Bachelor of Science in University Studies (BSUS)

Degree Program

Your MAP, Your QUEST, Your TREASURE…Launch Your Journey with US!

What is the BSUS Degree?

• Designed for students who have specific interests and career goals which are not met by a current ECU degree program.

• Individualized degree program that is developed by the student with collaboration with faculty and advisors.

• Degree is created by matching classes across campus to create a 48 semester hour Thematic Core that is purposeful, specific and academically rigorous.

• Each class of the Thematic Core compliments future goals and together presents a strong, unique interdisciplinary theme.

What is This Degree Called• The title of the degree is Bachelor of Science in University

Studies. Students will give a title to their “Thematic Core” 48

semester hours (group of classes that match career goals)The title of the “Thematic Core” will be designated on the

student’s transcript For example, a student might say “I major in University

Studies with a thematic core in Social Media Communications” or Thematic Core in “Family Services Advocacy”

• Your curriculum plan may include a minor, if applicable.

What is Required to Declare 2.0 GPA overall

Completed 30 semester hours of undergraduate courseworkNote: Students with fewer than 30 hours (freshmen and sophomores) are encouraged to explore customary ECU majors first.

Students must submit a proposal explaining the reason for pursuing the BSUS, describing the thematic core, and relating the thematic core to a personal career objective. This takes place in the “Introduction to University Studies” course, UNIV 2000

BSUS Guidelines• The BSUS is designed to be a rigorous academic program.

• Coursework must be approved for use in the Thematic Core.

• A maximum of 24 sh from the same prefix (ex. PSYC or MUSC) or degree track (ex. Education degree ) may be used.

• A minimum of 30 sh must be at or above the 3000 level.

Benefits of the BSUSStudents are able to

Create a degree that is personally interesting and professionally relevant outside of a traditional degree

Use coursework completed from previous major and other institutions in an effective and thoughtful way

Drive the learning experience and degree outcome

Advantages of the BSUS• Purposeful: it matches students’ interests and career goals by self-

designed review of classes and learning outcomes.

• Flexible: Any Foundation Curriculum (general education designation) may be applied.

Part-time and full-time options. Available 100% online by Fall 2015.

• Creative: by building the class makeup, investigation and thoughtful consideration is made towards program goals.

• Efficient: use of existing coursework may be applied to the degree if it matches career/theme goals.

Let’s take a look…

What Does the BSUS degree look like• 42 hours of Foundation Curriculum (FC)

• Any classes that meet FC requirements in: English, Science, Math, Social Science, Humanities/Fine Arts, Health & Exercise Section.

• No specific math foundation required• No foreign language requirements

• 13 hours of Core Coursework• LDSP 1000 (3hrs) and LDSP 4000 (3hrs)• UNIV 2000 (1hr) and UNIV 4990 (3hrs)• Technology Course (3hrs) choose one from: MIS 2223, ITEC 2000, or BITE 2112 or

approved 3 hour technology course

• 48 hours of Thematic Core: (16 classes typically), group of classes that match Career Goals

• 17 hours of Free Elective

Take a Look at Degree Plan: Section by Section

1

BSUS is broken up into 4 Sections:1. Foundation

Curriculum2. BSUS Core3. Thematic Core4. Free Elective

2

3

4

Take a Look at Degree Plan: Foundation Curriculum (FC)

BSUS will accept any FC:• Math (3 hrs)• Science with lab (8 hrs)• Social Sciences (3 of kind, 12 hrs)• Humanities/Fine Arts (one of each, 10 hrs)• See here for classes that count to FC

http://catalog.ecu.edu/content.php?catoid=4&navoid=247

Take a Look at Degree Plan: Thematic Core

Thematic Core (TC)= 48 hours total, typically 16x classesMust follow these rules:• TC must be made around a specific program of

study not available in established degree• TC may not have more than 24 hrs of same prefix

or degree track• 30 hours (typically 10x classes) in TC and/or Free

Elective must be at 3000 level• 2.0 GPA in TC and overall

Classes you have already taken can be used, if appropriate and above follow rules

Minor(s) and Certificates can make up the TCPurposeful Grouping that Matches Career Goal

What is a Thematic Core A Thematic Core is made up of 48 semester hours of specific coursework,

typically 16x classes total.

