Interdisciplinary Studies BIS

Through the Bachelor of Interdisciplinary Studies (BIS), students can design an academic path that incorporates their interests and talents.  Options for the BIS include:

• A minimum of two concentrations of 18 hours approved by the Director of the School.  Students may choose from a large selection of academic minors for their concentrations.
• A minimum of a single 36-hour concentration approved by Director of the School.  Students may select one of the specialty concentrations below (environmental studies or disability studies), or design an individualized concentration, in consultation with an advisor, from a variety of disciplines and courses offered by USM.  

Interdisciplinary Studies BIS Degree Requirements (120 hours)  

Interdisciplinary Studies BIS Semester Guide  

Availability: Online; Hattiesburg Campus; Gulf Park Campus

Admission Requirements: See University Admission Policies  

Program Academic Policies and Requirements:

• See University Academic Policies and Requirements  

BIS with a concentration in Environmental Studies

The BIS degree with a concentration in environmental studies is earned through an interdisciplinary series of courses whose goal is to provide a program of study geared to those with career goals in environmental policy, journalism, law, or activism, who seek a sufficient scientific background to be able to communicate relevant ideas to the public, or apply them in their own work, but who do not seek training in conducting environmental science themselves.

To earn the Environmental Studies concentration, students must complete 36-38 hours:

Basic Science:
1. 12 hours: BSC 110 /BSC 110L , BSC 111 /BSC 111L , CHE 106 /CHE 106L   

Science Lab Courses:
2. 8 hours of coursework chosen from this list: GLY 101 /GLY 101L , GHY 104 /GHY 104L , GHY 105 /GHY 105L , MAR 151 /MAR 151L  

Natural Science Electives:
3. 7-9 hours of coursework chosen from this list: BSC 201 /BSC 201L  (zoology), BSC 226 /BSC 226L  (botany), BSC 340 , BSC 422 , BSC 436 /BSC 436L , CHE 251 /CHE 256L , GHY 422 , GHY 472 , MAR 210 , MAR 419  

Social Science and Humanities Electives:
4. 9 hours of coursework chosen from this list: ECO 225 , ESC 301 , ESC 302 , GHY 331 , GHY 370 , PHI 457 , PS 403 , REL 324 , SOC 316 , Other courses may be accepted at the discretion of the school director.*

BIS with a concentration in Disability Studies 

The disability studies concentration BIS degree is earned through an interdisciplinary series of courses whose goal is to introduce students to the social, cultural, and institutional systems that shape—or “construct”—the experience of disability, and how these systems in turn impact the lives of disabled people. This degree also provides students with the skills to understand disability as one dimension of social diversity.  

To earn the Disability Studies concentration, students must complete 36 hours: 

1. Core Concentration requirements (3 hours): 
   • IDS 151  or IDS 352  
2. Disability electives (33 hours) – Select 33 hours of courses from the following list. No more than three courses may be chosen from any one prefix area. 
   • ANT 221 , ANT 442   
   • CMS 440     
   • HIS 422   
   • IDS 151  (if not chosen to fulfill category 1); IDS 352  (may be taken up to three times, or two more times if used to fulfill category 1) 
   • SOC 201, SOC 301 , SOC 312 , SOC 340 , SOC 350 , SOC 405 , SOC 415 , SOC 423 , SOC 450   
   • PHI 435 , PHI 452   
   • PS 459   
   • PSY 210 , PSY 313 , PSY 330 , PSY 400 , PSY 413 , PSY 432 , PSY 436 , PSY 446  
   • PSY 477 /SPE 477 /CD 477  
   • PSY 478 /SPE 478   
   • SHS 221 , SHS 323 , SHS 329 , SHS 340   
   • SPE 121 , SPE 421 , SPE 422 , SPE 497  
   • SWK 300 , SWK 315   
   • WGS 301