Developing a BIS plan of study requires a great deal of thought. You are required to construct a plan with a minimum of 28 credits, but depending on your current status you may plan more credits to meet university degree requirements. This is an important component of your individually designed integrative major. What evolves becomes your degree requirements. You need to carefully think through what you want to achieve within your degree program. The courses you plan should be a coherent plan that is supported by your application questionnaire. Much like your application questionnaire, you can begin by asking yourself the following questions:

• What do you hope to accomplish by designing your own major? Why BIS and not a traditional major? How will my integrative major be different from existing majors?
• What concepts do I want to study? What would make my plan of study unique? What areas of knowledge and inquiry will it include? What formal minor or concentration will it include?
• What combination of courses will create a viable major? What title would you give this major you are creating?

Your plan of study must be approved before you can begin taking classes that count within your 28-credit plan. When you are a pre-BIS student, you will meet with a BIS adviser who will help you with options and assist you with the official plan of study that you will complete and submit for approval by the BIS Admissions Committee. You are also required to complete the BIS application questionnaire, minor authorization forms, and meet with a faculty mentor who will review these documents and make additional comments or suggestions. Your application questionnaire serves as your rationale for the program coursework. Submission deadlines are held firm. To be considered for approval, your plan of study and application essay need to be submitted to the BIS office by 5 p.m. on the dates designated below. When completing the e-plan make sure you select the appropriate deadline for submission of paperwork. To view the BIS admissions policy click here.

Application Deadlines

• August 14, 2013  - Special added due date for plans of study that include FALL 2013 credits (only for students whose credit totals mandate fall 2013 credits to be applicable to their plan of study)
  

• October 2, 2013 - Initial due date for plans of study that include Winter 2013 credits.

• November 6, 2013 - Final due date for plans of study that include Winter 2013 credits.
  

• November 27, 2013 - Due date for resubmission of plans of study that include Winter 2013 credits. (Only applications that were denied in one of the two previous application deadlines).

All due dates are firm and designed to ensure that student plans of study are approved prior to the beginning of the identified semester, hence allowing students to withdraw from classes without forfeiting tuition.