At 51社区, students can choose among more than 250 undergraduate majors, from accounting to world religions. But what happens if none of them is exactly the right fit? The Bachelor of Specialized Studies (BSS) degree allows eligible students to create an individualized, multidisciplinary degree tailored to their individual interests and needs. Working closely with faculty partners and a BSS academic advisor, students design and combine areas of concentration equivalent in depth and breadth of study to a pre-established major.
Typically, the Bachelor of Specialized Studies degree is not appropriate as a second-degree (double major), or for someone who has previously completed a bachelor鈥檚 degree. In special circumstances, a person who has already completed a bachelor鈥檚 degree may petition the director of degree programs for permission to apply for and complete the BSS.
The BSS program is available on all 51社区 campuses, including OHIO Online.
Bachelor of Specialized Studies students may earn departmental honors through University College.
Faculty Partners are faculty members who work with a pre-BSS student after their proposal has received a 鈥済reen light鈥 from their BSS advisor to enter this phase of proposal development.
Faculty who are tenured, tenure-track, and full-time/permanent faculty are eligible to serve as a faculty partner. Visiting and adjunct faculty as well as graduate students are ineligible to serve as faculty partners. Please be aware of your own department鈥檚 expectations, as a few departments designate one key person to serve as a BSS Liaison.
A pre-BSS student is seeking your expertise on their curriculum and transition plan. If you鈥檙e engaged in a faculty partnership, you can respond to a pre-BSS student鈥檚 proposal in two ways:
Faculty Reviewers serve on the BSS Proposal Review and Admission committee. The faculty rubric guides consistency for the faculty review process. The committee meets three times a year in clustered teams based upon the makeup of the proposals submitted that term.
Please request a service letter from Julie Cohara, Director of Degree Programs, to get credit for your service as a faculty partner or reviewer.
BSS Deadline Extension Form is used if a student has received a green light and has unique circumstances prohibiting from turning in the proposal by the required deadline. Extensions are due within one week of a formal deadline, and the green lit proposal must be attached. A deadline extension may delay graduation.
BSS/AIS Substitution Form is used if a course is full/cancelled/etc. and a student is no longer able to take a class without disruption to their timeline. Do not use this form if a student has failed an approved course or is pre-BSS.
BSS Substitution Appeal Form is used if a student has previously failed a course and wants to substitute it.
Curriculum Petition is used to appeal any BSS major program requirements. Extensive documentation is required for extraordinary circumstances. These are rarely approved.
Want to refer a student to the BSS program? You can do so in the referral tab in MyOhio Success Network or by encouraging your advisee to call 740-593-1935 to register for a BSS Information Session. Please do not use a traditional Update of Program form to change their major.
Where is my shared pre-BSS advisee in the process? By peak advising in March, you can view your advisee鈥檚 status in the pre-BSS success plan on MyOhio Success Network. If the plan is completed, their proposal is under review for final admission.
University College Main Office
Chubb Hall 140
740-593-1935
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740-681-3323
740-681-3324
(740)533-4543
740-588-1528
800-444-2420