Department of Interdisciplinary and Special Programs
Kim Pollauf
Assistant Dean
419-530-6237
kimberly.pollauf@utoledo.edu
The University Studies program within University College allows the student to design their own bachelor’s degree program. A degree pathway is created based upon individual academic interests and career goals.This degree option may be of interest to adult learners, college transfers or military veterans who may also earn credit for relevant volunteer, academic, work, military and/or life experiences. FIELD EXPERIENCES AND INTERNSHIPS University College degree program students have the opportunity to earn credit hours toward their degree while completing a practical experience outside the classroom. A field experience is a project-based endeavor, while an internship is meant to be an exposure to a new career field. Four credit hours can be earned in any combination of a field experience and/ or internship. This option is only available to Junior and Senior students and requires a UT GPA of 2.5. FRESHMEN ORIENTATION All new University College students who have not already completed a comparable University of Toledo orientation course are required to complete UC 1000. PASS/NO CREDIT GRADES The option of a Pass/No Credit Grade is not available to a University College Bachelor's Degree Student unless this is the only grading option for the course. However, a grade of Pass obtained while a student was enrolled in another college may be transferred to University College provided it is applicable to the student's new program.
ADMISSION TO THE DEPARTMENT OF INTERDISCIPLINARY AND SPECIAL PROGRAMS DEGREE PROGRAMS
General Studies (associate’s degree) and Liberal Studies (bachelor’s degree) accept students without college credit, but require a high school diploma or GED and a minimum high school GPA of 2.0 (if applicable). For students who have earned college credit, a minimum GPA of 2.0 is required for admission.
TRANSFERRING INTO THE DEPARTMENT OF INTERDISCIPLINARY AND SPECIAL PROGRAMS (ISP) DEGREE PROGRAMS
Students wishing to transfer into ISP degree programs must meet the minimum entrance requirements of The University of Toledo. Students wishing to transfer into any ISP baccalaureate program must have a minimum cumulative 2.0 higher education GPA (i.e., combined GPA for all coursework taken at post-secondary institutions) and a minimum 2.0 UT GPA, if applicable. The University Studies program requires completion of 20 semester-hours of college credit and a cumulative 2.0 GPA to transfer. Students who do not meet this GPA requirement can be admitted to the College’s Department of Exploratory Studies and work toward meeting the admission requirements for the degree programs. Courses from an approved institution may be used, as applicable, toward a student’s program of study. However, the maximum number of effective transferable credits is 90 semester-hours for all Baccalaureate degrees. A maximum of 81 hours at the 1000 or 2000 level can be applied to the University Studies or Liberal Studies degrees. The General Section of this catalog has information on admission and transfer.
Admission to earn a Second bachelor's Degree
A graduate of an accredited institution of higher education may apply to University College for a second bachelor’s degree. An acceptable program of study in this case entails a minimum of 30 semester hours of additional work. Any student who has earned a bachelor’s degree from University College in an Individualized Program may not earn a second degree in another Individualized Program.
The University of Toledo offers all students of exceptional academic ability the opportunity to enter a special program of academic rigor and challenge. For further details on the Honors Program, students should contact their advisor(s). Students who have demonstrated exceptional promise may be invited to participate in University College Honors. These students’ programs will be developed in close conjunction with the college honors advisor. The minimum requirements for consideration for the University College Honors Program are 20 hours of completed course work and at least a 3.3 cumulative GPA.
AL 3000 Introduction to Professional Studies
[3 credit hours]
This course will prepare students with advanced computer and information skills necessary for research specific to professional health, business, and community related disciplines.
Term Offered: Spring, Fall
AL 3500 Fundamentals of Interdisciplinary Research
[3 credit hours]
This course is designed as a foundational course for University College for all IDVP and Liberal Studies degree program students. It is the required prerequisite course for students needing to take the Senior Capstone (AL 4950 or AL 4940) courses. It is a review of the research process course designed for undergraduate students majoring in all disciplines. It emphasizes the fundamentals of conducting college-level research and the practice of writing about and properly citing that process.
AL 4940 Field Experiences and Internship
[4 credit hours]
The purpose of this class is to provide a culminating experience of self-reflection, academic research, and critical thinking as an experiential-learning capstone to your multi-disciplinary University College undergraduate degree program. The overall objective is that you design a professional portfolio that reflects this learning experience. Al 4940 is completed under the guidance of the instructor of record and it must be completed prior to graduation. Permit required.
Prerequisites: AL 3500 with a minimum grade of C
Term Offered: Spring, Summer, Fall
AL 4950 Senior Capstone
[4 credit hours]
The purpose of this class is to provide a culminating integrative experience of self-reflection, academic research, and critical thinking as a capstone to your multi-disciplinary University College undergraduate degree program. This course will result in a Senior Final Project – an Annotated Bibliography and a Multimedia Presentation of your research - in which you will learn, practice and demonstrate skills that will prove your proficiency and facility with the research process. Students will design a Capstone Project based upon research related to an area of concentration.
