Individualized Studies BAIS (Vancouver)

Pursue a personalized academic journey with the Bachelor of Arts in Individualized Studies (BAIS) at Fairleigh Dickinson University Vancouver. This flexible liberal arts program empowers students to tailor their education to align with their unique career aspirations and interests. Whether you’re aiming to advance in your current profession, pivot to a new field, or complete a degree started elsewhere, the BAIS program offers the adaptability, flexibility and support to help you achieve your goals. Located in downtown Vancouver, FDU Vancouver provides an enriching in-person learning environment complemented by experiential opportunities and a diverse academic community.

Download the program info sheet (PDF).

Program Overview

Total Credits: 120 credits
Program Duration: 4 years (average full-time completion)
Delivery Mode: In-person (Vancouver)
Program Intakes: January, May and September
Study Abroad Opportunities in U.S. and other partner universities around the globe
Post-Graduation Work Permit Eligible (see details)

Program Highlights

Customizable Curriculum: Design your own academic path by selecting courses across various concentrations, allowing for single or double concentrations aligned with your career goals.
Generous Transfer Credit Policy: Accepts up to 90 transfer credits, enabling students with prior post-secondary education to accelerate degree completion.
Experiential Learning: Engage in internships, field trips, and study abroad programs to gain practical experience and global perspectives.
Expert Faculty & Small Class Sizes: Benefit from small class sizes, personalized advising, and instruction from faculty with academic and industry expertise.
Accelerated Educational Advancement: BAIS students have the opportunity to transition into the Master of Administrative Studies program by substituting undergraduate courses with graduate-level equivalents (two core and one elective), allowing students to earn both a bachelor’s and a master’s degree in less than six years.
Six concentrations in various professional areas to meet global needs and demands in business. The concentration include:
- Applied Technology
- Business
- Communications
- Hospitality & Tourism Management
- Humanities
- International Relations

Career Outcomes

Graduates of the BAIS program are equipped with versatile skills applicable to a wide range of careers. Graduates are uniquely positioned for diverse careers across sectors, thanks to the program’s flexible structure and multidisciplinary focus. BAIS Program have successfully pursued careers in fields such as:

Applied Technology: IT consultant, systems analyst, technical writer
Business: General manager, business strategist, human resources officer, entrepreneur
Communications: Public relations specialist, content creator, media analyst
Hospitality & Tourism Management: Hotel manager, event coordinator, travel consultant
International Relations: Diplomatic service officer, NGO coordinator, policy analyst
Humanities: Non-profit administrator, education coordinator, cultural program manager, research associate

Degree Plan

Bachelor of Arts in Individualized Studies (BAIS) degree plan for 120 credits provides a recommended sequence of courses designed to ensure a logical progression through required course prerequisites. While these course sequences offer a structured path to program completion, students should note that the actual order of courses may vary depending on their start term, schedule and completion of pre-requisite courses.

General Education

University Core Courses
- UNIV 1001 Transitioning to University Life 
- UNIV 1002 Preparing for Professional Life 
- UNIV 2001 Cross Cultural Perspectives 
- UNIV 2002 Global Issues 
Written & Oral Communication
Information & Technology Literacy
Ethical Reasoning
Scientific & Quantitative Analysis
Social & Behavioral Scientific Analysis
Inquiry in the Arts & Humanities