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2026-2027

Bachelor of Interdisciplinary Studies - Human Services (AAS Pathway)

VCU

Community college:
AAS in Human Services (Virginia Community College System)
Virginia Community College System
Associate degree

Associate of Applied Science in Human Services (G3 program)

Completing this AAS degree will waive VCU's general education requirements.

Program description

The Bachelor of Interdisciplinary Studies: Human Services pathway combines BIS Core courses with coursework, minors, and/or certificates in at least two of four human service clusters: 

  1. Business & Management: for developing managerial skills for profit, nonprofit, and public enterprises, students could complete coursework or a minor in:
    1. Nonprofit management
    2. Public management
    3. General business
    4. Entrepreneurship
    5. Human resources management
  2. Health: for developing knowledge of health and wellbeing for employment in hospitals, rehabilitation, counseling, and public settings, student could complete coursework or a minor in:
    1. Health services
    2. Allied health professions
    3. Psychology
    4. Health education
    5. Recreation and wellness
  3. Society: for developing knowledge of people and to serve specific communities of people, students could complete coursework or a minor or certificate in:
    1. Psychology
    2. Sociology
    3. African American Studies
    4. Gender & Sexuality Studies
    5. Criminal Justice
    6. Urban & Regional Studies
    7. Political Science
    8. Disability Studies
  4. Communications & Computing: for developing communication and computing skills for profit, nonprofit, and public enterprises, students could complete coursework or a minor or certificate in:
    1. Media Studies
    2. Professional Writing & Editing
    3. Fundamentals of Computing

This pathway positions students for a range of human service positions depending on their choice of coursework: the management of social service and correctional agencies, patient advocacy, human resources, health policy, and more. See the IDS website for examples of combinations to meet particular career goals. Some coursework requires declaring a minor to access; some minors require a minimum GPA. The curriculum is flexible. Students, in consultation with their BIS advisor, can make changes to the recommended courses taken at VCU. Upon graduation, students will be awarded the Bachelor of Interdisciplinary Studies and likely 1-2 minors or certificates.

Career opportunities

BIS graduates with a focus in Human Services are well prepared to seek employment in corporate, nonprofit and government agencies.

Bachelor-level job titles
  • Community Coordinator
  • Community Living Manager
  • Daycare Manager
  • Health & Human Services Specialist
  • Health Instructor
  • Healthcare Administrator
  • Human Resources Manager
  • Human Services Program Specialist, Manager, Director, Coordinator, Supervisor
  • Patient Advocate
  • Policy & Grant Writer
  • Residential Program Manager, Director, Coordinator, Supervisor
  • Social and Community Service Manager
Graduate and professional level job titles
  • Attorney
  • Healthcare administrator
  • Higher education administrator
  • Nonprofit director
  • Researcher
  • Social Worker
Contact information

 

VCU Transfer Center

Telephone: (804) 827-1349

Email: transferinfo@vcu.edu

Transfer Advising Request

VCCS Transfer Planning Checklist


Office of Admissions

Telephone: (804) 828-1222 or (800) 841-3638

Email: ugrad@vcu.edu
Apply Here.

Guaranteed transfer admission requirements

No guaranteed admission, but successful applicants will have:

  • Completion of associate degree
  • Minimum GPA of 2.5
  • All courses must be completed with a grade of "C" or better
Degree requirements in Bulletin
Plan of study in Bulletin
Requirements
Highest level of math required
  • Quantitative Foundations requirement only
Science required
  • Natural Sciences requirement only
Foreign language requirements
  • No
Additional tuition/fees
  • No
GPA requirements (to progress/graduate in the major)
  • 2.0+ cumulative GPA, 2.0+ major GPA
VCU Major Maps

View VCU Major Map for Interdisciplinary Studies

Transfer major map
Visit majormaps.vcu.edu for the online version with links.
Sponsored by the Office of the Provost
Major map compass icon
2026-2027

Bachelor of Interdisciplinary Studies - Human Services (AAS Pathway)

Virginia Community College System (AAS in Human Services)

