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Program Overview
Individualized Study, BIS
Overview
The Bachelor of Individualized Study (BIS) Program in the School of Integrative Studies is an undergraduate degree completion program serving adult students since 1975. It offers students a distinctive educational opportunity that allows them to integrate previous experiences into university coursework. Recognizing that college-level learning may be acquired through varied professional, military, and personal experience, the BIS program provides mechanisms for translating experiential learning into academic credit. The program combines an interdisciplinary academic framework and a writing-intensive, research-based curriculum to provide students with individualized degree plans.
Admissions
Students who are interested in the bachelor of individualized study degree must attend an information session. The schedule of BIS information sessions and the BIS application are available on the BIS Program website.
Eligibility
Adult transfer applicants, age 22 or older may be considered for the BIS only with the following minimum criteria:
- 12 credits of transferable college coursework as determined by the Office of Admissions
- Cumulative collegiate grade point average of 2.00+ across coursework on all transcripts.
Admission is directly to BIS with no change to another major without reapplying. The concentration in education studies is an exception to the age requirement.
Policies
Students pursuing a bachelor of individualized study must meet the baccalaureate degree requirements for all undergraduates: they need to complete 120 credits with 45 credits at or above the 300 level and at least 30 credits at Mason.
BIS concentration titles must not duplicate existing George Mason programs.
BIS students may elect to take a minor in addition to their BIS concentration. 8 credits of the minor must be applied uniquely to the minor and not to the concentration.
Credit for Nontraditional Modes of Learning
The BIS program allows students to receive college credit for learning acquired through a variety of nontraditional methods indicated below. The maximum allowable credits are indicated for each category.
- Nationally recognized exam programs such as the College Level Examination Program (CLEP) when the particular exam has been approved for Mason credit: See CLEP Examination for an approved list. A maximum of 45 maximum credits can be earned through exams.
- Certain university approved industry, government, or military training credits if such credits are indexed and recommended as college-level credit by the American Council on Education (ACE). To be eligible for Mason credit, training and course specifics must exactly match what is in the ACE guide and be approved for Mason credit. The specific credits must also be approved by the program director and the dean. A maximum of 45 credits can be earned through ACE-approved training. A maximum of 60 total combined credits can be accepted for exams and ACE-approved training.
- Experiential learning demonstrated by portfolios through NVCC and TESC (30 maximum credits). Study Elsewhere requests for portfolio credit are subject to approval by the program director and the dean.
- College-level credit earned at institutions accredited by Mason-recognized U.S. institutional accrediting agencies subject to approval by the program director and the dean. These credits can only be considered if the institution is listed in Accredited Institutions of Postsecondary Education published by ACE (30 maximum credits) and only if they are taken before the student matriculates at Mason.
Degree Requirements
Total credits: minimum 120
Students should be aware of the specific policies associated with this program, located on the Admissions & Policies tab.
Students pursuing a bachelor of individualized study degree must complete three required courses and one concentration.
Core Courses in the Major
- BIS 300: Understanding Interdisciplinary Research (3 credits)
- BIS 301: Adult Learner Transition (3 credits)
- BIS 390: The Research Process (Mason Core) (3 credits)
- BIS 490: RS: Senior Project (Mason Core) (3 credits)
Concentrations in the Major
Students must complete one concentration of a minimum of 18 credits. Of the credits applied to the concentration, at least 15 credits must be at the 300 level or above. The total credits applied to the concentration must represent a minimum GPA of 2.00.
Individualized Concentration (IND)
Students create an individualized concentration to meet their own academic needs and interests. The concentration is developed in close consultation with BIS staff and cannot have a title that duplicates another Mason program. Students may incorporate into their individualized concentrations up to 15 credits of previously earned college course work or previously earned nontraditional credit from other institutions. In addition to the 4 core courses, students complete a minimum of 18 credits.
Concentration in Education Studies (ESTU)
This concentration offers students holding a Northern Virginia Community College associate's degree in applied science in early childhood development the opportunity to obtain a BIS in education studies. This concentration does not earn a teaching license in early childhood education, but can lead to a graduate-level licensure program at Mason.
Optional Self-Selected Minor
Students may select 15-23 credits of self-selected minor.
Mason Core
BIS students complete a modified Mason Core program of 36 credits. The Mason Core requirements may include courses not listed here; consult the BIS program for more information. Courses used to meet the Mason Core requirements can be used to meet a requirement for a concentration.
