Customize Your Degree

Undergraduate students seeking specific learning interests not satisfied through other academic departments may create an individualized program of study that is both challenging and rewarding. This program is offered both on campus and fully online depending on a students coordinated study. Students choosing to create an individualized program of study should be prepared to:

Propose a program of study totally different from any other undergraduate degree offered by the University of Memphis
Choose upper-division courses from at least two separate and distinct academic disciplines (e.g. Communications and Political Science; Education and Sociology, etc.)
Determine how the proposed program of study will aid in achieving academic and career goals

CPLS offers two options to writing your own degree: Professional Studies or Liberal Studies major and the Interdisciplinary Studies major. (The Interdisciplinary Studies major is part of the TN eCampus online degree program.)

	Bachelor of Liberal Studies (B.L.S.) Bachelor of Professional Studies (B.P.S.)	Bachelor of Liberal Studies (B.L.S.)
Major	Professional Studies or Liberal Studies	Interdisciplinary Studies
Minimum GPA for Admission	2.0	None
Minimum GPA to graduate	2.0 required overall and for University of Memphis courses 2.0 GPA is also required for 33 upper-division credits in Coordinated Study	2.0 required overall and for University of Memphis courses 2.0 GPA is also required for 24 upper-division credits that make both Emphasis #1 and Emphasis #2 in the Coordinated Study
How the program is listed on the transcript	With Concentration In: (student selects title of the program).	Listed on the transcript. (i.e., Cultural Studies and Communications Studies)
Program Structure	The Coordinated Study is comprised of 33-credit hours (11-courses) selected by the student from two or more emphasis areas. Each emphasis area must have a minimum of 12-credit hours. No more than 21-credit hours may come from any single academic department or subject. All courses in the coordinated study must be upper-division (3000/4000 level). Each student completes a baccalaureate contract under the guidance of an academic advisor. This contract serves as a working agreement between the student and the College of Professional & Liberal Studies. Other requirements: No “D” grades can be used in the major 6-credits in Thematic Studies courses 3-credits as Senior Project capstone course 120-credits total required with at least 42 as upper-division level (9-credits hours in Coordinated Study must be from UofM) All alternative credits (ELC, CLEP, DSST) must be posted to your University of Memphis transcript before the start of final semester	The Coordinated Study is comprised of 36-credit hours (12-courses) selected by the student from two or more emphasis areas. Each emphasis area must have a minimum of 12-credit hours. No more than 21-credit hours may come from any single academic department or subject. All courses in the coordinated study must be upper-division (3000/4000 level). Each student completes a baccalaureate contract under the guidance of an academic advisor. This contract serves as a working agreement between the student and the College of Professional & Liberal Studies. Other requirements: 6-credits in Thematic Studies courses 3-credits as Senior Project capstone course 120-credits total required with at least 45 as upper-division level (9-credits hours in Coordinated Study must be from UofM) All alternative credits (ELC, CLEP, DSST) must be posted to your University of Memphis transcript before the start of final semester
Review/Approval Process	CPLS students must submit a Baccalaureate Contract by the deadline specified to have an approved degree program. (Degree review can take up to 8-10 weeks) Contract Submission Deadlines: Summer Graduation - March 15th \| Fall Graduation - June 15th \| Spring Graduation - October 15th Graduation date may be moved to the next term for contracts submitted AFTER the posted deadline.
Start a Contract	Sample Professional Studies or Liberal Studies Contract Start a Contract Note: Form can not be save through web link. Download and save to your desktop to complete the form. Review additional submission instructions on final page. Please note: This program DOES NOT lead to teacher licensure. Students interested in pursuing a teaching license should contact the College of Education at 901-678-2377.