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INDIVIDUALIZED STUDY

Academic Program Requirements

In order to earn a degree through the Adult Degree Program at JMU, you must:

Earn a minimum of 120 semester hours of credit acceptable at JMU.
Earn a minimum of 30 semester hours at JMU
(no more than eight semester hours of nontraditional credit may be counted toward the 30 JMU hours).
Earn a minimum of 60 semester hours from four year colleges or universities.
(no more than sixty semester hours of nontraditional credit may be counted toward the 120 hour total).
Complete an approved BIS program of study.
The approved Individualized Study program of study must contain:

1. General Education Program course work is designed to provide returning adult students with knowledge and
skills that form the foundation for completing a baccalaureate degree, including a professional concentration, in
the Individualized Study major. While providing a backbone for lifelong learning and graduate degrees, this
program recognizes the individual goals of adult learners and encourages nontraditional students to become active
in designing their own education.

INDIVIDUAL STUDIES MAJORS MAY EARN EITHER A BIS, BS, OR BA DEGREE.

To earn a B.I.S. degree, credit hours must be earned as follows:

6 credit hours in Social/Behavioral Science
Sociology, Psychology, Economics, History, Anthropology, Geography, and Political Science
6 credit hours in Humanities
Philosophy, Religion and GHUM courses. Only the following type courses from the Art, Foreign Languages, Theatre, English, Music and Dance/Theatre Departments count as Humanities credit: Art Appreciation, Art History, Literature, Theatre and Dance History, Theatre and Dance Appreciation, Foreign Language Literature or Culture, Music Appreciation or History .
6 credit hours in Natural Science
Biology, Chemistry, Geology, Physics, and GSCI.
6 credit hours in Written Communication
English Composition (If GWRIT 101 and 102 are waived through writing assessment, credits may be earned in advanced composition or Technical and Scientific Communication, choose from WRIT 200, ENG 290, ENG 302N, ENG 347, ENG 391, ENG 396, TSC 210, TSC 240, TSC 250, TSC 350, TSC 410, TSC 420, TSC 430, TSC 440, TSC 460A, TSC 480.)
3 credit hours in Oral Communication
Speech Communication. SCOM 121, 122, 220, 242, or 243
3 credit hours in Mathematics
4 credit hours in U. S. History
GPOS 225 or GHIS 225, HIS 233, 234
7 Additional Gen Ed credit hours
May be satisfied by exceeding minimum credits in areas listed above or by courses accepted by General
Education: The Human Community, and selected additional courses from academic departments that host
courses in general education program.
41 Total
A minimum of 41 general studies credit hours in the seven areas of social and behavioral science,
humanities, natural science, written communications, oral communications, mathematics, and U. S. History.
NOTE: This General Education Program contains a set of requirements each Individualized Study major
must fulfill. The University recognizes this alternate general education program as a nontraditional
equivalent to the General Education: The Human Community.

To earn a B.S. degree through the Individualized Study Program:

In addition to the above 41 credit hour requirements,
an additional 3 hours of Math and
an additional 3 hours in either Natural or Social/behavioral Science.
47 Total
Total liberal studies requirement for the B.S. degree is 47 hours.

To earn a B.A.

In addition to the above 41 credit hour requirements,
3 hours of Philosophy and
6 hours of Foreign Language at the Intermediate (200) level.
50 Total
Total liberal studies requirement for the B.A. degree is 50 hours.

2. A concentration containing at least 30 semester hours

a. at least 24 semester hours must be upper level (300+) credits
b. a senior project (BIS 498 or 499) of 3 to 6 semester hours must be included
c. At least 15 hours of concentration must be JMU hours
d. any title may be used for the concentration except the titles of existing majors

3. No more than 30 semester hours of credit from the College of Business.

4. No more than 60 hours of non-traditional credit may be planned in the program proposal

5. A computer literacy component

6. The Academic Program Development Course (BIS 200B)

7. The Portfolio Development Course (BIS 200C) if requesting experiential learning credit

NOTE: Portfolios are to be submitted for evaluation early in the program of study.
This policy enables students to be certain of credits earned in order to adapt their program if needed.
Graduation applications will not be processed until portfolio assessment is completed.

INDIVIDUALIZED STUDY

Academic Program Requirements

In order to earn a degree through the Adult Degree Program at JMU, you must:

INDIVIDUAL STUDIES MAJORS MAY EARN EITHER A BIS, BS, OR BA DEGREE.

To earn a B.I.S. degree, credit hours must be earned as follows:

6 credit hours in Social/Behavioral Science Sociology, Psychology, Economics, History, Anthropology, Geography, and Political Science

6 credit hours in Natural Science Biology, Chemistry, Geology, Physics, and GSCI.

3 credit hours in Oral Communication Speech Communication. SCOM 121, 122, 220, 242, or 243

3 credit hours in Mathematics

4 credit hours in U. S. History GPOS 225 or GHIS 225, HIS 233, 234

7 Additional Gen Ed credit hours May be satisfied by exceeding minimum credits in areas listed above or by courses accepted by General Education: The Human Community, and selected additional courses from academic departments that host courses in general education program.

To earn a B.S. degree through the Individualized Study Program:

In addition to the above 41 credit hour requirements,

an additional 3 hours of Math and

an additional 3 hours in either Natural or Social/behavioral Science.

47 Total Total liberal studies requirement for the B.S. degree is 47 hours.

To earn a B.A.

In addition to the above 41 credit hour requirements,

3 hours of Philosophy and

6 hours of Foreign Language at the Intermediate (200) level.

50 Total Total liberal studies requirement for the B.A. degree is 50 hours.

2. A concentration containing at least 30 semester hours

a. at least 24 semester hours must be upper level (300+) credits

b. a senior project (BIS 498 or 499) of 3 to 6 semester hours must be included

c. At least 15 hours of concentration must be JMU hours

d. any title may be used for the concentration except the titles of existing majors

3. No more than 30 semester hours of credit from the College of Business.

4. No more than 60 hours of non-traditional credit may be planned in the program proposal

5. A computer literacy component

6. The Academic Program Development Course (BIS 200B)

7. The Portfolio Development Course (BIS 200C) if requesting experiential learning credit

6 credit hours in Social/Behavioral Science
Sociology, Psychology, Economics, History, Anthropology, Geography, and Political Science

6 credit hours in Natural Science
Biology, Chemistry, Geology, Physics, and GSCI.

3 credit hours in Oral Communication
Speech Communication. SCOM 121, 122, 220, 242, or 243

4 credit hours in U. S. History
GPOS 225 or GHIS 225, HIS 233, 234

7 Additional Gen Ed credit hours
May be satisfied by exceeding minimum credits in areas listed above or by courses accepted by General
Education: The Human Community, and selected additional courses from academic departments that host
courses in general education program.

47 Total
Total liberal studies requirement for the B.S. degree is 47 hours.

50 Total
Total liberal studies requirement for the B.A. degree is 50 hours.