Bachelor of Arts Interdisciplinary Studies

Lead Faculty: Dr. Jacqueline Caesar

The Bachelor of Arts in Interdisciplinary Studies (BAIS) provides a broad, rigorous education that introduces students to essential knowledge, and connections across the disciplines and application of knowledge to life beyond the University. This degree gives students an enriched and provocative curriculum that prepares them for professional work in a changing cultural and economic environment.

Program Learning Outcomes
Upon completion of the Bachelor of Arts in Interdisciplinary Studies, students will be able to:

• Custom design a course of study that enables them to pursue professional goals and objectives and personal interests.
• Demonstrate an understanding of interdisciplinary theory and the practice of critical thinking for the collection, validation, analysis and synthesis of historical data and new information.
• Explain the integration of knowledge in a global context and engage in collaborative research across disciplines.
• Identify and appreciate the cultural perspectives of world views.
• Use information communications technology for knowledge sharing and the interdisciplinary approach for resource development, problem solving, and creative community building.

Requirements

To receive a Bachelor of Arts degree with a major in interdisciplinary studies, students must complete at least 180 quarter units as articulated below, 45 of which must be completed in residence at National University and 76.5 of which must be completed at the upper-division level. The following courses are specific degree requirements. If students intend to complete a teacher credentialing program, these courses will help prepare for the MSAT and Basic Skills requirement tests. In the absence of transfer credit, students may need to take additional general electives to satisfy the total units for the degree. Students should refer to the section on undergraduate admission procedures for specific information on admission and evaluation.

Preparation for the Major (3 courses; 13.5 quarter units)
ENG 365 - Creative Writing* (Prerequisites: ENG 100/101)
or
ENG 350 - Fundamentals of Linguistics (Prerequisites: ENG 100/101)
HIS 220A - History of the United States I (+)* (Prerequisites: ENG 100/101)
or
HIS 220B - History of the United States II (+)* (Prerequisites: ENG 100/101)
LIT 100 Introduction to Literature* (Prerequisites: ENG 100/101)

*May be used to satisfy general education requirements.

Requirements for the Major (13 courses; 58.5 quarter units)
COM 380 - Democracy in the Information Age (Prerequisites: ENG 100/101)
SOC 336 - American Film and Society (Prerequisites: ENG 100/101)
or
HIS 350 - Cultural Diversity (Prerequisites: ENG 100/101)
BIS 301 - Introduction to Interdisciplinary Studies
BIS 401 - Interdisciplinary Practice: Integrating Knowledge with Technology
  (Prerequisite: BIS 301 and four additional courses from the major)

4.5 quarter units in literature (LIT) are required. The following are recommended:

LIT 321 - American Literature I (Prerequisite: LIT 100)
LIT 322 - American Literature II (Prerequisite: LIT 100)
LIT 338 - Shakespeare (Prerequisite:LIT 100)
LIT 342 - World Literature (Prerequisite: LIT 100)
LIT 345 - Mythology (Prerequisite: LIT 100)
LIT 446 - Studies in Poetry (Prerequisite: LIT 100)
LIT 450 - Studies in the Novel (Prerequisite: LIT 100)
LIT 460 - Gender and Literature (Prerequisite: LIT 100)

4.5 quarter units in social sciences (HIS, POL, SOC) are required. The following are recommended:

HIS 320 - Culture, Capitalism and Technology in Modern World History
  (Prerequisites: ENG 100/101)
HIS 341 - History Through Theater (Prerequisites: ENG 100/101)
HIS 410 - The California Experience (Prerequisites: ENG 100/101)
SOC 325 - Contemporary Popular Culture (Prerequisites: ENG 100/101)
SOC 344 - Marriage, Sex and the Family (Prerequisites: ENG 100/101)
SOC 430 - Culture, Technology and Society (Prerequisites: ENG 100/101)
SOC 445 - Contemporary Social Problems (Prerequisites: ENG 100/101)
SOC 540 - Power and Social Change (Prerequisites: ENG 100/101)

4.5 quarter units in behavioral sciences (HUB, PSY) are required. The following are recommended:

