A new way to build a degree: Miami launches bachelor of philosophy in Individualized Studies
'Western students don’t just cross a bridge from college to career. They build that bridge'
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Published
Peabody Hall, the home of the Individualized Studies Western Program
A new way to build a degree: Miami launches bachelor of philosophy in Individualized Studies
'Western students don’t just cross a bridge from college to career. They build that bridge'
•
Published
From climate change to AI, today’s challenges are too complex to be solved within the boundaries of a single discipline. They require new kinds of critical and independent thinkers. Those who can bridge fields, adapt quickly and approach problems from multiple perspectives.
Connecting ideas in innovative and adventurous ways that reflect the demands of today’s workforce is exactly what Miami University’s Western Program in Individualized Studies is designed to do.
This fall, the program will introduce a new Bachelor of Philosophy (B.Phil.) in Individualized Studies, which will further expand opportunities for students to design their own interdisciplinary degree program.
Recently approved by the Ohio Department of Higher Education, the new degree builds on the existing Bachelor of Arts (BA) in Individualized Studies while offering an even more flexible option for students interested in creating academic pathways that span the humanities, sciences, arts, and social sciences.
Despite its name, the Bachelor of Philosophy is not a traditional philosophy degree.
Rather, it is a distinct designation that reflects a more self-directed, inquiry-driven approach to learning and sets it apart from the existing BA, which follows a more traditional liberal arts structure.
“Many of the students we attract have very particular interests that are not fully fulfilled by a specific degree program,” said Andrew Busch, director of the Western Program in Individualized Studies. “They want to do a research project that doesn't quite exist elsewhere, and we have a history of being a forerunner to new programs.
“It also makes a great additive degree that separates students from others in their major—by providing them an opportunity to address complex, real world problems via a highly interdisciplinary original research project that combines perspectives from several disciplines—which makes them more competitive.”
While the new Bachelor of Philosophy offers greater flexibility, both individualized degree options still maintain the same level of academic rigor.
Each is grounded in a shared interdisciplinary core that includes 19 credit hours of coursework. Students then shape the individualized portion of the major in close collaboration with faculty and staff advisors by selecting courses from across the university, which can also include study abroad, independent study and internship experiences.
“Western's distinctive flavor, the passion and enthusiasm of its students, and their unique problem-solving spirit make the Western Program one of Miami's greatest hidden gems,” said Renée Baernstein, dean of the College of Arts and Science. “Whether completing a BA or a B.Phil., majors in Individualized Studies bring creativity and analytical skills to the world. We are all better off for their presence.”
Individualized Studies BA graduates have gone on to careers in law, medicine, government and public service, including roles as advisors to presidents and ambassadors. Others have pursued careers in business, environmental work and education, and often use their interdisciplinary background as a competitive advantage by leveraging independent inquiry, creativity and the ability to connect ideas across fields.
The Bachelor of Philosophy in Individualized Studies degree will be available beginning in fall 2026.
And as a new addition being offered alongside the existing BA, it serves as a natural extension of the program’s strengths, while building on the foundation of the Western tradition by continuing to emphasize the critical importance of independent inquiry and adventurous interdisciplinary thinking.
“Western students don’t just cross a bridge from college to career. They build that bridge,” Busch said. “And along the way, they develop a toolbox they’ll use for the rest of their lives.”
Connecting ideas in innovative and adventurous ways that reflect the demands of today’s workforce is exactly what Miami University’s Western Program in Individualized Studies is designed to do.
This fall, the program will introduce a new Bachelor of Philosophy (B.Phil.) in Individualized Studies, which will further expand opportunities for students to design their own interdisciplinary degree program.
Recently approved by the Ohio Department of Higher Education, the new degree builds on the existing Bachelor of Arts (BA) in Individualized Studies while offering an even more flexible option for students interested in creating academic pathways that span the humanities, sciences, arts, and social sciences.
Despite its name, the Bachelor of Philosophy is not a traditional philosophy degree.
Rather, it is a distinct designation that reflects a more self-directed, inquiry-driven approach to learning and sets it apart from the existing BA, which follows a more traditional liberal arts structure.
“Many of the students we attract have very particular interests that are not fully fulfilled by a specific degree program,” said Andrew Busch, director of the Western Program in Individualized Studies. “They want to do a research project that doesn't quite exist elsewhere, and we have a history of being a forerunner to new programs.
“It also makes a great additive degree that separates students from others in their major—by providing them an opportunity to address complex, real world problems via a highly interdisciplinary original research project that combines perspectives from several disciplines—which makes them more competitive.”
While the new Bachelor of Philosophy offers greater flexibility, both individualized degree options still maintain the same level of academic rigor.
Each is grounded in a shared interdisciplinary core that includes 19 credit hours of coursework. Students then shape the individualized portion of the major in close collaboration with faculty and staff advisors by selecting courses from across the university, which can also include study abroad, independent study and internship experiences.
“Western's distinctive flavor, the passion and enthusiasm of its students, and their unique problem-solving spirit make the Western Program one of Miami's greatest hidden gems,” said Renée Baernstein, dean of the College of Arts and Science. “Whether completing a BA or a B.Phil., majors in Individualized Studies bring creativity and analytical skills to the world. We are all better off for their presence.”
Individualized Studies BA graduates have gone on to careers in law, medicine, government and public service, including roles as advisors to presidents and ambassadors. Others have pursued careers in business, environmental work and education, and often use their interdisciplinary background as a competitive advantage by leveraging independent inquiry, creativity and the ability to connect ideas across fields.
The Bachelor of Philosophy in Individualized Studies degree will be available beginning in fall 2026.
And as a new addition being offered alongside the existing BA, it serves as a natural extension of the program’s strengths, while building on the foundation of the Western tradition by continuing to emphasize the critical importance of independent inquiry and adventurous interdisciplinary thinking.
“Western students don’t just cross a bridge from college to career. They build that bridge,” Busch said. “And along the way, they develop a toolbox they’ll use for the rest of their lives.”
Established in 1809, Miami University is located in Oxford, Ohio, with regional campuses in Hamilton and Middletown, a learning center in West Chester, and a European study center in Luxembourg. Interested in learning more about the Individualized Studies Western Program? Visit their website for more information.