The ILS Program
Integrated Liberal Studies is an interdisciplinary liberal education core curriculum and ever-changing set of special topics courses about Western history, philosophy, politics, art, literature, and culture. The aim of ILS is to provide an integrated understanding of the great themes of human inquiry and expression in scientific, political, economic, and social thought, as well as literature and the arts. The program is an excellent, more cohesive alternative to completing a BA/BS degree, rather than the conventional approach of fulfilling requirements through unrelated and fragmented introductory courses. There are no prerequisite classes for any ILS course, most courses are open to freshmen, and ILS courses satisfy many of the depth and breadth requirements for any BA or BS degree. ILS is something of a "college within the University," an academic home where you can meet friends with similar interests taking a common set of courses. ILS holds a variety of student activities and events as part of its student organization. Our close relationships with the Bradley Learning Community and Chadbourne Residential College also mean that you could make ILS part of a complete living-learning experience. Students who make ILS the center of their basic studies can receive a certificate showing that they have completed an integrated liberal education program that becomes part of their transcript. ILS also offers several scholarships of various amounts to dedicated students within the program. You can meet all of the Letters & Science distribution requirements for a BA degree through ILS. However, ILS is a flexible program: you can take as many ILS courses as you like. Some students make ILS the core of their first two years of study; others take ILS courses alongside their major throughout their undergraduate studies. The "first tier" courses (numbered 201-208) are organized historically and together offer a comprehensive view of the achievements of the mind in science, social thought, and the humanities. The "second tier" courses (numbered 251-256) deal with contemporary issues in science, social science, and the humanities. In addition to these classes, ILS also offers its own writing course, Critical Thinking and Expression (ILS 200), which sharpens analysis and composition skills.
The ILS Certificate
Integrated Liberal Studies is a certificate program. Students must complete 18 credits of ILS courses (approximately six total classes), including 6 credits in courses numbered 230 and above, one of which must be the capstone seminar (ILS 400). Upon satisfaction of these requirements, students will receive a certificate of completion: their transcripts will note they completed a program of interdisciplinary liberal studies in addition to their major(s). If you would like to work toward the ILS certificate, please stop by the ILS office in the Meiklejohn House, located at 228 N. Charter Street, and fill out the certificate declaration. Filling out the declaration does not obligate you to complete the certificate, but it does ensure notation on your transcript when you complete the requirements.
You can download and print the ILS Certificate Declaration Form here and drop it off at our office.