HUB 420 - Human Communication
  (Prerequisites: ENG 100/101 and PSY 100)
HUB 440 - Organizational Development
  (Prerequisites: ENG 100/101 and PSY 100)
PSY 426 - History of Psychology
  (Prerequisites: ENG 100/101 and PSY 100)
PSY 427 - Biological Psychology
  (Prerequisites: ENG 100/101 and PSY 100)
PSY 428 - Developmental Psychology
  (Prerequisites: ENG 100/101 and PSY 100)
PSY 429 - Introduction to Personality Theory
  (Prerequisites: ENG 100/101 and PSY 100)
PSY 432 - Social Psychology
  (Prerequisites: ENG 100/101 and PSY 100)
PSY 433 - Cognitive Psychology
  (Prerequisites: ENG 100/101 and PSY 100)

Students should choose no fewer than 4.5 quarter units in natural science and 4.5 quarter units in mathematics. A third 4.5 quarter unit course (either SCI or MTH) must also be selected. Some of the mathematics courses may have more than one prerequisite. The following are recommended:

SCI 300 - Geography: Mapping the World
SCI 330 - Ecology
SCI 411 - Biodiversity
  (Recommended: Prior completion of SCI 100/100A, or equivalent)
SCI 450 - Natural History of California: A Field Course
MTH 301 - Structure and Concepts of Mathematical Fundamentals II
  (Prerequisite: MTH 209A)
MTH 317 - Mathematical Modeling
  (Prerequisites: MTH 215 or MTH 216A/B and MTH 210)
MTH 410 - Computer Technology in the Mathematics Classroom
  (Prerequisite: MTH 215 or MTH 216A/B or MTH 301)
MTH 411 - Number Theory
  (Prerequisite: MTH 215 or MTH 216A/B or MTH 301or placement evaluation)
MTH 412 - History of Mathematics
  (Prerequisite: MTH 215 or MTH 216A/B or MTH 301)
MTH 417 - Foundations of Geometry
  (Prerequisites: MTH 2215 or MTH 216A/B, and MTH 311)
MTH 418 - Statistical Analysis (Prerequisites: MTH 210 and MTH 220)

Nine quarter units from the humanities complex (ART, HIS, HUM, MUS, PHL, SOC, THR, GLS) are required. The following are recommended:

ART 315 - Film as Art (Prerequisites: ENG 100/101)
ART 323 - Modern Art (Prerequisites: ENG 100/101)
ART 329 - World Art (Prerequisites: ENG 100/101)
GLS 410 - Gender Studies: Gender Identity in a Global Context
  (Prerequisites: ENG 240)
HIS 345 - History and Cultures of Latin America
  (Prerequisites: ENG 100/101)
HIS 348 - History and Cultures of Asia (Prerequisites: ENG 100/101)
HIS 349 - History and Cultures of Africa (Prerequisites: ENG 100/101)
HIS 370 - History and Cultures of the American Southwest
  (Prerequisites: ENG 100/101)
MUS 326 - Survey of American Music History
MUS 327 - World Music (Prerequisites: ENG 100/101)
PHL 320 - Comparative Religion (Prerequisites: ENG 100/101)
PHL 339 - Study of a Major Philosopher (Prerequisites: ENG 100/101)
PHL 375 - Environmental Ethics (Prerequisites: ENG 100/101)
PHL 437 - Ethics (Prerequisites: ENG 100/101)
SOC 328 - Intercultural Thinking and Creativity (Prerequisites: ENG 100/101)
SOC 500 - Understanding Cultural Pluralism in American Society
  (Prerequisites: ENG 100/101)

Capstone course
BIS 499 - Interdisciplinary Studies Project

Upper-Division Electives (2 courses; 9 quarter units):
Students can select any 300-, 400-, or 500-level courses in arts and sciences to complete the total of 76.5 upper-division units for the degree.

Program Information

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Program Locations

• Bakersfield Campus
• Fresno Campus
• La Mesa Campus
• Los Angeles Campus
• Ontario Campus
• Redding Campus
• Sacramento Campus
• San Bernardino Campus
• San Jose Campus
• Sherman Oaks Campus
• South Bay Campus
• Spectrum Business Park Campus
• Stockton Campus
• Technology and Health Sciences Center
• Twentynine Palms Marine Air Ground Task Force Training Center Learning Center