English Composition
- ENGH 101: Composition (Mason Core) (3 credits)
- ENGH 302: Advanced Composition (Mason Core) (3 credits)
Humanities
- Select three courses from the following:
- Any ARTH course
- Any AVT course
- Any CLAS course
- Any COMM course
- Any DANC course
- Any ENGH course (except ENGH 100 and ENGH 101)
- Any MUSI course
- Any PHIL course (except PHIL 173 and PHIL 376)
- Any RELI course
- Any THR course
- Any course from a foreign language department
Social and Behavioral Science
- Select three courses from the following:
- AFAM 200: Introduction to African American Studies (Mason Core)
- Any ANTH course
- BUS 100: Business and Society (Mason Core)
- CONF 101: Conflict and Our World (Mason Core)
- CONS 410: Human Dimensions in Conservation (Mason Core)
- Any CRIM course
- Any ECON course
- EDEP 350: Perspectives on Achievement Motivation (Mason Core)
- EDSE 203: Disability in American Culture (Mason Core)
- EDUC 200: Introduction to Education: Teaching, Learning and Schools (Mason Core)
- GCH 325: Stress and Well-Being (Mason Core)
- Any GGS course (except GGS 102 and GGS 309)
- Any GOVT course
- HDFS 200: Individual and Family Development (Mason Core)
- HEAL 230: Introduction to Health Behavior (Mason Core)
- Any HIST course
- INTS 203: Inquiry for Action: Facilitating Change (Mason Core)
- INTS 300: Law and Justice (Mason Core)
- INTS 304: Social Movements and Community Activism (Mason Core)
- INTS 316: Introduction to Childhood Studies (Mason Core)
- INTS 317: Issues in Family Relationships (Mason Core)
- INTS 319: Contemporary Youth Studies (Mason Core)
- INTS 321: Parent-Child Relations (Mason Core)
- INTS 331: The Nonprofit Sector (Mason Core)
- INTS 334: Environmental Justice (Mason Core)
- INTS 336: Poverty, Wealth and Inequality in the US (Mason Core)
- INTS 347: Gender Representation in Popular Culture (Mason Core)
- INTS 362: Social Justice and Human Rights (Mason Core)
- INTS 371: Food Systems and Policy (Mason Core)
- INTS 436: Social Justice Education (Mason Core)
- INTS 437: Critical Race Studies (Mason Core)
- INTS 438: Representations of Race (Mason Core)
- Any LING course
- Any PSYC course
- Any SOCI course
- SOCW 200: Introduction to Social Work (Mason Core)
- SPAN 430: Spanish in the United States (Mason Core)
- TOUR 311: Women and Tourism (Mason Core)
- UNIV 381: Foundations for Building a Just Society (Mason Core)
- WMST 200: Introduction to Women and Gender Studies (Mason Core)
- WMST 208: Introduction to Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, and Queer Studies (Mason Core)
Mathematics or Statistics
- Select one course from the following:
- MATH 106: Quantitative Reasoning (Mason Core) (or any MATH course above 106)
- PSYC 300: Statistics in Psychology
- SOCI 213: Statistics for the Behavioral Sciences (Mason Core)
- STAT 250: Introductory Statistics I (Mason Core)
Information Technology
- Select one from the following:
- ANTH 395: Work, Technology, and Society: An IT Perspective (Mason Core)
- AVT 110: Digital Design Studio (Mason Core)
- AVT 180: New Media in the Creative Arts (Mason Core)
- CDS 130: Computing for Scientists (Mason Core)
- CS 100: Principles of Computing (Mason Core)
- CS 112: Introduction to Computer Programming (Mason Core)
- CYSE 130: Introduction to Computing for Digital Systems Engineering (Mason Core)
- ELED 257: Integrating Technology in PreK-6 (Mason Core)
- GOVT 300: Research Methods and Analysis (Mason Core)
- HIST 390: The Digital Past (Mason Core)
- INTS 203: Inquiry for Action: Facilitating Change (Mason Core)
- INTS 249: Digital Literacy (Mason Core)
- IT 104: Introduction to Computing (Mason Core)
- MIS 303: Introduction to Business Information Systems (Mason Core)
- MUSI 259: Music in Computer Technology (Mason Core)
- PHYS 251: Introduction to Computer Methods in Physics (Mason Core)
- SOCI 410: Social Surveys and Attitude and Opinion Measurements (Mason Core)
- SYST 130: Introduction to Computing for Digital Systems Engineering (Mason Core)
Natural Science
- Select any 3-4 credit non lab or lab course from the following:
- ANTH 135: Introduction to Biological Anthropology (Mason Core)
- Any ASTR course
- Any BIOL course
- CDS 101: Introduction to Computational and Data Sciences (Mason Core)
- CDS 102: Introduction to Computational and Data Sciences Lab (Mason Core)
- Any CHEM course
- Any CLIM course
- CONS 401: Conservation Theory
