Integrative Studies
Integrative Studies at UM-Dearborn is intended for students who wish to customize their degree program to fit their own interests and aspirations.
Students create their own curriculum path, choosing three individual concentrations, or minors, instead of a traditional major. Students may further customize their degree by enrolling in internships or cooperative education. All students must complete a minimum of 39 credit hours for the Integrative Studies major, which includes LIBS 450 Capstone. Integrative Studies leads to an interdisciplinary Bachelor of Arts or Bachelor of Science degree, depending on the concentrations selected.
Aside from giving students the opportunity to build an individualized program suited to their own personal and/or career goals, Integrative Studies can also provide an excellent foundation for graduate and professional education in many areas, including law, business, public administration, counseling, and social work.
More about Integrative Studies
Integrative Studies includes all the academic minors (which become concentrations for this major)—interdisciplinary as well as disciplinary—in CASL, plus the programs in the College of Business; College of Education, Health, and Human Services (excluding teacher certification minors); and Computer and Information Science from the College of Engineering and Computer Science. An advisory committee of faculty and staff oversees the program.
- Students transferring from a community college with an Associate Degree may transfer a maximum of 30 credit hours of general credit courses (GENL). The maximum total transferrable credits from a community college is 62.
- The Foreign Language requirement not needed for this major.
- LIBS 450 Capstone is required.
- Be able to think critically across disciplinary lines and demonstrate a creative breadth of knowledge drawn from diverse perspectives.
- Be able to demonstrate fundamental knowledge of each chosen focus area.
- Be able to take responsibility for life-long educational and career planning which integrates varied approaches in education and a multidisciplinary curriculum.
- Be able to compare and contrast related concepts.
Degree Requirements & Concentrations
Learn more about CASL Degree Requirements.
Integrative Studies students must select three concentrations. Concentrations are divided into three groups:
12 credit hours at the upper level required (plus prerequisites as needed) in each concentration chosen. You may choose one, two, or all three concentrations from Group I.
Anthropology, Applied Statistics, Arabic, Art History, Biochemistry, Biological Sciences, Chemistry, Comparative Literature, Computer and Computational Mathematics, Economics, English, Environmental Science, French Studies, Geology, Hispanic Studies, History, Linguistics, Mathematics, Microbiology, Music, Philosophy, Physics, Political Science, Psychology, Sociology
12-18 credit hours required at the upper level (plus prerequisites as needed) in each concentration chosen. Most concentrations in Group II have specific courses required. You may choose one, two, or all three concentrations from Group II.
African and African American Studies, Applied Art, Arab American Studies, Astronomy, Communications, Community Change Studies, Criminology and Criminal Justice, Environmental Studies, Film Studies, Geography, Global Cultures, Journalism and Media Production, Law and Society, Leadership & Communication in Organizations, Living, Working, Adapting, and Connecting During a Pandemic, Media Roles and Responses to Pandemics, Medieval and Renaissance Studies, Organizational Change in a Global Environment, Pandemics and Infectious Disease, Religious Studies, Science and Technology Studies, Social Science Research Methodology, Society and Technological Change, Urban and Regional Studies, Women’s and Gender Studies
You may choose only one concentration from Group III. Each area requires a minimum of 15 credit hours at the upper level (plus prerequisites as needed). See a CASL academic advisor for details.
Accounting, Artificial Intelligence, Computer and Information Science, Digital Marketing, Entrepreneurship, Finance, Financial Planning, Game Design, Human Services, Human Resources Management, Information Systems Security, Information Systems Management, Management, Marketing, Pre-Health Professional Studies, Public Health, Public Health and Pandemics, Supply Chain Management
Student Services & Facilities
Specialized services and facilities available to Integrative Studies students will depend on their chosen concentrations. Integrative Studies students are especially encouraged to consult regularly with their academic advisor in CASL Advising and Academic Success to make sure they are planning their program efficiently and effectively.
Internship and Research Opportunities
Integrative Studies students, like other CASL students in traditional majors, have the opportunity to gain valuable real-world on-the-job training through internships. Internships help student make informed decisions about their future careers, provide them with a means of acquiring valuable work-related skills, and give them a way of improving their marketability.
Integrative Studies students may pursue opportunities for conducting independent study or research under the direction of a faculty member in most disciplines. See a CASL academic advisor for more information about these opportunities, or talk with a faculty member in the area you wish to conduct independent research.
Student Clubs & Organizations
Integrative Studies students become involved in many of UM-Dearborn’s student clubs and organizations, including those focused on career interests. For a full listing, see the Office of Student Life's Directory of Student Organizations.