Sustainability, ageing populations, climate change, cultural shifts, technological disruption. The world is increasingly complex, and an integrative approach to connect ideas and perspectives across disciplines is needed to reframe and address today’s and tomorrow’s challenges. The SMU College of Integrative Studies offers the Bachelor of Integrative Studies, which allows students to pursue their respective unique Individualised Majors. We cannot forecast every disruption and transformation, but through the Bachelor of Integrative Studies programme we can cultivate students who can navigate emerging fields of knowledge across multiple disciplines.
The Bachelor of Integrative Studies (Individualised Major) is a 4-year meritorious honours programme, including the first year on the Deferred Declaration of Degree (D3) programme. In total, students are required to complete 36 course units (CUs) worth of courses. Students on the D3 programme will be invited to apply for the Bachelor of Integrative Studies programme and successful applicants will be enrolled into the programme at the end of their first year.
All Bachelor of Integrative Studies students will choose one of two tracks: Professional track and Research track. The professional track provides high exposure to industry and societal problems, enabling students to better bridge the gap between their university studies and future employment. The research track involves deep academic inquiry into the subject-matter and is particularly suitable for students with an interest in a policy, research or academic-oriented career.
Each student is paired with a faculty advisor who will provide guidance across the duration of the programme. Students will also benefit from the tutelage of industry mentors.
Interdisciplinary learning is a critical aspect of future career readiness, given the importance of developing innovative and cross-disciplinary solutions. As students shape their Individualised Major according to their inclinations and preferences, the knowledge and expertise of our faculty will be at hand to guide students on their chosen path. We trust that the programme will be a fulfilling experience for each and every students.
Prof Maartje De Visser (L) and Prof Fiona Williamson (R)
Bachelor of Integrative Studies (Individualised Majors) Programme Co-Chairs
Curriculum (36 CUs)
Core Curriculum (12 CUs)
Integrative Studies Core &
Electives (16 CUs)
- Integrative Studies Core (4 CUs)
- Coursework Electives (10 to 11 CUs)
- Coursework Electives (8 to 9 CUs)
Free Electives (8 CUs)
Students may take courses from any of
SMU’s schools to fulfil the Free
Electives requirement
Professional Track
Provides high exposure to industry and societal problems, enabling students to better bridge the gap between their university studies and future employment.
Integrative Studies Core (4 CUs)
- INTS101 Methods Across Majors: An Interdisciplinary Introduction to Research
- INTS201 Exploring Interdisciplinary Horizons: An Introduction to Integrative Studies
- Two courses from the “Challenges” basket:
- COR-INTS2240 Climate Change: Past, Present, and Future
- COR-MGMT2207 Innovations in Asia’s Smart Cities
- INTS302 Modern Challenges
- INTS304 The Human Condition: Who are we? What are we?
- COR-INTS2255 Thinking with Data
Coursework Electives (10 to 11 CUs)
CIS students may select courses relevant to their self-defined major, including courses from exchange programmes.Capstone Project (1 to 2 CUs)
Inquiry into an industry or societal problem.Research Track
Involves deep academic inquiry into the subject-matter and is particularly suitable for students with an interest in a policy, research or academic-oriented career.
Integrative Studies Core (4 CUs)
- INTS101 Methods Across Majors: An Interdisciplinary Introduction to Research
- INTS201 Exploring Interdisciplinary Horizons: An Introduction to Integrative Studies
- Two courses from the “Challenges” basket:
- COR-INTS2240 Climate Change: Past, Present, and Future
- COR-MGMT2207 Innovations in Asia’s Smart Cities
- INTS302 Modern Challenges
- INTS304 The Human Condition: Who are we? What are we?
- COR-INTS2255 Thinking with Data
Coursework Electives (10 CUs)
CIS students may select courses relevant to their self-defined major, including courses from exchange programmes.
Senior Thesis (2 CUs)
Academic inquiry into a topic of interest.
"Industry Experiential Learning All students on the BIS(IM) will complete industry experiential learning through SMU-X courses and/or Work-Study Electives.”
Students’ Individualised Majors
Unparalleled Levels of 1:1 Mentorship
Every Bachelor of Integrative Studies student is assigned a faculty advisor who will advise the student in the design of their study plan based on the student’s identified industry or societal challenge. The faculty advisor will provide guidance throughout the student’s candidacy and supervise the student for their capstone project or dissertation.
In addition, every student on the Professional track will also be assigned an capstone mentor to help them integrate their coursework learning with real industry applications and understand the context, nuances, complexities and outlook of the industry. Every student on the Research track will be assigned a dissertation supervisor to guide them in academic inquiry.
#CISMentorship
Highlights
BIS Symposium
The BIS Symposium is held in the second year of a student’s BIS journey, and offers students a platform to present their ideas for their respective Individualised Major, as well as their Capstone Project/Senior Thesis proposal to a wide audience comprising fellow students, faculty experts and prospective employers. The BIS Symposium gives students the opportunity to receive critical feedback and refine their majors.
BIS Colloquium
The BIS Colloquium is held at the end of a students’s BIS journey, as a showcase of the student’s Capstone Project or Senior Thesis. At the Colloquium, students will present their Capstone Project or Senior Thesis, giving students an opportunity to discuss their project and showcase their integrative skills and academic abilities.
CIS-Exclusive Exchange Programmes
CIS students may go on student exchange programmes at not only SMU’s slate of more than 200 global university partners, but also benefit from CIS-exclusive partnerships. More information is available.
CIS-Exclusive Industry Engagement Activities
CIS students enjoy one-to-one consultations with the College’s Executives-in-Residence, and also benefit from many fireside chats with the College’s Advisory Board members and other industry leaders. CIS also organises regular engagement networking sessions for CIS students to engage with and learn from industry partners, ensuing that the students are given the best opportunities to thrive post-graduation.