Integrative Studies BA/BS

Program Codes: INST
Bachelor of Science

Today's world is in the midst of transformative change—environmental, economic, technological, scientific, and cultural. These changes confront us with new perspectives on what constitutes an educated, empowered person. Institutions of higher education have evolving expectations for student learning and student success. Increasingly, higher education is asked to develop in students not only skills and knowledge required by specific disciplines, but also the interdisciplinary skills student's need to work with diverse groups of people, to develop solutions to unstructured problems, and to demonstrate the self-directed qualities of intentional students (Association of American Colleges and Universities [AAC&U], 2002, 2005, 2007).

Paul Smith’s College endeavors to provide a quality education for its students. Our mission is to educate students to become productive citizens by combining experiential and traditional instruction through our commitment to discovery, discipline, and creativity. PSC programs address student interest in a number of professional programs that provide students with the knowledge and skills to be successful in these areas. The College is also committed to provide depth and breadth in a variety of areas that have been identified as essential to students’ lives.

The Integrated General Education (IGE) Program established five important competency areas that define the competence and skills necessary to become productive citizens in today’s world: analytical reasoning & scientific inquiry, quantitative problem solving, written communication, social & cultural engagement, and responsibility & expression. The following BA/BS/AS or AA degree in Integrative Studies builds on our Integrated General Education program by allowing students flexibility in developing their own self-designed major. Through this program, students select concentration tracks that appeal to them and form a basis for their future career and personal goals. The program also builds on the IGE program by placing greater emphasis on the skill areas such as financial competency and computer competency which will improve student success rates after college. A BA/BS in Integrative Studies complements the degree programs now available for students to select at Paul Smith’s College. This innovative degree allows students to discover their world and themselves without selecting one of our more career specific majors. A degree in Integrative Studies provides a way for entering students to explore, learn, and identify a focus later in their course work. In addition, this program improves the flexibility of our baccalaureate design by allowing current students in two year programs to add to their Associate's degree with an additional two-years of courses that connect their programmatic focus to their future interests.

At the end of the program students will be able to:

  • Coherently integrate diverse elements from multiple domains of knowledge and practice to create a thesis, product, performance, or other kind of artifact within an appropriate context.
  • Communicate organized and informed ideas clearly and persuasively to diverse audiences in writing.
  • Apply quantitative and mathematical methods and models to develop potential solutions to real-world problems and financial decision making.
  • Generate meaning by using appropriate research methodologies to collect, analyze, evaluate and synthesize data.
  • Collaborate, interact and empathize with individuals and groups who represent diverse cultures, and contemporary and historic perspectives.
  • Creatively express an informed point of view regarding human experience, cultures, values, and choices in a manner appropriate to audience and context.
Contact the Department Chairperson

Bachelor Degree (BA/BS)

Students will be given the opportunity to integrate two or three topics in either a BA or BS model. The selection will depend on student interest and prerequisite coursework. Working collaboratively with their advisor, students will define a graduation plan in their sophomore year that clearly outlines which topics and degree they are pursuing. Please see the program planning guide for more information and a semester by semester course guide example.

Degree Requirements:
A minimum of 120 credits, with 42 Upper Division credits and either 60 Liberal Arts and Science credits (BS) or 90 Liberal Arts and Science credits (BA).

Two Topic:

Semester 1

3-4
Click here to see elective courses.
3
Click here to see elective courses.
3
Click here to see elective courses.

Semester 2

3
Click here to see elective courses.
3-4
Click here to see elective courses.
3-4
Click here to see elective courses.
3
Click here to see elective courses.
3
Click here to see elective courses.

Semester 3

Elective
3-4
Click here to see elective courses.
Elective
3-4
Click here to see elective courses.
3-4
Click here to see elective courses.
3-4
Click here to see elective courses.
3-4
Click here to see elective courses.

Semester 4

Elective
3-4
Click here to see elective courses.
Elective
3-4
Click here to see elective courses.
3-4
Click here to see elective courses.
3-4
Click here to see elective courses.

Semester 5

Elective
3-4
Click here to see elective courses.
Elective
3-4
Click here to see elective courses.
3-4
Click here to see elective courses.
3-4
Click here to see elective courses.
__ __
ELECTIVE
3-4

Select any course.