A student’s Thematic Core prepares a student for a specific career objective.

The career objective and Thematic Core are determined by the student, with faculty and advisor guidance, and must be approved by the Faculty Oversight Committee.

Some previously completed coursework may be approved for the makeup of Thematic Core.

The Thematic Core is developed and proposed during the UNIV 2000 course.

The Thematic Core may include an established minor or certificate.

Some Sample Thematic Core (TC) Titles From Previous Student BSUS Cohorts :

Health in Special Populations

Family Services Advocacy

Public Policy in the Arts

Vintage Apparel and Entrepreneurship

Sound Design in Film and Game Development

Environmental Health and Safety Communication

Digital Story Telling as Advocacy

Social Media & Communications

Scientific Writing

Faith-Based Youth Services

Women’s Integrated Aesthetic Studies

Sample TC Class GroupingsFaith-Based Youth Services : 48 hours

• RCLS 2000- Foundations of Recreation, Parks, and Tourism

• RCLS 2400- Adventure-Based Program Leadership

• RCLS 2600- Outdoor Recreation Activities• RCLS 2601- Leisure in Society• RCLS 3104- Public and Non-Profit Recreation• RCLS 3131- Recreation for Diverse Populations• HLTH 2125/26- Safety Education and First Aid• MGMT 3202- Fundamentals of Management• RELI 4500- Religious Studies Seminar• HMGT 3400- Meeting, Event, and Convention

Planning• RELI 2695- Intro to the Old Testament • RELI 2696- Intro to the New Testament• RELI 3896- Life and Teachings of Jesus• PLAN 3020- Environmental Planning• FINA 3500- Entrepreneurship finance• MGMT 4003- Essentials of Entrepreneurship

Scientific Writing : 48 hours

• ANTH 2200 Introduction to Cultural Anthropology

• BIOL 2250/51 Ecology, Lab• BIOL 2300 Genetics• BIOL 3150 Plant Biology• BIOL 3240/41 Field Zoology, Lab• BIOL 3260 Cell and Developmental Biology• BIOL 3740/41 Animal Behavior, Lab• ENGL 3750 Introduction to Linguistics• ENGL 3720 Writing Systems of the World• ENGL 3810 Advanced Composition• ENGL 3815 Introduction to Creative Writing• ENGL 3880 Writing for Business Industry• PSYC 3241 Personnel and Industrial

Psychology• PSYC 3310 Introduction to Neuroscience• SOCI 2110 Introduction to Sociology

Sample TC Class Groupings, Continued…Family Services Advocacy : 48 hours

• CDFR 1103 Marriage and Family Relations• CDFR 2000 Child Dev 1:Prenatal Early Childhood• CDFR 2001 Child Dev 2: Middle Childhood to Young

Adult• CDFR 3002 Child in Family• CDFR 3150 Intro to Early Childhood Intervention• CDFR 3215 The Family as Consumers• CDFR 4313 Trends, Issues, and Family Studies• CHE 2999 Leadership substitute for CDFR 4303• EDUC 1XXX Teaching the Exceptional Learner• EDUC 3002 Intro to Diversity• ELEM 3236 Practice in Curriculum and Instruction• HLTH 3244 Practicing Procedures in Health for the

Elementary School• READ 3204 Fundamentals of Reading• READ 3302 Read Instr in Intermediate Grades• SCIE 3216 Teaching Science in Elem School• SPED 2000 Intro to Exceptional Children• SPED 2100 Students with Disabilities in the General

Curriculum• SPED 2109 Students with Disabilities in the General

Curriculum

Digital Story Telling as Advocacy: 48 hours

• EDUC 3002 Introduction to Diversity • SPED 3001 Assessing Students with Disabilities • CSDI 2100 Introduction to Communication Disorders• CDFR 1103 Marriage and Family Relations • SPED 2000 Introduction to Exceptional Children • PSYC 2777 Ethnocultural Psychology • SPED 2100 Students with Disabilities General Curriculum • SPED 2123 Early Exposure for Prospective Teachers • SPED 2200 Students with Disabilities General Curriculum• SPED 2209 Students with Disabilities Adapted

