About the Program

Our Adult Degree Program (ADP) is an online undergraduate degree completion program that allows you to create a personalized interdisciplinary concentration or focus of study to meet your educational and career objectives. You can complete your major in Individualized Study through online courses and/or courses on our main campus. The Individualized Study major also offers you the opportunity to integrate other college-level learning such as professional or military experiences into the completion of your degree.

You have the option to earn a:

• Bachelor of Individualized Study (BIS)
• Bachelor of Arts in Individualized Study (BA in IS)
• Bachelor of Science in Individualized Study (BS in IS)

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What is an Individualized Study Major?

A major in Individualized Study is a degree completion program that is structured in a way that gives students the flexibility of creating a program of study by combining selected courses from 2 or more departments that is better aligned with his or hers educational and professional career goals.

As an Individualized Study major at James Madison University, you will work with the Adult Degree Program staff and advisors to develop a personalized Program of Study with tracks that focuses on your unique skills, interests, and career goals.

As an incoming adult degree program student, your first course will be IS 200: Orientation to Individualized Study. This course is a 3-credit online class that prepares you for college-level learning at James Madison and guides you through the process of building your Program of Study.

Course Tracks

Our tracks are a structured way of developing your personalized program plan. You can combine two or three tracks to create your Individualized Study major, and you can blend online and face-to-face classes if you are able to commute to campus.

Each track offers a strong foundation in various subject areas:

• Healthcare Leadership
• Business & Information Technology
• Human Resource Development & Management
• Small Business Management & Entrepreneurship
• Professional Workplace Communication
• Family & Consumer Sciences
• Child Development
• Early Childhood Education (2+2)
• Special Education
• Elementary Education
• Inclusive Early Childhood Education

Degree Completion Requirements

ADP students must complete required General Education courses as well as concentration-based courses. Depending on the particular courses you choose, you will earn one of three degrees:

1. Bachelor of Individualized Study (BIS)

To earn a Bachelor of Individualized Study (BIS), you must complete the following course
requirements:

• Complete IS 200: Orientation to Individualized Study (3 credits)
• General Education Cluster Model:
  • Cluster One: Skills for the 21st Century (3 courses)
  • Cluster Two: Arts and Humanities (3 courses)
  • Cluster Three: The Natural World (3-4 courses)
  • Cluster Four: Social and Cultural Processes (2 courses)
  • Cluster Five: Individuals in the Human Community (2 courses)

You can learn more about JMU’s general education requirements here.

• Individualized Study Concentration: The concentration consists of courses from two or more areas of study offered by JMU. For example, a combination of courses from the Professional Workplace Communication track and the Business & Information Technology track could be used to form a concentration. The concentration must be a minimum of 30 credits, with at least 24 credits being taken at the 300-level or higher.
• Electives: You’ll need 120 total credits to graduate, including transfer credits and credits earned at James Madison. You may take additional electives to reach the 120 credits. 
• Complete IS 498: Senior Research Project (3 or 6 credits) 

2. Bachelor of Arts in Individualized Study (BA in IS)

To earn a Bachelor of Arts in Individualized Study (BA in IS), you must complete the requirements for the Bachelor of Individualized Study and the following additional credits:

• Philosophy (3 credits) and Foreign Language (6 credits of 200-level or higher)

3. Bachelor of Science in Individualized Study (BS in IS)

To earn a Bachelor of Science in Individualized Study (BS in IS), you must complete the requirements for the Bachelor of Individualized Study and the following additional credits:

• Natural Science (3 credits) and Mathematics (3 credits)

Are You Ready to Take the Next Step?

Fill out the form below for additional information about the application process, tuition costs, and courses.