BALA Program of Study

Total: 120 semester hours

General Education

30 semester hours. Includes Common Seminar, Areas of Study and Language and Cultural Studies.

Common Seminar

6 semester hours

  • ADED 300U Knowledge Management: Seminar Across the Disciplines (online only)

or

  • ADED 301U Knowledge Management: Seminar Across the Disciplines I
  • ADED 302U Knowledge Management: Seminar Across the Disciplines II

Areas of Study

18 semester hours. At least one 3-hour course from each of the following areas:

  • History
  • Literature
  • Natural Sciences
  • Social Sciences and Cultural Studies
  • MATH 103U Finite Mathematics (or higher)
  • The Arts

Language and Cultural Studies

6 semester hours

  • IDST 306U Understanding Culture and Language (online only)

or

  • IDST 304U Understanding Culture and Language I
  • IDST 305U Understanding Culture and Language II

Language and Cultural Studies Exemptions

Students majoring in Liberal Arts who have completed six (6) semester hours (or equivalent) in language coursework with a grade of “C” or better may earn waivers for IDST 304U and IDST 305U. Credits from a study abroad experience may also count toward the six-hour requirement.

Students majoring in Interdisciplinary Studies (online only) must take IDST 306U as part of the course of study.

Students who wish to switch from the major in Interdisciplinary Studies to the major in Liberal Arts and who have passed IDST 306U with a grade of 'C' or better may earn waivers for IDST 304U and IDST 305U.

Students who pass IDST 304U, IDST 305U or IDST 306U may not take the courses again for repeated credit in the BALA program (to include both Liberal Arts and Interdisciplinary Studies majors).

General Distribution

60 semester hours. Coursework selected from across the curriculum. Undergraduate minors (combined with the major in Liberal Arts only) may be drawn from this area. Foundation Coursework, if required, counts toward General Distribution.

Online Interdisciplinary Studies Exceptions

Online Interdisciplinary Studies students combine General Education and General Distribution requirements. 60 semester hours total required, 45 hours prior to transfer to University of Richmond. Foundation Coursework requirements except MATH 103U are built in the 60-hour Interdisciplinary Studies major for online students.

Foundation Coursework

The student’s placement test score, along with advising recommendations, will determine the pathway of foundation courses before other required coursework.

  • ENGL 101U Strategic Reading and Writing
  • ENGL 201U Critical Writing and Research I
  • ENGL 202U Critical Writing and Research II
  • MATH 103U Finite Mathematics

Major

30 semester hours (Liberal Arts) or 60 semester hours (Interdisciplinary Studies).

  • Select from Liberal Arts or Online Interdisciplinary Studies.