Mar 28, 2024  
2021-2022 Undergraduate Catalog 
    
2021-2022 Undergraduate Catalog [ARCHIVED CATALOG]

Integrative Studies, A.A.


Location: Founders Hall 365E (Program Director), UC 210 (Advising)
Telephone: 859-572-1450 (Program Director), 859-572-5494 (Advising)
Fax: 859-572-6185
Email Address: ist@nku.edu
Web Address: http://ist.nku.edu
Program Director: Rudy Garns
Other Key Personnel:

Undergraduate Advisor: Amanda Laskowski

Thinking about the program: The Associate of Arts in Integrative Studies (AAIS) is designed for students who need a college credential that will serve for career advancement, or want to prepare for continuing toward a Baccalaureate degree. The program emphasizes a background in the liberal arts and integrative thinking.

Special graduation requirements:

  • At least six hours must be taken from NKU after declaring the program.
  • No course can be used twice in the AAIS program (except IST 185, which can fulfill both the core and gen ed requirement).
  • This degree cannot be counted as a major, minor, or focus in an NKU Baccalaureate program.
  • A minimum of 60 hours excluding developmental courses.
  • Students must earn a 2.00 GPA in the Integrative Studies core

Two-Year Plan: Click here  to view the Two-Year Plan for this specific program. To find out more about Two-Year Plans, visit the Policies and Procedures page.

Integrative Studies Core (6 credits)


Students must complete the following two courses as well as a specialization as described below. A grade of C- or higher is required for a required course to count toward the program.

Specialization (15 credits)


All students must choose 15 hours from one of the following meta-majors:

  • Natural Science and Mathematics
  • Social Science and Behavioral Science
  • Humanities
  • Arts

The courses in the specialization must be from at least two different designators within one of the meta-majors (Humanities, Natural Sciences and Mathematics, Social and Behavioral Sciences, the Arts) and include at least 6 hours at the 300-level or above.

You should also know: At least 25% of these courses must be taken at NKU. A grade of C- or higher is required for a course to count toward the program and students must have a 2. 0 or higher within the specialization group.

General Education (31 credits)


Students must complete 31+ hours of general education to comply with the KY transfer policy. This includes IST 185 , which satisfies the Individual and Society category, and courses from the following groups:

  • Communication Written I – 3 hours
  • Communication Written II – 3 hours
  • Oral – 3 hours
  • Quantitative Reasoning – 3 hours
  • Natural Science – 4 hours (include lab)
  • Cultural Pluralism – 3 hours
  • Cultural and Creativity – 6 hours
  • Global Viewpoints – 3 hours

Refer to the “General Education” section of the catalog to determine which courses satisfy these areas.

Electives (12 credits)


Students may fulfill the remaining program requirements with any 12 hours of additional electives.