Curriculum Practicum• FILM 2900 Introduction to Film Studies • FILM 3900 American and International Film History, Part

1• COMM 4040 Media, Culture, and Society• ENGL 4930 Film: The Writer’s Perspective• FILM 4980 Topics in Film Aesthetics• FORL 2520 French Cinema Classics• FILM 3920 Film Theory and Criticism • FILM 4985 Film Studies Capstone

How to Pick TC Classes• What is your “Career List”? Create a bullet list of some:

o Potential job titleso Job responsibilities you would like to doo Skills needed in those careers

• Think about “Who, What, Where, When, Why” in regards to Career Goals:o Who would you like to work for (could be a specific company or

population you are interested in serving (veterans, at-risk youth, etc.)

o What type of responsibilities would you enjoy or activities doing in these career fields. What types of skills or knowledge are needed (ex. Strong communication, interpersonal skills, or web design knowledge or budget management, etc.)

o Where do these jobs exist (settings, companies, parts of the state and country, etc.)

o When can you begin working in this field, do you need a Bachelors/masters/other license to do this work, what type of qualifications do you need?

o Why do you want this type of career? Think about what do you enjoy doing that matches these job titles and your skills that match the skills needed for job, what classes do you enjoy and have done well in, what do you do in your free time that might match these careers, why this type of job, etc.

How to Pick TC Classes

• What is YOUR list? Let’s match classes to your list. Use the following tools to help you:o Recipe- a starting place to break it down and

understand what you have and what you need to complete degree. (Official review will happen with BSUS Advisor). Please see “Recipe Resource”.

oMenu- how to pick classes for TC class ideas by theme. Please see “How to Pick TC” resource.

Who is the Faculty Oversight Committee?

• The BSUS Faculty Oversight Committee (FOC) includes faculty representatives from each college within the University.

• BSUS Proposal will be reviewed by the FOC in the semester you take UNIV 2000. Your Proposal includes your Thematic Core (TC) classes, Title of TC, Essay about yourself and your career plans.

• FOC will make decisions on curriculum plan: approve or provide feedback for resubmission.

• The approval of your BSUS Proposal will become your finalized curriculum plan towards graduation.

• See the BSUS website for a complete list of members: www.ecu.edu/bsus

What Kind of Jobs Can I get with the BSUS Degree?

• This depends on the student’s career objective.

• UNIV 2000 involves career planning and engagement with the ECU Career Center.

• The BSUS Workforce Advisory Committee provides guidance for positioning graduates for employment.

• Of the 1712 jobs posted with the ECU Career Center for school year 2011-12, 15% of postings indicated “any major”.

• An internship experience is a part of the curriculum to aid in job placement.

• The BSUS does not prepare students for required certifications and licensures.

Does the BSUS provide Practicum or Internship Experience?

• UNIV 4990 Capstone course is a practicum course taken your last semester in the BSUS program. It is offered Fall, Spring and Summer 11 session.

• UNIV 4990 may include internship field experience, senior thesis or guided research project, completed the final semester of your program.

• The UNIV 4990 experience should match your goals related to career or graduate school, going back to your “list.”

• BSUS students are expected to complete volunteer, or community engagement hours prior to graduation.

The BSUS Support Team• Dr. Rondall Rice, Director of University Studies Program RiceRo14@ecu.edu

• Mrs. Stephanie Bailey, Assistant Director of University Studies, Program Advisor

BaileyST@ecu.edu

• Ms. Nicole Johnson, Administrative Support Specialist of University Studies JohnsonN@ecu.edu

Located on main campus:See “Old Cafeteria” onwww.ecu.edu/campusmaps

2500 Old Cafeteria Building252.737.5062www.ecu.edu/bsus

Next Step & Questions• Consider your career goals and if this degree could be a

good fit for you. • If you are interested in pursuing this degree:

1. Fill out “Prospective Student” Survey (located in original BSUS email, see email)

2. Fill out “Recipe” handout (see email)3. Look at “Menu” of how to pick TC Classes and generate a list of

interesting classes (see email)4. Set up an appointment (face to face or phone appt available)

by calling 252.737.5062, 5. For in-person appointments, please report to Old Cafeteria

Advising waiting area (2500 Old Cafeteria Building)