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2003-04 University Catalog George Mason University

Bachelor of Arts in Interdisciplinary Studies (BAIS)

New Century College

300 Understanding Multidisciplinary Studies (3:3:0). Prerequisite: Open only to pre-BAIS students and BAIS majors. Focuses on literature and issues relevant to interdisciplinary and multidisciplinary studies and the BAIS program. Students explore selected topics, develop and gather feedback on individualized core concentration proposals, and review BAIS issues and requirements.

390 The Research Process (3:3:0). Prerequisite: BAIS 300. Open only to pre-BAIS students and BAIS majors. Focuses on the skills needed to develop a topic, find and organize relevant information, examine and critique evidence, establish thesis criteria, and create a plan to complete a senior thesis. Should be taken at least one semester prior to BAIS 489.

489 Directed Readings and Research (3:0:0). Prerequisite: BAIS 390. Open only to BAIS majors. Individualized sections by arrangement. Readings and research on a topic directly relevant to the student's core concentration. Guided by the student's primary faculty advisor. Topics must be approved by the instructor and BAIS director prior to enrollment.

490 Senior Thesis Project (3:0:0). Prerequisites: BAIS 489; corequisite: BAIS 491. Open only to BAIS majors. Individualized sections by arrangement. Capstone course in the BAIS core concentration. Thesis/research paper on a topic directly relevant to the student's core concentration. Guided by the student's faculty advisor. Topics must be approved by the student's faculty advisory committee and the BAIS director prior to enrollment. A grade of C or better is required to graduate with a BAIS degree.

491 Senior Project Exhibition (1:1:0). Prerequisite: BAIS 489; corequisite: BAIS 490. Open only to BAIS majors. Focuses on the preparation and delivery of a formal presentation of the student's BAIS 490 thesis. Includes a review of basic presentation techniques.