Applied Arts and Sciences Bachelor of science degree
Applied Arts and Sciences
Bachelor of science degree
Overview
Work closely with faculty and academic advisors to design a unique, multidisciplinary plan of study that combines several areas of academic knowledge and interest to create an individualized major customized by you.
The School of Individualized Study offers students the opportunity to create individualized undergraduate programs of study through its applied arts and sciences program. In this program, students work closely with faculty and professional advisers to design unique, multidisciplinary plans of study that combine several areas of academic knowledge and interest. The bachelors of applied arts and sciences program is particularly appropriate for individuals who have unique ideas about how they want to design their academic areas of study, have prior college-level learning, are interested in changing or expanding their major, or who want to prepare themselves for a career that requires a combination of skills and expertise from several disciplines.
Bachelor of science (BS) degree: 120 semester credit hours total; program is comprised of general education courses plus course work in professional areas of focus.
Associate of applied science (AAS) degree: 60 semester credit hours total; program is comprised of general education courses plus course work in a professional area of focus.
BS and AAS degrees are available to full-time day students, part-time evening students, and online students. These degrees allow students to pursue several different areas of study, selected specifically to meet individual career and personal goals.
For their professional core, students may draw upon a wealth of educational resources from across RIT’s colleges and departments. Examples of professional core areas of study include:
Business/management focus
- Leadership
- Quality management
- Health systems administration
- Project management
- Innovation
Computer/technical focus
- Applied computing
- Technical communications
- Computer science studies
- Engineering technology studies
- Computer graphics
- Mechanical technology
Liberal arts focus
- History
- Psychology studies
- Creative writing
- Cultural studies
- Foreign language
Students looking to complete the BS or AAS online can choose from a diverse group of online concentrations. Examples include:
- Organizational change
- Health systems administration
- Integrated electronics
- Leadership
- Quality management
- Project management
- Web design
- Various liberal arts including concentrations
No two applied arts and sciences programs will be exactly alike because each takes into account the individual's goals and any previous learning. For example, one individualized program might lead to a bachelor’s degree with a professional core that combines information technology, graphic arts, and management, while another could lead to a bachelor’s degree that combines the fields of technical communication and health systems administration.
As career plans evolve and the demands of their technical and professional fields change, students meet regularly with professional advisers to review and update plans of study.
The following chart represents a sample of a typical course sequence for three concentations in data mining, manangement, and economic studies. Students will work with an adviser to craft a personal pan of study based on their chosen concentration areas.
Industries
Latest News
-
August 6, 2019
!['Chocolate-maker drips chocolate off of spatula.']()
Chocolate with a conscience
You do what? From accountant to the stars to sustainable chocolate producer, RIT alumni have some pretty cool careers. Read about Lorenzo Llosa ’04 (applied arts and sciences), an artisanal chocolate maker and co-founder of Elemento, a sustainable chocolate company in Peru.
-
August 6, 2019
!['Graphic reads: 2019 Distinguished Alumni Awards: Ali Shahidi']()
2019 Distinguished Alumni Awards: Ali Shahidi
Meet Ali Shahidi ’13 (applied arts and sciences), the School of Individualized Study 2019 Distinguished Alumnus.
-
May 28, 2019
![Screenshot from movie in which two actors look face-to-face.]()
RIT graduate co-stars in the film ‘Guest Artist’ with Jeff Daniels
Thomas Macias ’13 (applied arts and sciences) has made his feature film debut, co-staring with actor Jeff Daniels in Guest Artist. Guest Artist was originally written as a play by Daniels and turned into a film by director Timothy Busfield.
Curriculum
Applied Arts and Science, BS degree, typical course sequence
| Course | Sem. Cr. Hrs. | |
|---|---|---|
| First Year | ||
| SOIS-101 |
Individualized Study Seminar
The required gateway course for students enrolled in the School of Individualized Study. Course provides an opportunity for students to explore the nature and function of academic disciplines. Students will have opportunities to develop and refine their transversal, transferrable, and 21st century skill sets and their relationship to traditional curriculum and experiential learning.
|
1 |
LAS Perspective 2 (artistic) |
3 | |
LAS Perspective 6 (scientific principles) |
3 | |
Professional Concentration Courses |
18 | |
LAS Elective |
3 | |
First Year Writing (WI) |
3 | |
| Second Year | ||
Professional Concentration Courses |
18 | |
LAS Perspective 1 (ethical) |
3 | |
LAS Perspective 3 (global) |
3 | |
LAS Perspective 4 (social) |
3 | |
LAS Elective |
3 | |
| Third Year | ||
LAS Perspective 7A (mathematical) |
3 | |
LAS Perspective 7B (mathematical) |
3 | |
LAS Perspective 5 (natural science inquiry)‡ |
3 | |
Professional Concentration Courses |
8 | |
Free Electives |
6 | |
LAS Electives |
6 | |
Wellness Education* |
0 | |
| Fourth Year | ||
| SOIS-510 |
Multidisciplinary Life
A capstone class for students in the applied arts and sciences bachelor of science degree program. Course provides students an opportunity to reflect upon and enhance the many aspects of their individualized educational programs and focus on future goals.
|
3 |
LAS Immersion 1, 2, 3 |
9 | |
Professional Concentration Course |
3 | |
LAS Electives |
12 | |
Free Elective |
3 | |
| Total Semester Credit Hours | 120 |
|
Please see General Education Curriculum–Liberal Arts and Sciences (LAS) for more information.
* Please see Wellness Education Requirement for more information. Students completing bachelor's degrees are required to complete two different Wellness courses.
‡ Students will satisfy this requirement by taking either a 3- or 4- credit hour lab science course. If a science course consists of separate lecture and laboratory sections, students must take both the lecture and lab portions of satisfy the requirement. The lecture section alone will not fulfill the requirement.
Admission Requirements
Freshman Admissions
This degree offers students the opportunity to create individualized undergraduate programs of technical and professional study. Applicants should speak directly to an admissions counselor in the Office of Undergraduate Admissions for more information.
Transfer Admissions
This program offers students the opportunity to create individualized undergraduate programs of technical and professional study through its applied arts and science program. The applied arts and science program is particularly appropriate for individuals who have prior college-level learning, are interested in changing majors, have unique ideas about how they want to design their academic areas of study, or want to prepare themselves for a career that requires skills and expertise from several disciplines. Applicants should speak directly to an admissions counselor in the Office of Undergraduate Admissions for more information.
Learn about admissions and financial aid