- COS 301: Great Ideas in Science (Mason Core)
- Any EVPP course
- FRSC 101: Principles of Forensic Science (Mason Core)
- Any GEOL course
- GGS 102: Physical Geography (Mason Core)
- GGS 121: Dynamic Atmosphere and Hydrosphere (Mason Core)
- GGS 309: Introduction to Weather and Climate
- INTS 103: Human Creativity: Science and Art (Mason Core)
- INTS 210: Sustainable World (Mason Core)
- INTS 211: Introduction to Conservation Studies (Mason Core)
- INTS 301: Science in the News (Mason Core)
- INTS 311: The Mysteries of Migration: Consequences for Conservation (Mason Core)
- INTS 395: Field-Based Work
- INTS 401: Conservation Biology (Mason Core)
- INTS 403: Conservation Behavior (Mason Core)
- INTS 410: Contemporary Health: Intersections in Science and Society (Mason Core)
- NEUR 101: Introduction to Neuroscience (Mason Core)
- NUTR 295: Introduction to Nutrition (Mason Core)
- PHIL 271: How Science Works (Mason Core)
- Any PHYS course
Synthesis Course
- BIS 490: RS: Senior Project (Mason Core) (3 credits)
Additional Electives
Any remaining credits may be completed with electives to bring the degree total to 120.
Accelerated Master's Programs
The accelerated master's programs below specify the individualized study BIS as a feeder degree for their programs. Many other accelerated master's programs are also available for any bachelor's degree at Mason. See the full list of degrees with accelerated programs at Mason.
Individualized Study, BIS/Telecommunications, Accelerated MS
Overview
Highly-qualified students in the Individualized Study, BIS have the option of obtaining an accelerated Telecommunications, MS.
Admission Requirements
Students in the Individualized Study, BIS program may apply for this option if they have earned 75 undergraduate credits (including 15 Mason resident credits) with an overall GPA of at least 3.00. Criteria for admission are identical to criteria for admission to the Telecommunications, MS program.
Accelerated Option Requirements
Students must complete all requirements for the BIS and MS programs, with 6 credits overlap.
Students select TCOM courses from the list below to meet the requirements of the accelerated program. Six credits of TCOM courses will be applied to meet the requirements of both the BIS and MS TCOM programs. An additional three credits of TCOM courses is required for the BIS Individualized Concentration (IND) with emphasis on telecommunication. Note that accelerated students can only take the courses in the list below if they passed the listed prerequisite course with a B or higher.
BIS Concentration
Total credits: 34-46
Students who are pursuing the Individualized Study, BIS, Individualized concentration (IND) with an emphasis on telecommunications must take:
- Select an additional 500-level TCOM course(s) from the list below (3 credits)
- BIS 300: Understanding Interdisciplinary Research (3 credits)
- BIS 390: The Research Process (Mason Core) (3 credits)
- BIS 490: RS: Senior Project (Mason Core) (3 credits)
- ECE 301: Digital Electronics (3 credits)
- IT 341: Data Communications and Network Principles (3 credits)
- TCOM 500: Modern Telecommunications (3 credits)
- Select additional courses related to telecommunication (9-21 credits)
Telecommunications Courses
- TCOM 500: Modern Telecommunications (3 credits)
- TCOM 535: The TCP/IP Suite of Internet Protocols (3 credits)
- TCOM 608: Optical Communications Systems (3 credits)
- TCOM 631: Voice Over IP (3 credits)
Degree Conferral
Students must apply the semester before they expect to complete the BIS requirements to have the BIS degree conferred. In addition, at the beginning of the student's final undergraduate semester, students must complete a Bachelor's/Accelerated Master's Transition form. At the completion of MS requirements, a master's degree is conferred.
Program Outcomes
- Students create an interdisciplinary concentration of study focused on their professional, personal needs and synthesize knowledge gained from their coursework.
- Students develop a foundation of knowledge from research-based academic study within their chosen concentration.
- Students develop their research, critical analysis and academic writing skills to create a senior capstone interdisciplinary research project. Student advance their academic skills for learning in preparation of furthering their professional growth or continuation into graduate-level degree and certificate programs.
