Navigating Your College Degree

Choosing Integrative Studies

Is the Associate of Arts in Integrative Studies the right degree for you? Integrative Studies programs attract students who

• have a variety of interests, that won’t be satisfied focusing a single major,

• want to develop a broad skill set that will prepare them for a number of alternatives,

• like to think about big problems or issues from different perspectives,

• have career goals are still open or not fixed by a single disciplinary or professional program of study.

Who are these students?

• Someone looking for job advancement or entry into a new job that requires only the Associate of Arts degree. The AAIS degree requires only 61 credit hours and often can be achieved in two years.

• Someone who wants to start as college career at NKU but plans to continue in a Bachelor's program at NKU or to transfer to another school later. The AAIS degree does require the basic general education classes that will transfer to any public institution in Kentucky (an in some cases to schools in Indiana and Ohio). Be aware, however, that some schools might require more general education. If you work carefully with an advisor and plan your AAIS degree path appropriately, what you transfer can be a good foundation for future work in a Bachelor's program. If you plan to continue in the BA in Integrative Studies, your IST 185 and IST 397 will both count. If you plan to stay at NKU and pursue another major, you can design an AAIS program that will give you a head start on your chosen field.

If you are not sure whether Integrative Studies is right for you, talk with one of our advisors.

Declaring a Major

• You can declare your degree program in myNKU. An advisor will be in contact with you to take you the rest of the way.

• Begin developing rapport with your integrative studies advisor. Share your interests, your goals, and your questions.

• Familiarize yourself with the IST Student Handbook. Look over the University Catalog for your entering year to see what information is available and where to find it. The NKU Student Handbook also contains some useful information. Review it to see what is there.

• Explore the catalog to discover focus areas or minors you may wish to pursue, or to identify specific courses you want to include in your degree plan. Work with your advisor to understand what credits you might have already earned that will apply.

Planning a Path to Graduation

• What is your goal for attaining the AAIS degree? Look ahead to think about what courses might help you with your requirements, serve your plans, and meet your interests. Your advisor will be helpful in thinking through a long term plan.

Managing Your Program

• Take IST 185 Introduction to Integrative Studies as soon as you can and create your ePortfolio. You should take IST 185 Introduction to Integrative Studies before you take IST 397 Intellectual Inquiry, which as a capstone should be taken in your last semester.

• At the end of every semester add reflections and artifacts to your ePortfolio. Choose your best work, the experience that had the most impact on you, or a particularly meaningful activity or project. Include a short reflection on the value and impact of the artifact on your progress in college. Adding one artifact and reflection each semester is fine.

• Once you have created your ePortfolio, participate in the IST ePortfolio Showcase every semester.

• Check in or meet with your advisor every semester to review your progress. You'll want to enroll for the courses in your next semester early so you are not closed out from the courses you want. Make sure the classes you are taking serve your purposes and you are meeting graduation requirements. Talk about opportunities and resources at the university outside of your classes.

• Stay abreast of what's happening in our program through social media. We are @nkuist on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram. We are also on LinkedIN.

Managing Your Courses

• Make yourself familiar with the flow of the academic calendar and stay abreast of important deadlines. Mark you own calendar in advance.

• Check your midterms grades. If you are not earning the grade you want, work with your instructor to find out how you can improve. If you don't think you can pass a class, sometimes dropping the course with a grade of "W" is the best option.

• Consider utilizing PLUS tutoring (writing center support, tutoring)

• Complete course evaluations before the end of each semester. If you are late or don't opt out, your grade report will be delayed.

• Use the Steely Library resources and services, like interlibrary loan and the textbook affordability program. Librarians are a great resource for thinking about starting a research project.

• Look ahead to see what courses you are most interested in and when they are usually offered. Take the pre-requisite courses early.

• Seek out-of-classroom contact with at least one professor in your areas of study to begin building connections/establishing informal mentorship. You will likely need letters of reference if you apply for jobs or for admission to a graduate program. A professor who knows you and your work will be someone you can ask to write such a letter.

• Join a club or participate in a program activity related to one or more of your areas of study.

• Begin to understand your personal learning style and develop executive functioning approaches that work best for YOUR needs.

• Consider how to tie your current coursework and class projects into your current employment, if applicable. You might be able to earn credit for prior learning (through a job, the military)

Managing Your College Experience

• Get involved. Be engaged in campus life beyond the classroom. Join a student organization. Attend athletic, cultural, and arts events. Join a Sorority or Fraternity. Look for leadership opportunities like the Presidential Ambassadors and the Norse Leadership Society.

• Consider a study abroad experience. This might be a course offered over spring bread, the winter session, or a few weeks over the summer.

• Look for Service Learning classes and opportunities. Earn credit while working in the community.

• Consider taking a campus job. Work for the writing center or become a tutor or peer mentor. Even volunteered service appears on your resume and can be impressive to prospective employers.

• Investigate internship and coop opportunities.

• Keep track of your mental health. Challenges in college, your personal life, and work can add up to stress and subsequent health issues. NKU has a Health, Counseling and Student Wellness office that knows how to help.

• Consider starting a resume and begin envisioning what you want that resume to look like when you graduate. Explore career opportunities via Career Services and identify the credentials/content that will prepare you to pursue your passion.

Preparing for Graduation

• Enroll in IST 397 Interdisciplinary Inquiry in your last semester. Work on your capstone project and finalize your ePortfolio.

• Polish your resume and create a LinkedIn profile.

• Consider going on for a Bachelor's degree. If that is your intention, start investigating and begin the application process.

• Attend job fairs, conduct mock interviews with Career Services. Sign up for Handshake in Career Services to find job opportunities.

• Contact professors for letters of recommendation if you need them.

Graduating

• Apply for graduation. The fee will increase with penalties if you miss the deadlines.

• Obtain your cap & gown (October/March) if participating in the ceremony.

• Complete the senior survey from NKU and the program exit surveys from Integrative Studies.

Life as an NKU Alum

• Keep in touch with the Integrative Studies program through social media. We are @nkuist on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram. We are also on LinkedIN. Share your successes! Network with others.

• Return to campus occasionally to participate in public events like lectures, sports events, a speaker series, a theater production, an art show, or a musical event. Use the Recreation Center.