BIS FAQs

The BIS degree program is designed to provide adult learners access to a University of Virginia undergraduate degree. Flexible course load, synchronous discussion-oriented online evening courses and select asynchronous classes are available. Small class size, supportive faculty, and faculty advising are all key features that contribute to student success. 

The BIS degree program offers online courses and most are held in the evenings on Zoom. The program can be completed entirely online.

Once you are accepted into the BIS degree program, you will be assigned to an academic advisor who will help you with course selection and guide you throughout the program to help ensure your success.

Transfer credit may be awarded for qualifying scores on select Advanced Placement (AP), International Baccalaureate (IB), and College Level Examination Program (CLEP) exams. UVA does not award transfer credit for the DSST (formerly DANTES) examinations or for life/work experience. 

In addition to 36-60 transferable credits, you must have a 2.0 cumulative GPA from the last college or university you attended. Beyond that, admissions evaluators will review your recommendation and entrance essays. Evaluators look for strong writing skills, solid academic performance, and the ability and motivation to succeed. Request a transfer credit evaluation.

Yes. Federal financial aid is available to BIS students, and the Student Financial Services office helps with this. There are also scholarship opportunities and payment plans.  Learn more.

The time it takes to complete your degree depends on how many transferable credits at admission and number of courses you take each semester. However, students must complete the program within seven years. On average, students complete the program within 3-4 years.

What you do with the degree depends upon your personal and/or professional goals. Some BIS students pursue graduate studies, a new profession, advancement in their current profession, or complete the program for personal enrichment. 

Yes. We have admission counselors who will be happy to discuss the program and review your transcripts before you submit your application.

Writing is an essential component of the BIS degree program and you can expect to write in all of your classes. However, BIS provides support to strengthen your writing with a first-term course focused on writing skills, in addition to providing access to a Director of Student Success and the Writing Center, which offers many opportunities, including one-on-one appointments, to help students be successful in their writing. 

You will earn a Bachelor of Interdisciplinary Studies degree and pursue one of the following concentrations: Art and Society, Business, Cybersecurity Analysis, Early Childhood,  Healthcare Management, History and Politics, Individualized,  Information Technology, Liberal Arts, Psychology, and Writing. Each concentration has different requirements.

No. The early childhood concentration does not provide a Virginia teaching license. It does prepare you to advance to a master of teaching program – such as the University of Virginia School of Education and Human Development’s nationally-recognized Master of Teaching – or pursue various alternative routes to teacher licensure in Virginia or elsewhere. Careful advising throughout BIS will support you to ensure that you have the coursework needed to pursue these options. For additional information or questions, please contact Courtney Sullivan.

The School of Continuing and Professional Studies offers two undergraduate degrees: a Bachelor of Interdisciplinary Studies and a Bachelor of Professional Studies in Health Sciences Management.

These degrees are awarded by the University of Virginia, and graduates of these programs are entitled to the same privileges and opportunities available to all students who have earned degrees from the University of Virginia.

There is no "typical" degree student. They come in all ages and live throughout Virginia, the region, and the nation. They are just as likely to be married with children, as to be single. A large number of our students are working professionals. Our students find support from their faculty and peers as they meet the challenges of balancing the demands of family, work, and school. The one thing they have in common: to earn a UVA degree.

The School of Continuing and Professional Studies is committed to maintaining classes small enough for students to consult with faculty about class work on an individual basis and to participate fully in class discussions and presentations. Many classes have fewer than 20 students.

Our degree programs are designed to meet the needs of the adult learner. Each student is assigned a program or faculty advisor who meets with the student before spring, summer, and fall registration to discuss course selection for the upcoming terms. Students also are encouraged to contact their advisors at any other time for assistance with their academic program. In addition to supportive staff and faculty, our students have access to many of the resources at UVA including extensive audio-visual library collections, career counseling, and job search support, as well as technical support.