Prerequisites: AL 3500 with a minimum grade of C
Term Offered: Spring, Summer, Fall
ALS 1900 Intro Seminar: Adult Liberal Studies
[2 credit hours]
Introduction to liberal studies. Library use, writing of a documented paper and the development of critical thinking through classroom discussion.
ALS 3040 Topical Seminar: Social Sciences
[4 credit hours]
Focus on topics of general interest to liberal arts students with particular reference to tools, concepts and analytical methods of social scientists. Jr. Standing required and completion of Comp. II, or permission of instructor.
Prerequisites: ENGL 1130 with a minimum grade of D- or ENGL 1140 with a minimum grade of D- or ENGL 1150 with a minimum grade of D- or ENGL 1160 with a minimum grade of D- or ENGL 1170 with a minimum grade of D- or ENGL 1180 with a minimum grade of D- or ENGL 1190 with a minimum grade of D- or ENGL 2950 with a minimum grade of D- or ENGL 2960 with a minimum grade of D-
Term Offered: Spring, Summer, Fall
ALS 3050 Topical Seminar: Humanities
[4 credit hours]
Focus of general interest in humanities; writing and communication; religious, philosophical and idealogical traditions; traditional and performing arts. Jr. Standing required and completion of Comp. II, or permission of instructor.
Prerequisites: ENGL 1130 with a minimum grade of D- or ENGL 1140 with a minimum grade of D- or ENGL 1150 with a minimum grade of D- or ENGL 1160 with a minimum grade of D- or ENGL 1170 with a minimum grade of D- or ENGL 1180 with a minimum grade of D- or ENGL 1190 with a minimum grade of D- or ENGL 2950 with a minimum grade of D- or ENGL 2960 with a minimum grade of D-
Term Offered: Spring, Summer, Fall
ALS 3060 Topical Seminar: Natural Sciences
[4 credit hours]
Topics of general interest that consider scientific problem solving in such areas as biology, chemistry, geology, astronomy, physics, mathematics and statistics. Jr. Standing required and completion of Comp. II, or permission of instructor.
Prerequisites: ENGL 1130 with a minimum grade of D- or ENGL 1140 with a minimum grade of D- or ENGL 1150 with a minimum grade of D- or ENGL 1160 with a minimum grade of D- or ENGL 1170 with a minimum grade of D- or ENGL 1180 with a minimum grade of D- or ENGL 1190 with a minimum grade of D- or ENGL 2950 with a minimum grade of D- or ENGL 2960 with a minimum grade of D-
Term Offered: Spring, Summer, Fall
UC 1000 Orientation
[1 credit hour]
An orientation to college for incoming first year students in the Gateway Program. It is designed to equip students with tools for academic success.
Term Offered: Spring, Fall
UC 1110 Creative Problem Solving
[2 credit hours]
This course assists students in developing problem solving skills through critical thinking, simulated situations and other activities desgined to engage and challenge problem solving capabilities.
UC 1120 Career And Self-Evaluation
[2 credit hours]
This course offers an opportunity to explore two important considerations in choosing a career: (1) career opportunities and requirements, (2) individual interests, abilities, skills, needs, values and goals. Students will have opportunities to develop a resume, complete career and interest assessments, investigate a variety of majors at UT and create a personalized career action plan.
Term Offered: Spring, Summer, Fall
UC 1130 Information Literacy for College Research
[3 credit hours]
This course will provide information literacy skills specific to accessing sources and materials appropriate for university level research. Students will acquire a broader knowledge of library services and resources. Additionally, students will learn to apply research logic in order to utilize library catalogs, electronic databases, the World Wide Web, and print resources. By building experiential knowledge, students will gain an understanding of information creation, dissemination, and applications through utilizing various research strategies and scholarly communication.
Core Arts & Humanities
UC 1140 Introduction to Learning Technologies
[1 credit hour]
This course prepares students with the computer and media literacy skills necessary for successful online learning. Students will acquire greater knowledge of the academic technologies utilized by the University, including email, Blackboard, virtual labs, online library resources, Web 2.00 tools, and the role of copyright and accessibility standards with respect to these technologies.
UC 1150 Orientation: Strategies for College Success
[3 credit hours]
Acquaints students with the services, policies, procedures and layout of the University, along with relevant study skills and student learning services available campus-wide. Required of all pre-major students; optional for others.
UC 1200 Applications of Thinking Critically
[3 credit hours]
Introduces students to critical thinking and fosters intellectual abilities. The course is designed for first year students who earned below a 2.0 their first or second semester and for transfer or adult students entering college with less than a 2.00 GPA.
UC 1940 Learning Through Service
[2 credit hours]
Students will be involved four hours a week in various community service projects and analyze and reflect on their experiences through journals, discussion and a final paper in a weekly seminar (local, domestic and International).
UC 2980 Special Topics
[1-4 credit hours]
Special Topics is an opportunity to create and pilot potential courses at a 2000 level.
Term Offered: Spring, Summer, Fall
UC 4980 Special Topics
[1-4 credit hours]
Topics of interest to University College students offered by various instructors. Open to any University College student.