The Bachelor of Individualized Studies is perfect for students seeking to create a flexible, personalized academic plan. You can customize curriculum to fit your unique academic interests and career goals by combining courses across various disciplines for a well-rounded education.

This program will develop your critical thinking, career preparedness, creativity, and independent learning skills.

You can complete the Bachelor of Individualized Studies through both traditional and nontraditional methods.

In earning the minimum required 120 semester hours, you can choose to earn your credits through in-person courses on Virginia State’s campus, or by transferring credits from other regionally accredited community colleges, colleges, and or universities.

To pursue the nontraditional route, you can earn credits through testing, educational experience in the Armed Forces as evaluated by the American Council on Education, and credit for work/life learning documented in a personal portfolio.

Courses may be taken at several locations convenient to you, including on-campus classes (day, evenings, and weekends) and evening classes at Fort Lee.

Students enrolled in the Bachelor of Individualized Studies program may be full time students (12–18 hours per semester) or part-time students (less than 12 hours a semester).

In creating your individualized academic plan, the following requirements must be met:

A maximum of 33–37 semester hours from the following disciplines:

• 6 semester hours in English Composition
• 3 semester hours in Global Studies
• 3 semester hours in History
• 3 semester hours in Humanities
• 3 semester hours in Literature
• 3 semester hours in Mathematics
• 3 semester hours in Natural Sciences
• 3 semester hours in Social Sciences
• 3 semester hours in Wellness Health

You will select your specialization as the primary focus for your individualized degree program. A minimum of 30 semester hours must be completed, and at least 15 of these hours are to be taken in the junior/senior level courses on Virginia State’s campus.

Remaining semester hours beyond the general education and specialization requirement will be your elective credits. These should either complement your specialization or reflect a secondary interest.

To meet the residency requirement, at least 31 semester hours are to be earned from Virginia State University.

To meet the course level requirement, at least 40 hours are to be earned in the upper division (Junior/Senior level).

To meet the course type requirement:

• At least 60 semester hours are to be earned from traditional classroom
         study (transfer and/or resident courses)
• At least 30 out of these 60 hours must be completed within six years
         of graduation.
• A maximum 64 semester hours from a community college can be applied
         towards your degree.
• A maximum of 30 semester hours from work/life experience
         (portfolio petition) can be applied to your degree.
• A maximum of 30 semester hours from Military Occupational Speciality
         (MOS) and military education courses can be applied to this degree.

Credit for the educational experience in the Armed Forces can be applied after you’ve completed the admission process, enrolled in IND 302-Orientation, and submitted documentation of military education/training (a military transcript). Academic credit is based on the recommendation of the American Council on Education and evaluation is performed by an advisor in the BIS program, not Admissions.

Credit for work/life experience may be awarded on the basis of enrollment in INDS-301, Life/Work Seminar, and the preparation of a personal portfolio documenting experiential learning. Life/Work must be matched with courses currently offered by VSU as reflected in the current catalog. Each portfolio will be evaluated by faculty of the academic department from which credit is being petitioned.

Enrolling in the Bachelor of Individualized Studies program qualifies you to apply for financial aid.

Sample costs for a student pursuing a Bachelor’s degree:

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