Integrated Studies
While the Integrated Studies program provides you with great flexibility, it also requires that you plan your coursework carefully. Here are some resources to help you prepare.
We also recommend that you see an Integrated and General Studies advisor early on in your planning process to help with your program plan.
The UFV Bachelor of Integrated Studies (BIS) program allows you to fully customize your program to meet your learning and professional objectives. As part of the program, you will demonstrate competency in six areas:
These competency requirements are met using a mixture of courses, short programs, and professional experiences. You can meet all six competencies through UFV courses alone or by using UFV and transfer credits.
In addition, you are required to complete PORT 398: Portfolio I and PORT 399: Portfolio II. In these courses, you build an academic and a professional portfolio in order to demonstrate how you meet the institutional learning outcomes and core competencies requirements.
You can also demonstrate competency in digital, intercultural engagement, and professional and applied skills through a non-credit review process.
In this instance, you must demonstrate how, through prior or current paid or unpaid professional experiences or training, you have met the learning outcomes of each competency area. You may have to provide additional supporting documentation, such as letters of recommendation or certificates of completion.
In the case of competency challenges, the experience must be comparable to the level of learning that would take place in a post-secondary setting. This means that volunteer or paid work that does not require post-secondary equivalent learning (e.g. entry-level work) or activities completed while in high school generally are not usable.
You cannot challenge the effective communications, use and interpretation of quantitative information, or scientific competencies, but you may request a review of your prior learning if you feel that you have met this through other post-secondary training (e.g. Continuing Education programs, transfer credit).
Note:
Not all challenges are successful. If at any time you wish to discuss whether you would be a good candidate for a competency challenge, please meet with an Integrated and General Studies advisor.
Students from the following organizations, institutions and programs can transfer their credits into the Bachelor of Integrated Studies (BIS) program at UFV.
If you are a student at one of these organizations or institutions and are considering transferring into the BIS or have already done so, you are encouraged to make an appointment with an Integrated and General Studies advisor. The advisor can review how to use your credits to meet program requirements and work with you to identify strategies to complete your Bachelor of Integrated Studies degree.
The University of the Fraser Valley (UFV) has partnered with McDonald's Canada to offer McDonald's employees new pathways to pursue post-secondary education. This flexible credit agreement will allow managers with approved course credit to achieve their chosen credential at UFV while still working.
Prospective students who have completed management training courses at McDonald’s, and who meet UFV’s admission requirements, can receive credit toward one of four options at UFV: a Bachelor of Integrated Studies degree, a Hospitality and Event Planning certificate, a Management Skills certificate, or a Diploma of General Studies.
As a graduate from the Nicola Valley Institute of Technology (NVIT) you can ladder your three-year Chemical Addictions Worker (ChAD) advanced diploma to earn a Bachelor of Integrated Studies degree. Once at UFV, you must earn an additional 30 credits of upper-level UFV courses in order to complete your degree.
If you have graduated from other NVIT programs and would like to transfer to UFV, speak with an Integrated and General Studies advisor in order to determine how your credits will transfer.
NVIT is a British Columbia public post-secondary institution governed by the Indigenous community and serving primarily Indigenous students.
As a graduate of the General Studies diploma program at Columbia Bible College (CBC), you are halfway to completing a UFV Bachelor of Integrated Studies (BIS) degree. You can use courses in your CBC diploma to meet most of the requirements of the BIS.
CBC’s General Studies diploma also requires you to complete a breadth of arts courses that also meet pre-requisites for many UFV courses. As a transfer student, you can often start taking upper-level courses the semester you arrive at UFV.
If you decide to transfer from CBC before completing your General Studies diploma, UFV will count most or all of the credits that you have already completed. To learn more about how your courses transfer and which degree requirements they meet, make an appointment with an Integrated and General Studies advisor.
In collaboration with Coastal Pacific Aviation, UFV offers an aviation theme, allowing you to complete a two-year Aviation diploma and continue your studies to earn a Bachelor of Integrated Studies, theme: Professional Pilot Training — Fixed Wing.
This partnership with Coastal Pacific Aviation allows you to craft an educational plan that suits your career goals, while also completing training for your commercial pilot license and at least one of the advanced options: heavy jet or professional flight instructor.
Coastal Pacific Aviation students often take their courses at both UFV and Coastal Pacific Aviation at the same time. To stay on track of your studies, you are strongly encouraged to book an appointment with an Integrated and General Studies advisor.
UFV’s Bachelor of Integrated Studies (BIS) is unique in that no two students have the same program. You can choose from courses and short programs offered across the institution, transfer credits, and integrate professional and non-credit experiences in your degree.
You may choose to specialize by completing one or more minors or extended minors, or by selecting courses that address a common topic or question. For instance, if you are planning on to becoming a K-12 teacher, you may take courses related to children, education, and family studies.
One way to specialize is to build a theme within your BIS program. A theme is an opportunity to build a unique specialization within your degree — one that you can list on your résumé and graduate school applications.
Themes consist of 24 upper-level credits, chosen from two or more disciplines, and related to a common theme or goal. Review these examples of recent themes:
Themes cannot duplicate existing major or minor programs. As an example, we cannot approve a theme in history. However, if you love history, English, and languages, you may want to consider specializing in European Studies.
If you wish to complete a theme, you are required to submit a proposal when you have completed 60 and 90 credits. You can still submit a theme proposal after that milestone, but late submissions leave less flexibility for course planning.
After you submit the theme, you will usually meet with the program chair and advisor to review your proposal. The chair will provide feedback on the proposed name and course content. In cases where the name of the proposed theme is similar to programs elsewhere, the chair may also recommend that you complete certain required courses as part of your program.
Interested in doing a theme? Make an appointment with an Integrated and General Studies advisor.
Use the worksheets in this section to plan and track the courses you need for your program:
Receive credits toward one of four credentials, including the General Studies diploma & the Bachelor of Integrated Studies through a new UFV-McDonald's partnership.
Learn more