An Interdisciplinary Education

The BIS degree is such a diverse and yet very detail oriented degree. It is unique and unlike any other degree program today. Being Interdisciplinary is what makes the BIS degree so different from another type of degree. BIS allows you to combine two separate areas of concentrations. With so many various combinations to put together the possibilities almost become endless.

I chose this major over my original choice of a business marketing degree because I wanted to expand my knowledge of business and also create options for myself. My educational experience in my areas of concentration have provided me with the knowledge I need to go above and beyond that of just any ordinary degree. Needless to say this is an advantage I am extremely proud of.

Within the two areas of concentration, in order to obtain a BIS degree one must also complete the four core courses of the BIS program. In BIS 301 the central focus was developing a sense of being interdisciplinary, and setting a foundation to build upon. Essentially I learned what it was to be in the BIS program. In BIS 302 I learned about data collection and organization skills. I was able to compile research data about the ASU downtown campus project and expand on ideas in an interdisciplinary style of thinking. The online BIS 401 course taught in stride with an on-sight internship that allowed me to apply my two areas of study. This gave me the opportunity to see, and experience what I was learning in the classroom and how to interact in a real world setting. The final core course, BIS 402, was taken online and involved various thinking activities that in essence, "tickled my brain." I was taught analytical, divergent, new territorial and synthetical forms of thinking. My logic was tested and I learned a great deal about myself as a thinker, the course also improved my confidence on overcoming problems that seem to have no solution.

My two areas of concentration are Small Business Entrepreneurship and Communications. To me these two areas go hand in hand, especially in the business world. I learned everything from top to bottom about the fundamentals of business. I was not just limited to marketing however, I was able to learn and understand about working relationships, business operations, finance, effective management, AND marketing. Through the Hugh Downs School of Human Communication I developed quality public speaking skills, communications ethics, the laws and fundamentals of organizational communication, and developed an awareness for cross cultural and gender communication. As stated before I am very proud to have an educational background with this much depth and knowledge. I know I am prepared for anything.