwickel - Ph.D. (West Virginia University)

Assistant Professors

• Thaddeus Herman - Ph.D. (University of Illinois)
• Jayme Scally - Ph.D. (University of York)
• Nevena Stojanovic - Ph.D. (West Virginia University)

Instructors

• Andrea Soccorsi - M.A. (West Virginia University)

Admissions for 2025-2026

First time students are not admitted to the major unless they are at least two years beyond high school graduation.

Students who wish to transfer from another WVU major must have a minimum of 12 in process credit hours at WVU or be at least two years beyond high school graduation. Students should have a GPA of at least 2.0 after F-Forgiveness has been applied. Students who believe they may qualify for F-Forgiveness, should meet with an adviser.

Students wishing to transfer from outside of WVU must have a minimum cumulative GPA of at least 2.0 after F-Forgiveness has been applied.  They must also have 12 college credits or be at least two years beyond high school graduation. Students who believe they may qualify for F-Forgiveness, should meet with an adviser.

Note:

USDE Credits: Eligible students should inquire about the possibility of applying credit hours from institutions which are recognized by the United States Department of Education (USDE) but are not regionally accredited. 

Credit for prior learning: Eligible students may acquire college credit for professional, volunteer, and military experiences in select areas via the many credit for prior learning options available through the B.I.S. major.  Please discuss with a B.I.S. adviser.

Major Code: 14E8

General Education Foundations

Please use this link to view a list of courses that meet each GEF requirement.

NOTE: Some major requirements will fulfill specific GEF requirements. Please see the curriculum requirements listed below for details on which GEFs you will need to select.

Course List

Code	Title	Hours
General Education Foundations
F1 - Composition & Rhetoric		3-6
ENGL 101 & ENGL 102	Introduction to Composition and Rhetoric and Composition, Rhetoric, and Research
or ENGL 103	Accelerated Academic Writing
F2A/F2B - Science & Technology		4-6
F3 - Math & Quantitative Reasoning		3-4
F4 - Society & Connections		3
F5 - Human Inquiry & the Past		3
F6 - The Arts & Creativity		3
F7 - Global Studies & Diversity		3
F8 - Focus (may be satisfied by completion of a minor, double major, or dual degree)		9
Total Hours		31-37

Please note that not all of the GEF courses are offered at all campuses. Students should consult with their advisor or academic department regarding the GEF course offerings available at their campus.

Degree Requirements

Student must complete the WVU General Education Foundations requirements, major requirements, and electives to total a minimum of 120 hours.

Departmental Requirements for the Bachelor of Integrated Studies

• Capstone Requirement: The university requires the successful completion of a Capstone course. BIS majors must complete RBA 401. 
• Writing and Communication Skills Requirements: Students in the BIS fulfill the Writing and Communication Skills requirement by completing ENGL 101 and ENGL 102 (or ENGL 103), and two additional SpeakWrite Certified Courses^TM.
• Calculation of Major GPA: A minimum GPA of a 2.0 is required in all courses applied to major requirements. If a course is repeated, all attempts will be included in the calculation of the GPA, unless the course is eligible for a D/F repeat.
• Academic Policies: The BIS degree offers special academic policies, as approved by the University.  Please see the Admissions and Performance Standards tabs.
• Credit for Prior Learning: Eligible students may acquire college credit for professional, volunteer, and military experiences in select areas via the many credit for prior learning options available to BIS majors. These opportunities provide many students with a time efficient and cost effective avenue to obtain a degree. The BIS program allows adult learners to earn College Equivalent Credits (CECs) for work/career, life, and other academic experiences. If successful, awarded credits could help meet graduation requirements while reducing the overall costs of their college experience. Students are not being given credits for the years of service in their respective fields. Rather, they are being given credits based on their ability to articulate how their varied career experiences may have helped them to acquire equivalent or similar knowledge that they would have otherwise acquired in the classroom.
• Second Degree: Students who are completing another degree may not complete the BIS.  Similarly, second-degree seeking students will not be accepted in the BIS program.
• Minors: Although the completion of a minor is not required, students may use their General Elective hours to complete one or more minors.

Policies

F-Forgiveness

The B.I.S. degree offers unique opportunities not available through traditional degree programs. F-forgiveness is available to students for failing grades that were obtained prior to admission to the B.I.S. major.  This policy applies to grades earned at WVU and those that have been transferred from another institution. 

F-Forgiveness benefits students only as long as they are enrolled in the B.I.S. program. Thus, if students benefit from F-Forgiveness but later elect to transfer to another major, then all Fs that were forgiven will be re-instituted. 

Credit for Prior Learning

Students may obtain college credit for previous professional and military experiences via several credit for prior learning options in the B.I.S. degree. For information about these options, students should consult the university's policies on credit for prior learning: https://registrar.wvu.edu/transfer/prior-learning-credit

For any additional questions about how to submit documentation for prior learning credits, please speak with your B.I.S. academic adviser following your admission to the program.

Degree Progress

• B.I.S. students are expected to make satisfactory progress toward degree completion as determined in consultation with their advisor.
• B.I.S. students are expected to enroll in coursework which applies toward completing the degree requirements of the program.
• B.I.S. students are expected to complete all coursework with a D- or higher and maintain a minimum 2.0 GPA each term. These expectations are in place to ensure students remain in, or are working toward, good academic standing and remain on track for graduation.
• Students must meet with their B.I.S. advisor at least once a semester.
  
  Students who do not meet those benchmarks may be removed from the major.

Major Learning Outcomes

Integrated Studies

As a result of completing the Bachelor of Integrated Studies students will be able to:

1. Connect experience that occurs outside the classroom with academic studies to explain, present, and write about complex issues.

2. Ask meaningful questions about complex topics, as well as evaluate multiple sources of knowledge relevant to complex topics.

3. Develop intellectual and practical skills, including inquiry and analysis as well as critical and creative thinking, to develop foundations and skills for employment, graduate-level coursework and lifelong learning.

4. Write and present orally adaptable to a variety of contexts with a clear sense of purpose, audience, and conventions.

5. Engage in reflection and self-assessment by building on prior experiences to respond to new and challenging contexts.