Take an active role in designing your education with courses from a variety of disciplines. Study entirely online, or through a blend of online and on-campus learning.
Choose from a variety of professional communication, environmental practice, justice studies, and business courses and residencies.
Build the knowledge and skills to lead teams across sectors and make a difference in the areas that matter most to you.
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Design a program tailored to your goals
The Bachelor of Arts in Interdisciplinary Studies is a customizable program that allows you to study entirely online, or through a blend of online and on-campus courses.
You determine your focus and we'll help you build a program tailored to your academic and career goals — and schedule.
Choose from a combination of approved professional communication, environmental practice, justice studies, or business courses and residencies at Royal Roads. And complement your studies with courses from other post-secondary institutions or an internship.
The program offers foundation courses and opportunities to focus on a particular area of academic interest. Your final capstone research paper or project will allow you to apply your studies to engage deeply with a challenge that interests you.
View the program guide for more information and frequently asked questions.
Program outcomes
Graduates of this program will develop skills in the following areas:
- interpersonal, intercultural and public communication
- research, analysis and problem-solving
- personal and team leadership
- critical thinking and the ability to use values and ethics to develop solutions
- understanding local and global interdependencies
Your course choices will form the context of your learning. You'll be able to build and lead effective teams across sectors, to make a difference in areas that matter to you.
Personalize your studies
Complete this program entirely online, or through a blend of online courses and on-campus residencies.
Your online learning experience
Online courses consist of assigned readings, synchronous or asynchronous lectures, interactive discussions, and individual and team assignments.
You’re expected to meet deadlines and contribute meaningfully to your class. Your contributions are a big part of everyone’s learning.
Normally, you’ll take one or two online courses at a time. Each online course requires approximately 20 hours of work per week.
Optional residency
You have the option of completing on-campus residencies as part of your degree.
Residencies last for two or three weeks and are intensive and immersive. Many students say this time together is the highlight of their program.
During your residency, you can expect to:
- attend classes full time (e.g., Monday to Friday from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.)
- complete homework and individual and team assignments outside of class hours
- take part in extracurricular activities
Course structure
This is a 60-credit program. There are five mandatory courses, including the foundation and capstone courses. The rest of your studies will be comprised of electives of your choice.
Your studies are divided into three parts:
- Required courses
- Academic focus area
- Professional focus area with an independent study and capstone research program or paper
Detailed course summary
1. Required courses
You'll begin the program with three courses to introduce you to the learning community, help you understand learning outcomes for the program, and guide you to establish your academic and career goals. These courses include the following:
- Writing Across Disciplines
- Introduction to Interdisciplinary Studies
- Global Perspectives on Indigenous Ways of Knowing
2. Courses in your academic focus area
After completing the foundational courses, you'll take courses in your academic area of focus. You can choose from courses online or on campus.
There are four ways of taking courses:
- Choose from a list of approved online courses at Royal Roads University in the areas of interdisciplinary studies, business, professional communication, environmental practice and science or justice studies.
- Complete a Professional Communication or Justice Studies residency on campus. All courses within a specific residency are mandatory and must be taken together.
- Take up to 12 approved credits that complement your program from another post-secondary institution. You'll need approval from the program head prior to taking any external courses.
- Complete an optional 6-credit internship, if this fits for your professional life. We can support you to find your own placement.
3. Courses in your professional focus area
Once you have completed all of your coursework, you'll finish with a 3-credit independent study and a 6-credit (200-hour) capstone senior research paper or project.
The independent study and final project are designed so you can demonstrate your applied research skills and understanding of research ethics and methods.
For your capstone project you can engage in primary or secondary research. You'll be paired with a faculty member who has expertise in your area of focus. This faculty member will supervise your independent study and research paper or project.
Pathways into the BA in Interdisciplinary Studies program
You can start your journey toward a Bachelor of Arts in Interdisciplinary Studies in more than one way. Whether you’re coming straight from high school or already have post-secondary or work experience, there’s a pathway that fits your background and goals.
Option 1: Start with an RRU undergraduate diploma
For students coming from high school.
If you’re just beginning your university studies, start by building your foundation through one of Royal Roads’ two-year undergraduate diplomas. These programs include hands-on learning and practical experience that can lead directly into the program once you meet admissions requirements.
Option 2: Enter directly into the BAIS program
For students with prior post-secondary or work experience.
If you’ve already completed university credits, a college diploma, or have relevant work experience, you may qualify to enter the program directly.
Our flexible admissions process considers your academic background, work experience, and life learning—not just your grades.
Want to chat about your options?
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Standard admission
Diploma (or 60 credits) in arts and sciences fields of study, including a minimum of 24 second-year credits, with a minimum GPA of 'B' (3.00/4.33), from a recognized post-secondary institution.