MAXIMIZE COURSE AND DEGREE PLANNING EXPAND YOUR COMMUNITY EXPLORE CAREERS AND DEVELOP ESSENTIAL SKILLS PREPARING FOR LIFE AFTER COLLEGE
Explore Year 1
  • Schedule an appointment with your community college advisor to map out your associate degree course plan.
  • Complete your math and english requirements in your first year.
  • Be prepared for academic challenges and utilize tutoring resources to get ahead.
  • Explore community college financial aid resources and submit your FAFSA on time.
  • Check on G3 funding for your AAS program.
  • Enroll in the SDV student success course.
  • Consider learning a foreign language to open doors to international organizations and future study.
  • Explore the Interdisciplinary Studies program website.
  • Learn about the transfer admission process for VCU.
  • Get involved with student clubs and organizations at your community college.
  • Volunteer for community service projects.
  • Create a weekly and monthly budget.
  • Prepare for a career after college by creating a brand for yourself.
  • Develop personal and career goals and create SMART steps for 2-3 "dream jobs."
  • Practice independent living skills such as money and time management, self-care, and personal responsibility.
Experience Year 2
  • Apply to VCU.
  • Visit the VCU campus and attend a transfer admission session.
  • Research housing options for next year.
  • Attend a talk or other event sponsored by the Interdisciplinary Studies program, consider joining a VCU club, or meeting with VCU students to make professional and personal connections.
  • Learn about short-term, semester and year-long study abroad options.
  • Using LinkedIn, connect to at least 10 people. Check out the VCU alumni page in My Network.
  • Conduct informational interviews or shadow someone in a field of career interest.
  • Use the cost calculator to estimate your tuition/fees as an upperclassman at VCU.
  • Explore the types of aid available at VCU.
  • Consider who you would like to have serve as professional and academic references for future letters of recommendation.

Explore
MAXIMIZE COURSE AND DEGREE PLANNING
  • Schedule an appointment with your community college advisor to map out your associate degree course plan.
  • Complete your math and english requirements in your first year.
  • Be prepared for academic challenges and utilize tutoring resources to get ahead.
  • Explore community college financial aid resources and submit your FAFSA on time.
  • Check on G3 funding for your AAS program.
  • Enroll in the SDV student success course.
EXPAND YOUR COMMUNITY
  • Consider learning a foreign language to open doors to international organizations and future study.
  • Explore the Interdisciplinary Studies program website.
  • Learn about the transfer admission process for VCU.
  • Get involved with student clubs and organizations at your community college.
  • Volunteer for community service projects.
EXPLORE CAREERS AND DEVELOP ESSENTIAL SKILLS
PREPARING FOR LIFE AFTER COLLEGE
  • Create a weekly and monthly budget.
  • Prepare for a career after college by creating a brand for yourself.
  • Develop personal and career goals and create SMART steps for 2-3 "dream jobs."
  • Practice independent living skills such as money and time management, self-care, and personal responsibility.

Experience
MAXIMIZE COURSE AND DEGREE PLANNING
EXPAND YOUR COMMUNITY
  • Apply to VCU.
  • Visit the VCU campus and attend a transfer admission session.
  • Research housing options for next year.
  • Attend a talk or other event sponsored by the Interdisciplinary Studies program, consider joining a VCU club, or meeting with VCU students to make professional and personal connections.
  • Learn about short-term, semester and year-long study abroad options.
EXPLORE CAREERS AND DEVELOP ESSENTIAL SKILLS
PREPARING FOR LIFE AFTER COLLEGE
  • Using LinkedIn, connect to at least 10 people. Check out the VCU alumni page in My Network.
  • Conduct informational interviews or shadow someone in a field of career interest.
  • Use the cost calculator to estimate your tuition/fees as an upperclassman at VCU.
  • Explore the types of aid available at VCU.
  • Consider who you would like to have serve as professional and academic references for future letters of recommendation.
Recommended courses
Major map compass icon
2026-2027

Bachelor of Interdisciplinary Studies - Human Services (AAS Pathway)

Virginia Community College System (AAS in Human Services)

Virginia Community College System courses
Course Title Equivalent course Credits Requirements
SDV 100 College Success Skills UNIV 101 1 Elective
ENG 111 College Composition I UNIV 111 3 General education
ENG 112 College Composition II UNIV 200 3 General education
MTH 154 Quantitative Reasoning MATH 131 3 General education
SOC 200 Principles of Sociology SOCY 101 3 General education
PSY 200 Principles of Psychology PSYC 101 3 General education
PSY 230 Developmental Psychology PSYC 304 3 Elective
Complete requirements of the AAS degree VCU equivalents 41 Elective
Community college credits transferred to VCU 60
VCU courses
Course Title Credits Requirements
IDST 301 Interdisciplinary Theory and Practice 3 Major
IDST 499 BIS Senior Capstone 3 Major
Select courses from two of the following human services clusters (see VCU advisor for course options): Business and management, Health, Society, or Communications and computing. 30 to 36 Major
Upper-level electives (300- or 400-level courses) Note: Students must complete a minimum of 45 upper-level credits to graduate from VCU. 18 to 24 Elective
Credits completed at VCU 60
Minimum credits required for bachelor's degree 120