Major in Integrated Studies (Bachelor’s)
Customize your education to match your goals with CU Denver’s flexible and fully online Integrated Studies degree (Individually Structured Major).
Build your own bachelor’s degree with the online BA in Integrated Studies. Designed for students with diverse educational backgrounds, this program allows you to create a custom path to degree completion.
- Leverage previously earned credits to complete your degree.
- Combine courses from multiple disciplines to address real-world challenges.
- Fully online and asynchronous, providing maximum flexibility.
- Develop critical thinking, interdisciplinary problem-solving, and communication skills.
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Degree LevelBachelor's -
School & CollegeCollege of Liberal Arts and Sciences -
Total Credit Hours120 -
Class Type100% Online -
Time CommitmentFull-Time or Part-Time -
Start Term(s)Fall, Spring, Summer
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Program Overview
Because this program is highly customizable, the specific skills you develop will depend on the course clusters you choose.
However, every student in the Individually Structured Major will gain foundational competencies in disciplinary knowledge, inquiry and analysis, critical thinking, written communication, information literacy, ethical reasoning and action, and integrative and applied learning.
You’ll graduate with valuable skills in writing, decision-making, and research in addition to specific skills developed within your chosen disciplines.
Tuition Breakdown
| Resident | Non-Resident |
|---|---|
| $506* per credit | $607** per credit |
*College Opportunity Fund (COF) must be elected for this rate.
**Out-of-state students may qualify for discounted tuition through the Western Undergraduate Exchange (WUE) program.
How does the Individually Structured Major work?
First, in order to declare this major, you must have 60 credits of completed college-level coursework. To complete this degree program, you will combine two course clusters from the same or different schools/colleges:
- One cluster must come from a minor in the CU Denver catalog that is at least 15 credit hours.
- The other cluster can also come from another minor in the catalog within the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences, or courses can be selected from a variety of disciplines to form a coherent body of knowledge.
The major requires a minimum of 36 credit hours but can be up to 56 credit hours, depending on the size of the course clusters you choose and construct.
This fully online program is offered asynchronously, meaning there are no set sign-in times, and you can complete your coursework at the time and place that works best for you. Faculty from CU Denver will teach your courses, which means you’re receiving the same high-quality curriculum and instruction as students on campus.
Required Courses
Learning Across Disciplines (IDMA 3100)
Students explore complex issues, learning to integrate multiple disciplines and approach the challenges of interdisciplinary writing.
Interdisciplinary Studies Capstone (IDMA 4900)
Guides students through research for interdisciplinary capstone projects with feedback and faculty consultation at each stage.
Courses
You must be in good academic standing with an overall GPA of 2.0 or greater to graduate. For a course to count toward your major, you must earn a C- grade or better. A minimum of 24 major-specific credit hours must be completed with CU Denver faculty. You must also take at least 18 upper-division credit hours in addition to the required courses (ISMA 3100 and ISMA 4900).
The Learning Across Disciplines course and your capstone course will help you bring everything you’ve learned together into a project that showcases your newly acquired knowledge and skills.
You will learn how to:
- Approach a real-world problem in an interdisciplinary manner
- Think beyond a single discipline by developing and asking research questions
- Understand the functions and limitations of academic disciplines
- Evaluate materials and critique assumptions
- Communicate effectively in writing
Careers
Graduates gain a strong foundation to pursue advanced degrees in business, public administration, and other fields.
Customize Your Skills and Knowledge
Integrated studies can help you gain skills and knowledge for multiple career fields, depending on the course clusters you choose. Research consistently shows that higher education is associated with higher median earnings (NCES, 2018), and earnings increase even more with a graduate degree.
Earning your bachelor’s degree gives you the option to continue your education with an advanced degree program. The University of Colorado Denver offers several options for online master’s degree programs should you choose to pursue a graduate degree after graduation.
Admissions
As you consider an online education, we understand that it’s important for you to know that you’re getting a high-quality, affordable, and flexible online education that helps you reach your goals. That’s why the CU Denver Enrollment Team is available to offer guidance and answer any questions that you may have about our degree programs, financial aid options, transfer information, admissions requirements, and more.
Admission Requirements
Admission requirements and deadlines vary based on the program you choose. The Integrated Studies program requires you to have completed at least 60 credit hours prior to entry.
Eligibility: Students must have completed at least 60 credit hours prior to entry.
Get Personalized Support for Your Application
Whether you want to talk through your degree plans, learn more about a specific program, or start your application, the CU Denver Enrollment Team will provide friendly support as you decide if CU Denver is the right fit for your future.
Tuition & Financial Aid
At CU Denver, we strive to keep our tuition costs affordable so that you can get a world-class education that fits your budget. When you earn a degree, you’re not simply getting a diploma — you’re making a lifelong investment in yourself and empowering your future career. We know that affordability is an important factor, and that’s why we’re here to help you explore all of the options available to fund your education.
Our Enrollment Team can answer any of your questions about tuition and financial aid, help you take care of the paperwork, and make sure you’re able to focus on reaching your goals. From financial aid and scholarships to tuition assistance programs, we’ll work with you to find the best way to finance your degree.
Financial aid and scholarships may be available for those who qualify.
Completion Time
The completion time for this program varies depending on how many credits you transfer from previous coursework. You will create a custom program plan with your advisor during the application process which will inform the completion timeline. Typical bachelor's degree programs take four years to complete, however, this program varies based on transfer credits.
Experience flexible, career-focused programs with CU Denver’s renowned quality—100% online—taught by expert faculty in engaging courses within a supportive community, all at an affordable tuition with financial aid and scholarships available.
Flexible, career-focused programs with the same CU Denver quality—100% online.
Expert faculty, engaging courses, and a supportive online community.
Affordable tuition with financial aid and scholarships for online students.
Take the Next Step
Ready to design your own degree? Take the first step toward earning your online degree by filling out the form above for more information or calling us at 303-860-5604.