Bachelor of University Studies
Undergraduate Studies
Bennion
Center
Capstones
Program
Hinckley
Institute
Learning Abroad
Office of
Undergraduate Research
Courses
Getting Started
- Enroll in Gen Eds that spark curiosity
- Research interdisciplinary majors at other institutions
- Once you have an idea for your major, meet with BUS advisor
Making Progress
- Stay on track of GEs & degree requirements
- Identify faculty with relevant research interests & take classes with them
- Reflect on themes your classes have in common
- Use upper division courses to focus your interests
- Draft a degree narrative & course plan (see examples)
- Select a faculty advisor - work with them to finalize & submit proposal
- Begin crafting your capstone project/thesis
Finishing Up
- Enroll in an Independent Study with your faculty advisor
- Complete your capstone thesis/project
- Consider taking a leadership course
- Apply for graduation by registrar's deadline
Community
Getting Started
- Attend the Get Involved Fair to explore student clubs/organizations on campus
- Join a learning community like LEAP or Diversity Scholars
- Consider applying to the Honors College
Making Progress
- Engage with a range of student groups or organize a group of your own
- Find a job on campus
- Organize study groups with your peers
- Get involved with ASUU
- Join the Student Innovation Council (SInC)
- Become a peer mentor for LEAP or the Academic Advising Center
- Apply to be an orientation leader or university ambassador
- Explore ways to get involved within your faculty advisor's college/dept.
Finishing Up
- Join pre-professional organizations in your interest area(s)
- Take on a leadership role in a student group
- Get involved with the Alumni Association and Forever Utah
Knowledge & Skills
Getting Started
- Look into faculty research that interests you
- Utilize academic support resources in the Learning Center, Math Center, & Writing Center
- Meet with a pre-professional advisor
Making Progress
- Attend office hours & get to know your professors
- Engage in undergraduate research - connect with OUR & learn about programs like UROP & SPUR
- Attend or present at the Undergraduate Research Symposium
- Explore for-credit internships with the Hinckley Institute
Develop your program of study
- Think about upper-division courses you want to take & how to sequence courses to focus your knowledge
- Consider your post-graduation goals
Finishing Up
- Complete your senior capstone & consider ways to share your work
- Take test prep courses for grad school admissions (GRE, GMAT, LSAT, etc.)
- Attend a grant-writing workshop
Transformation
Getting Started
- Meet with an advisor or Student Success Coach to discuss goal-setting for your time in college
- Complete Learning Abroad 101
- Use ArtsPass to attend events
Making Progress
- Go on a learning abroad trip
- Check out the Lassonde+X entrepreneurship program
- Engage in undergraduate research and/or internship experiences
- Attend campus events like Hinckley Forums & Frontiers of Science lectures (browse the U calendar for more)
- Talk to your faculty advisor about opportunities within their college/dept.
- Attend a workshop in the Financial Wellness Center
Finishing Up
Consider expanding on your capstone:
- Seek funding/grants to develop a business venture or launch a company
- Develop further research and/or explore graduate programs
Participate in graduation events
Impact
Getting Started
- Engage in service opportunities with the Bennion Center
- Connect with programs like Connect2Health, Huntsman Cancer Institute, Lassonde Institute, & University Neighborhood Partners
Making Progress
- Consider becoming a tutor, TA, or LA
- Apply to go on an Alternative Breaks trip with the Bennion Center
- Take a CEL course
- Contribute to a project in the Sorenson Impact Center
- Talk to your faculty advisor about outreach opportunities in their dept/college
- Participate in a workshop or training in the Center for Student Wellness
- Explore resources & services in the Counseling Center
Finishing Up
- Apply to be a student leader for an Alternative Breaks trip
- Present research at a local, national, or global conference
- Check out opportunities with the PIVOT Center
Careers
Getting Started
Making Progress
- Create a LinkedIn profile
- Attend a career fair or expo to network & find internships
- Update your resume and cover letter regularly to reflect your skills & experiences
- Talk with your faculty advisor about your interests and goals after graduation
- Conduct informational interviews or job shadow with alumni & professionals in your field of interest
Finishing Up
- Meet with a career coach to refine your resume, do a mock interview, & create a job-search plan
- Participate in career fairs & expos
- Apply for jobs or graduate programs
Start Your Career Journey
Find support at the Career and Professional Development Center (CPDC)
About the Major
If you are someone who is highly motivated, self-directing, and drawn toward interdisciplinary studies, consider the Bachelor of University Studies (BUS) program at the University of Utah. The BUS program offers you the flexibility to explore your interests, take courses across a range of fields, and ultimately create an individualized major in an area not otherwise available at the U. You will design, propose, and complete your degree with guidance from the BUS program director and under the supervision of a tenure-track professor who serves as your faculty advisor. Working with your faculty advisor, you develop a program of study for your chosen major area and propose a course plan that is interdisciplinary, thematically-focused, and academically rigorous. Examples of majors completed by previous BUS students include Artificial Intelligence, Biomedical Illustration, Catholic Studies, Nutritional Science, Queer Spatial Process Studies, and more. You also complete a senior capstone project, which can be presented as a traditional thesis or take other forms like a visual work of art or computer program. Creating your own degree pathway in the BUS program means you can engage in academic and co-curricular experiences that directly prepare you for future careers and/or graduate programs in your chosen field. With 18 colleges housing over 100 academic departments, the University of Utah offers a wide range of disciplines and courses for you to choose from to customize that perfect degree for you!
Learning Outcomes
- Articulate how different fields of study come together into a coherent, rigorous, academic pathway
- Identify relevant coursework across the institution & demonstrate how proposed course plan represents an integrative curriculum
- Demonstrate how your academic pathway is tailored in preparation for future academic and/or career aspirations
- Synthesize ideas and skills acquired from across your program of study, as demonstrated through a final capstone/thesis project
Plan & Prepare
At the U, we plan for our students to have an exceptional Educational Experience identified by four broad categories we call the Learning Framework: Community, Knowledge & Skills, Transformation, and Impact. This major map will help you envision, explore, design, and plan your personalized Exceptional Education Experience with the Learning Framework at the core. In addition to assisting you in planning your coursework and navigating the requirements of your major, this map will help you incorporate other kinds of experiences to expand your knowledge, support your development, and prepare you for the future you want.