Flexible admission
While 60 credits in arts and sciences fields of study are recommended, applicants may be assessed for admission on the basis of their skills, knowledge and background developed outside traditional learning structures. Flexible admission applicants would normally have 3 to 5 years of professional experience in a related area and be able to demonstrate the competencies expected of a graduate with a two-year degree in the arts and sciences.
English language proficiency
If English is not your primary language, please review our English language requirements.
Additional recommendations for admission
Ideal candidates are self-directed and highly motivated and possess strong communication skills. BAIS students move between cohorts, groups of students, and post-secondary institutions and need to be comfortable with completing an individualized program, integrating into student teams in different programs, and navigating enrolment and registration at more than one institution.
Application requirements
Before your file can be assessed for admission, the following information & supporting documents are required for entry to third year.
Application form
In order to apply online, you will be required to create a log-in account using your email address. You will be required to list all credit courses and/or programs you have completed or are currently enrolled in. An application fee will be required. If your application fees are being paid by a third party, review sponsored student information. Once submitted, you may check the status of your application at any time.
Missed your application deadline? While we can’t make any guarantees, we may be able to accommodate late applications if there's still space and enough time to process. If you're interested in an intake that is now closed to applications, apply for the next available intake and email Admissions with your preferred start date. Make sure you’re prepared to submit your program's required documents right away. We can't make an admissions decision without them.
Official transcripts
Applicants are responsible for arranging for the submission of official transcripts from ALL post-secondary (higher education) institutions currently or previously attended, for all credit courses and/or programs. Transcripts are not required for non-credit programs or courses, though some programs may require proof of professional certifications or designations.
Transcripts are considered official only if submitted directly by the Registrar or other recognized authority of the providing institution in the institution's original, sealed envelope. If the envelope has been opened, the transcripts are no longer official and new (official) transcripts will be required to complete your application.
All international transcripts or credentials are subject to an international transcript and/or credential evaluation.
Proposed program schedule
Applicants must work directly with the College of Interdisciplinary Studies to design a program schedule that includes courses to be taken as part of the program. The development time for an individualized program schedule can vary, however, applicants can expect it will take approximately one month. An application is not considered complete and will not be assessed until it contains a program schedule endorsed by the applicant and the College of Interdisciplinary Studies. Applicants will need to submit their endorsed program schedule as part of their application.
Additional requirements for flexible admission
For applicants who will be reviewed under the flexible admission process the following additional supporting documents will be required:
Personal Statement
A two-page personal statement that speaks to your educational and career goals and the role the degree would play in your professional development.
Letter of reference
One letter of reference is required from a current or past employer, or those who have known you in an academic or volunteer setting. Although personal references are considered as part of the application, an emphasis is placed on professional and academic references.
- Professional reference: This letter should attest to your current or previous performance in your professional life. The letter can address areas such as communication skills, interpersonal and leadership skills, management potential, work ethic, etc.
- Personal character reference: A personal character reference should consist of a letter from someone who has known the applicant for several years such as a friend, coach, employer, etc. The writer must indicate the length of time and context in which they have known the applicant and consider the following attributes in the letter: compassion; empathy; integrity; equal concern and respect for others; initiative; adaptability; maturity; responsibility; continuity and perseverance.
- Academic reference: This letter should attest to the applicant’s performance in the context of their current or previous studies. The letter can address such areas as academic achievement, study skills, teamwork, leadership potential, human relations, flexibility, communication, and technical skills.
Structured résumé
- Post-secondary education: List all post-secondary education, degrees, diplomas, and certificates you have achieved.
- Work experience: Please include name of organization, position, length of service (month and year), and a brief description of duties.
- Training and professional development: List career related training and professional development programs completed with the past five years. Include the source of training, and the duration and year completed. List other training and personal development programs not already identified.
- Voluntary/unpaid work experience: List and describe any voluntary/unpaid post-secondary employment and/or community service experience. Please include name of organization, length of service and a brief description of duties.
- Professional memberships/affiliations: List memberships and positions you hold/have held in professional associations, service clubs, community/volunteer sector.
- Other relevant information: Provide any other information which you believe is relevant to your application and will be of assistance to the review committee.
Please contact the College of Interdisciplinary Studies for more information.
If applicable
- Applicants declaring permanent resident or Convention Refugee status in Canada, must submit a copy of their Permanent Resident Card (PR card) along with their application.
- Transcript evaluation fee or credential evaluation report, if submitting international transcripts.
- An official English language proficiency score report or other evidence of proficiency if English is not your primary language.
- Other information or documents as may be requested to determine your eligibility.
For information on how and where to send your supporting documents, please refer to the document submission guidelines.
