W hether circumstances of time, money, family, health or other reasons kept a person from completing a college degree earlier, the Bachelor of Interdisciplinary Studies program could provide the stepping stones for those who want to reach that goal now. Students can choose to concentrate in business, humanities, information technology or social sciences, or they have the option of designing their own curriculum that combines courses from more than one area. Through the last option, students can prepare for alternate teaching licensure. The program, which requires two years of college credit to enter, holds classes during evenings and weekends to accommodate working adults. She'd like to get the word out to supervisors, too, so they can encourage their staff to take the opportunity, she said.
Individual attention is a hallmark of the program.
Students enter as third-year undergraduates and work with a faculty adviser who assists with course selection and academic planning. They must complete 20 three-credit courses at the University to earn a bonafide U.Va. degree. Where the program really stands out is in having a supportive environment and being specifically designed for the needs of the working adult, she said. Now the committee advises the BIS staff, approves faculty appointments and course proposals, and acts as liaison with the schools of the University. It does not compare in a precise way with any existing U.Va.