Semester 6

Elective
3-4
Click here to see elective courses.
Elective
3-4
Click here to see elective courses.
__ __
ELECTIVE - UD
3-4

Select any Upper Division (300 or 400 level) course.

__ __
ELECTIVE - UD
3-4

Select any Upper Division (300 or 400 level) course.

Semester 7

1

Capstone Planning

Click here to see elective courses.
Elective
3-4
Click here to see elective courses.
Elective
3-4
Click here to see elective courses.
3-4

Select any Upper Division (300 or 400 level) Liberal Arts and Sciences (LAS) course.

Click here to see elective courses.
__ __
ELECTIVE - UD
3-4

Select any Upper Division (300 or 400 level) course.

__ __
ELECTIVE
2-4

Select any course.

Semester 8

3

Capstone Project

Click here to see elective courses.
Elective
3-4
Click here to see elective courses.
Elective
3-4
Click here to see elective courses.
3-4

Select any Upper Division (300 or 400 level) Liberal Arts and Sciences (LAS) course.

Click here to see elective courses.
__ __
ELECTIVE - UD
3-4

Select any Upper Division (300 or 400 level) course.

Three Topic:

Semester 1

3-4
Click here to see elective courses.
3
Click here to see elective courses.
3
Click here to see elective courses.

Semester 2

3
Click here to see elective courses.
3-4
Click here to see elective courses.
3-4
Click here to see elective courses.
3
Click here to see elective courses.
3
Click here to see elective courses.

Semester 3

Elective
3-4
Click here to see elective courses.
Elective
3-4
Click here to see elective courses.
Elective
3-4
Click here to see elective courses.
3-4
Click here to see elective courses.
3-4
Click here to see elective courses.

Semester 4

Elective
3-4
Click here to see elective courses.
Elective
3-4
Click here to see elective courses.
Elective
3-4
Click here to see elective courses.
3-4
Click here to see elective courses.

Semester 5

Elective
3-4
Click here to see elective courses.
Elective
3-4
Click here to see elective courses.
Elective
3-4
Click here to see elective courses.
3-4
Click here to see elective courses.
3-4
Click here to see elective courses.

Semester 6

Elective
3-4
Click here to see elective courses.
Elective
3-4
Click here to see elective courses.
Elective
3-4
Click here to see elective courses.
3-4

Select any Upper Division (300 or 400 level) Liberal Arts and Sciences (LAS) course.

Click here to see elective courses.

Semester 7

1

Capstone Planning

Click here to see elective courses.
3-4

Select any Upper Division (300 or 400 level) Liberal Arts and Sciences (LAS) course.

Click here to see elective courses.
3-4

Select any Upper Division (300 or 400 level) Liberal Arts and Sciences (LAS) course.

Click here to see elective courses.
__ __
ELECTIVE - UD
3-4

Select any Upper Division (300 or 400 level) course.

__ __
ELECTIVE - UD
3-4

Select any Upper Division (300 or 400 level) course.

__ __
ELECTIVE
2-4

Select any course.

Semester 8

3

Capstone Project

Click here to see elective courses.
3-4
Click here to see elective courses.
__ __
ELECTIVE - UD
3-4

Select any Upper Division (300 or 400 level) course.

__ __
ELECTIVE
3-4

Select any course.

__ __
ELECTIVE
3-4

Select any course.

Available Topics:

Choose courses from these topics lists:

Click here to see elective courses.
Click here to see elective courses.
Click here to see elective courses.
Click here to see elective courses.
Click here to see elective courses.
Click here to see elective courses.
Click here to see elective courses.
Click here to see elective courses.
Click here to see elective courses.
Click here to see elective courses.
Click here to see elective courses.
Click here to see elective courses.
Click here to see elective courses.
Click here to see elective courses.
Click here to see elective courses.
Click here to see elective courses.
Total Credits 120

Contact Information

Environment & Society

Dr. Karen Edwards

Pickett Hall 107

518-327-6387

kedwards@paulsmiths.edu


Degrees & Certificates
Course Descriptions