Bachelor of Interdisciplinary Studies

Don’t choose just one major. Design the degree that fits your career. Blend your interests, maximize past college credit or certifications, and build a custom path toward graduation, professional school, or specialized career.

Combine Multiple Fields: Merge two or more disciplines—like Business, Art, Tech, or Psychology—into one unique, future-ready degree.

Maximize Prior Experience: Fast-track your graduation by turning transfer credits and military training into real progress.

Reach Professional Goals: Tailor your coursework specifically for direct entry into law school, medical school, graduate programs or competitive industries.

Go further with Interdisciplinary Studies

The Interdisciplinary Studies degree is a university-wide degree program that enables students to custom design their own plan of study. The Interdisciplinary Studies degree integrates coursework from multiple disciplines to prepare students for academic and professional goals in a world that increasingly bridges academic disciplines. For instance, read Sierra Okoniewski's story about how she integrated her passion for gastronomy and writing together.

The program weaves flexibility and decision making into an opportunity for students to achieve unique personal and career goals. Students in the program have clearly identified educational goals and academic needs that can be achieved better through the Integrative Studies degree than through a traditional major. The goals of the program are as follows:

Offer students with cross-departmental interests the opportunity to develop their own curricular programs.
Offer students a baccalaureate program that integrates past course work with present career and personal goals.
Prepare students for post-baccalaureate education in cross-departmental fields.
Encourage students to take responsibility for educational and career planning.
Assist students in educational and personal development.

Call to make an appointment with an adviser today (248) 370-3229

Transcript

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The women in my life have always shown me what strength looks like. They taught me not to quit, even when things don't go as planned. I left Oakland University in 2018 without finishing my degree. So when I came back, I came back ready to make the most out of every opportunity OU had to offer. I'm Michael Dotson-Branch, and I'm designing my future. When I joined the BIS program, something clicked for me. The flexibility of the program, and the support I got from the people in it, helped me connect the dots between who I was and where I wanted to go. Through one of my classes and The OU Pledge, which gives students the chance to learn through hands-on experience, I volunteered with Make Food Not Waste. I wasn't just sitting in a classroom learning theory. I was in a kitchen chopping vegetables, talking with chefs and helping prepare meals for families in our community. That experience changed me. I saw how education, service and real life all come together. I saw the impact of showing up for people, and I realized that helping others is something that I'm called to do. My advice to students is: Don't give up on yourself. Your path might not look perfect, but if you keep moving forward, your passion will find you when you least expect it.

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Bachelor of Interdisciplinary Studies

North Foundation Hall, Room 156
318 Meadow Brook Road
Rochester, MI 48309-4479
(location map)
(248) 370-3229
Fax: (248) 370-3261
[email protected]

Office Hours:
Monday – Friday
8 a.m. – 5 p.m.
(except on recognized holidays)