Bachelor Degree

Ilia State University is the first higher education institution in Georgia to offer bachelors degree programs based on liberal arts education principles. The University aims at equipping students with broad knowledge, interdisciplinary views, and the ability learning efficiently and analyze information. In addition, ISU provides bachelors courses that allow students to gain a deep and profound knowledge in the discipline chosen by students.

The Bachelors degree studies enable students to pursue qualified employment at the job market and explore carrier growth possibilities. The bachelor’s degree also prepares students for the next stage of their education if they wish a master ’s degree.

The Bachelor’s degree program is designed so that the students are able to develop liberal values, skills needed for intellectual and ethical evaluation of events in order to prepare students not only for their future career but also for the personal and social involvement and responsibilities.

The University offers a wide spectrum of Bachelor’s Degree Programs allowing for academic freedom and choice at ISU.

Description of the Bachelor’s Degree Programs

A bachelors degree requires 240 credits. The Academic year consists of 2 terms – Fall and Spring. 30 credits can be accumulated every term, therefore, a student can graduate in 8 semesters if he/she is able to cope with the normal workload. After gaining no less than 240 credits and complying with other requirements of academic departments, a student is awarded with the Bachelor’s Degree.

A student is supposed to accumulate the credits according to the following scheme:

• General Module – 60 credits,
• Courses required by the Major program chosen by the student – at least 120 credits
• Courses required by a Minor program or free elective courses – 60 credits.

General Module
Presentation and writing skills, communication skills, and effective group work skills are immensely valued at the ever changing job market. Therefore, Ilia State University has developed a required general module, which is aimed at training students with these skills and therefore, is a basis for any professional career. The general module comprises of:
•    Principles of Modern Thought
•    English Language
•    Mathematics
•    Academic Writing
•    Presentation, Discussion and Communication Skills
•    Computer Course, etc.

Participation in the Research Process
Students are not required to participate in a research project or activity while working on their bachelor’s degree, however if they do participate, students may gain credit for it. For instance, if student works as an assistant at a lab or department library he or she may receive up to 5 credits for the work.

Senior Thesis and Examinations
A bachelor’s degree requires Senior Thesis and/or a Bachelor Examination.
The senior Thesis is prepared during the last term. Students should be able to demonstrate not only adequate knowledge in the field of study but also a good academic writing ability.

Major Programs
Students at the Ilia State University decide on their Major as well as Minor in the beginning of their sophomore year, i.e. second year.

College of Arts and Sciences
The College of Arts and Science offers  23 Majors and 26 Minors that are united into 5 fields:
1.    Natural Sciences
2.    Humanities and Foreign Languages
3.    Education
4.    Philosophy and Social Sciences
5.    Liberal Sciences.

Students cannot chose their Major and Minor programme from the same field.

Colleges of Business and Law
This College aims at training successful business administrators and specialists in the legal sphere, who will be able to work in corporate, academic, private, public and non-governmental sectors both nationally and internationally. The Programme in Business requires the completion of 180 credits, with the law program requiring 120.

College of Engineering
The College offers three Major programmes leading to Bachelor of Arts Degree in:
1.    Architecture,
2.    Building Constructions
3.    Computer Sciences
Every major requires the completions of 120 credits.

College of Sports
The College of Sports offers to major programmes:
•    Teaching of Sports requiring 240 credits for completion
•    Individual and Group Coaching, requiring 180 credits
Both programmes lead  to BA in Sports.