Individually Structured Major - Integrated Studies BA

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The College of Liberal Arts and Sciences (CLAS) Integrated Studies option provides students with the opportunity to construct an individualized major that meets their unique needs, and which results in a B.A.

This flexible program allows students to create a major by combining two course clusters

One cluster must be based on a CLAS minor in the CU Denver catalog. The minor must be at least 15 credits, and students can add additional courses from the discipline (up to 21 credits total in one discipline) to form the cluster.
The other cluster can also be based on a minor in the catalog (within CLAS or another school or college), or it can be constructed by the student from a group of courses from a variety of disciplines that form a coherent body of knowledge (an interdisciplinary cluster)
Students must also complete an introduction to interdisciplinary studies course as well as an interdisciplinary capstone course and project that bring together the learning from their two clusters

These degree requirements are subject to periodic revision by CLAS, and the College reserves the right to make exceptions and substitutions as judged necessary in individual cases. Therefore, the College strongly urges students to consult regularly with their CLAS Academic Advisor to confirm the best plans of study before finalizing them.

Program Delivery

This is an on-campus program.

Declaring This Major

Click here to go to information about declaring a major.
Students are required to submit a program plan that includes a proposal and a course contract. Copies of completed Integrated Studies option proposals and course contracts must be filed with the Dean’s Office and with the student’s CLAS Academic Advisor.
The Integrated Studies option proposal must include
- Two chosen clusters (at least one of which must be based on a CLAS minor)
- If one of the clusters is constructed, an explanation of how the courses fit together to form a coherent body of knowledge
- Approval from an Associate Dean in CLAS
The Integrated Studies option course contract must include
- A list of the courses the student intends to take or has completed in the chosen clusters, as well as potential alternate courses. The student should work closely with their CLAS academic advisor to create the course contract
- Signature from the student’s CLAS Academic Advisor
- Signature from the appropriate CLAS Associate Dean

General Requirements

To earn a degree, students must satisfy all requirements in each of the areas below, in addition to their individual major requirements.

CU Denver General Graduation Requirements
CU Denver Core Curriculum
College of Liberal Arts & Sciences Graduation Requirements
Click here for information about Academic Policies

Program Requirements

A student must have already completed at least 60 credit hours to declare the Integrated Studies option
At least half of all credits in the Integrated Studies option must be from CLAS departments. A minimum of 24 Integrated Studies option credit hours must be completed with CU Denver faculty (at least 9 credits in each course cluster in addition to ISMA 3100 and ISMA 4900).
Each course cluster in the major option must consist of at least 15 credit hours and one cluster must be based on a CLAS minor in the CU Denver catalog
The major option requires a minimum of 36 credit hours, but can be up to 56 credit hours depending on the size of the clusters a student chooses and/or constructs
At least 18 credit hours must be from 3000/4000 level courses, with at least nine upper division credit hours in each cluster
Students can apply credits they earned before declaring the Integrated Studies option to the major

Roles and Responsibilities

Student

creates the Integrated Studies option initial proposal and course contract (in collaboration with their CLAS Academic Advisor)
meets regularly with their CLAS Academic Advisor to assess progress through the major, CLAS graduation requirements and CU Denver graduation requirements
fulfills requirements of the Integrated Studies course contract

CLAS Academic Advisor

reviews Integrated Studies option proposal and overall course contract together with the student
meets with Integrated Studies option advisees to monitor progress
maintains records of Integrated Studies option proposals and contracts
certifies graduation

Associate Dean

approves student proposals and course clusters for Integrated Studies option majors
signs off on Integrated Studies option course contracts
may oversee advisee’s capstone project
may consult with student and other faculty on course clusters

Faculty Advisor

may oversee advisees’ capstone projects
may consult with student and Associate Dean on course clusters

Integrated Studies Coursework Requirements

Students must complete a minimum of 36 credit hours towards their Integrated Studies option of the Individually Structured Major. Each cluster must consist of at least 15 credit hours, and one cluster must be based on a CLAS minor in the CU Denver catalog.

ISMA 3100: Learning Across Disciplines (3 credit hours)

This course introduces students to interdisciplinary thinking, methods, and writing. Examining a compelling issue chosen by the instructor (for example, hunger, human trafficking, healthcare reform, or war and PTSD), students will learn what kinds of questions require thinking beyond a single discipline, how interdisciplinary scholars combine the theories and methods of a variety of fields, and how to approach the challenges of interdisciplinary writing. The final project for ISMA 3100 requires students to combine the thinking, methods, and writing of at least two disciplines in an interdisciplinary project. Prerequisite: approval of ISM application (permission number).

Students may petition the appropriate Associate Dean to fulfill their introduction outside of ISMA 3100.

ISMA 4900: Interdisciplinary Studies Capstone (3 credit hours)

ISMA 4900 brings together students who have been working on their individualized majors to share a capstone experience. The goal of the capstone is for students to put their interdisciplinary learning into action - whether through a traditional research project or an experiential learning project. All students must produce a final project that demonstrates their abilities to pose an interdisciplinary question and synthesize the theories, methods, and analytical perspectives of their chosen disciplines to answer that question. While working with their Primary Faculty Advisors on their capstone projects, students meet to discuss their experiences and to get feedback from each other as their projects develop. Grades will be determined by the instructor of record in consultation with each student’s Primary Faculty Advisor. Prerequisite: ISMA 3100 and Capstone proposal approved by faculty advisor.

Students may petition the appropriate Associate Dean to fulfill their capstones outside of ISMA 4900.

Integrated Studies Policies and Procedures

Integrated Studies students must be in good academic standing, with a GPA of 2.0 or greater overall to graduate.
Students must achieve a minimum grade of C- in all courses to be counted toward the major.
Once the Integrated Studies option course contract is filed, any changes to coursework must be approved by the student’s CLAS Academic Advisor and resubmitted to the Associate Dean for approval
In addition to ISMA 3100 and ISMA 4900, students must take at least 18 upper division credit hours (9 each in each course cluster).
A minimum of 24 Integrated Studies option credit hours must be completed with CU Denver faculty (at least 9 credits in each course cluster in addition to ISMA 3100 and ISMA 4900).
Students will not receive minors in any of the cluster areas used toward the Individually Structured Major Integrated Studies option, even if the requirements for the minor are met.