Individualized Program Bachelor of Science Degree

With RIT’s rich and diverse academic portfolio—which includes 100+ undergraduate programs, options, and concentrations—you can combine a variety of courses to create concentrations that provide you with the skills and knowledge you need to attain your professional ambitions.

What is Individualized Study?

An individualized studies degree is all about you. It’s focused on your interests, your passions, and your career goals. And, it’s an opportunity for you to create a specialized degree that’s tailored around the knowledge and skills you want to learn, and that fit your personal ambitions.

Students in the School of Individualized Study are unique. But they all share one common trait: their interests don’t fit neatly into a traditional degree program. They have ideas about what they want to study, and where they want to go after they graduate. They need a roadmap on how to structure a degree program that gets them where they want to go.

Creating Your Own Major
It sounds complicated. In reality, it’s an easy, guided experience that helps you identify your interests, determine your career goals, develop an academic plan of study, select the right courses, and put a plan in motion. You’ll design a customized degree that fits what you want to do and where you want to go. 

How Does Individualized Study Work?
You’ll start out by meeting with one of the academic advisors in the School of Individualized Study, who will spend time learning about you. They’ll talk to you about areas of study that you like and don’t like, and listen as you share your career goals and aspirations. Next, they’ll talk to you about course selection and help you identify what classes you need to take to gain the skills you’re looking to acquire. Our advisors will connect you to faculty members so you can learn about exciting career options. As we work together to map out an individualized studies bachelor’s degree, your advisors will help develop concentrations and guide you on adding experiences that will expand your knowledge, including co-ops and internships, research opportunities, study abroad, and more. These will round out your education and provide engaging experiences beyond the classroom. And, as your interests change, or expand into new areas, advisors will work with you to adjust your plan of study to accommodate your evolving goals.

RIT’s Individualized Studies Major is All About High-Touch, Hands-On Advising  

When you enroll in RIT’s bachelor’s of individualized studies, we want to get to know you and your interests, your career goals, and what you want out of your education. This will allow us to help you craft an educational journey that’s personalized to your goals. Our advising process is continual, high-touch, and customized to meet your specific needs. We’ll help you:

• Design an individualized studies major comprised of hand-picked courses from RIT’s dynamic academic portfolio
• Arrange introductions with RIT’s faculty, staff, and alumni, Rochester community partners, and beyond
• Mentor you on your academic path
• Connect you to university resources
• Support you through program completion

Furthering Your Education: An Individualized Study Major Opens Doors

RIT/Syracuse University College of Law 3+3 Option: RIT has partnered with Syracuse University’s College of Law to offer an accelerated 3+3 BS/JD option for highly qualified students, providing a fast-track pathway to law school where you can earn a bachelor’s degree and a Juris Doctorate in six years. Successful applicants may be offered admission into the individualized study major and given conditional acceptance into Syracuse University College of Law. Learn more about the RIT/Syracuse University College of Law 3+3 Option.

Combined Accelerated Bachelor’s/Master’s Degrees: RIT offers Combined Accelerated Bachelor’s/Master’s Degrees that enable you to earn both a bachelor’s and a master’s degree in as little as five years, giving you a competitive advantage.

• +1 MBA Early Acceptance Pathway: Successful RIT applicants who are offered admission into the bachelor’s of individualized studies as an incoming first-year student may also be offered conditional early acceptance into the +1 MBA Early Acceptance Pathway. This option enables you to earn both your BS degree and an MBA in as little as five years of study. Learn how the +1 MBA Early Acceptance Pathway adds a competitive advantage to your studies.
• +1 MBA: Students who enroll in a qualifying undergraduate degree have the opportunity to add an MBA to their bachelor’s degree after their first year of study, depending on their program. Learn how the +1 MBA can accelerate your learning and position you for success.