Overview of Online Individualized Major
Please review the following important points related to this program, and enter your information in the agreement form below.
Consciousness-Based Education
Consciousness-BasedSM education was developed by the University’s founder, Maharishi Mahesh Yogi, so that students not only gain professional skills and knowledge in different fields of life but also develop themselves from within to unfold their full potential. Self-exploration is at the heart of an MIU education. By directly experiencing your innermost nature through the Transcendental Meditation® technique, you can easily connect each discipline to your own life, and see the underlying unity of all knowledge. In every course at MIU, in addition to learning the knowledge of the subject, you will explore the connection of that knowledge with consciousness – your innermost Self.
Transcendental Meditation
Transcendental Meditation is a simple, natural, effortless procedure to develop students’ full creative potential from within and to improve the overall quality of life. Extensive published research has found that regular TM practice reduces stress, promotes integrated brain functioning, increases creativity and intelligence, and enhances learning ability and academic performance. For these reasons, all students are required to practice the TM technique each day for about 20 minutes in the morning and afternoon. Online students are required to learn Transcendental Meditation before their academic program begins.
You’ll also learn two simple and effective methods for creating and maintaining a balanced state of health and gaining maximum benefit from your TM practice:
- simple yoga postures (called Maharishi Yoga Asanas) for flexibility and mind-body integration
- a simple breathing exercise (called pranayama) for enlivening your mind and body
Accepted US applicants will receive no-cost TM instruction by using an MIU grant at their local TM Center. International applicants should consult with their nearest TM center.
To find a teacher of the Transcendental Meditation technique, visit www.tm.org
Attendance, Participation & Expectations
Initial Participation in a Course
Online students will be automatically withdrawn from a for-credit course if the student does not participate in at least one academic assignment of the course (e.g quiz, forum posting, essay, or other activity specified in the course syllabus) by Day 7 (11:59 pm Central time) after the course-begin date that is published in the Schedule of Courses or the MIU Academic Calendar.
The 14-Day Rule
During the length of the course, a student must participate according to the course syllabus on a weekly basis. Students who do not participate (for example, by submitting a quiz, test, forum posting, written assignment, or substantive question to the instructor) within any 14-day period will be automatically withdrawn from the course.
Incomplete Work in For-Credit Courses
Students who are not able to complete the final work of a course, typically in the final week, due to illness or family emergency, or other compelling circumstances beyond their control, may petition the professor in writing to grant more time. If the petition for additional time is granted by the professor, the professor and student will form and sign a Late Work Contract, including the specific assignments that need to be completed and their due date(s).
Late Work
Students may not hand in work after the last class session of a course unless they have made prior arrangements with the course instructor. All students are given a grade at the end of the course based on 1) completed work, 2) in-class performance, and 3) work not yet completed.
Categories of late work contracts
Standard Late Work Contract
The student and professor agree that the incomplete work is to be completed within 10 days of the end of the course. Most incomplete work should be made up during the weekend after the final day of a course.
Extended Late Work Contract
In the event the student was sick or otherwise incapacitated for this final weekend, the student has up to 42 days from the end of the course to submit work—except when the course ends at the end of the semester, in which case the final grade must be submitted 2 weeks after the last day of the course. The faculty may also request documentation of the illness or other emergency.
Eligibility
This petition should not be used generally in the case of students who do not meet the Course Participation Policy for Distance Education Students. These students should be given an NW, W, or WH depending on the circumstances. Nor should it be used when the student would like to re-do work for a better grade. The petition is only to cover work that cannot be submitted on time due to illness, family emergency, or other compelling circumstances.
Satisfactory Academic Progress
To maintain satisfactory academic progress and eligibility to attend the University, students must meet three standards listed below. These standards are evaluated at the end of each semester. If a student is not meeting any one of these standards, the student is placed on “Academic Warning” for that standard for the following semester. A student not meeting that standard by the end of the “Academic Warning” semester will no longer be eligible to attend the University. Students on academic warning are not eligible for Rotating University courses, directed studies, or internships (except when required by the department for graduation).
Standard #1
Grade Point Average Undergraduates must maintain a 2.0 Grade Point Average (GPA), and graduate students must maintain a 3.0 GPA. Repeated courses use only the higher grade. Transfer credits earned at other institutions are excluded from the GPA calculation. Students who fall below the designated level are put on warning for the next semester.
Standard #2
Completion Rate Undergraduate students must complete two-thirds of instructional credits attempted, within the current degree (excluding RC and REC courses, but including DC courses). Unattended courses are removed from the student’s record and are therefore excluded. Grades of “W,” “WH,” “NC,” “NW,” “NP,” and “AU” are counted as credits attempted but not completed. Transfer credits are not counted as attempted or completed.
Standard #3
Maximum Time Frame Undergraduate students may attempt a maximum of 150% of the number of credits normally required to complete their program. For example, an undergraduate degree requires 128 credits so undergraduates may attempt a maximum of 192 credits to complete their program, including transfer credits, double majors, and switching majors. A student who has 174 credits is placed on “Warning” status the following semester.
Satisfactory Academic Progress
Computer Requirements
Student Life Department
Online Student Services
At MIU Student success is our top priority! Below are some vital resources that can help to ensure your learning experience with us is a positive and fulfilling one.
- Student Support Specialist
Email: onlinestudentsupport@miu.edu
- Academic Advising
Email: online.advisors@miu.edu
- Academic Advising
Contact: Mahmooda Hotak
Email: mhotak@miu.edu
- Accessibility
Contact: Lydia Hickman, Accessibility Officer
Email: accessibility@miu.edu - Transcendental Meditation Support
Contact: Julie Beaufort, Director of Development of Consciousness for Online Students
Email: tmsupport@miu.edu - Library
Tel: (641) 472-1154
Email: library@miu.edu - Writing Center
Online students can receive help at any stage of the writing process.
Email: writingcenter@miu.edu
- Tutoring
Contact: Rachael Kunzler, Director of Student Support Services
Email: rkunzler@miu.edu
Tel: (641) 732-2667
Course Withdrawal and Refunds
Students needing to withdraw from an online credit course must inform their instructor and the MIU Online department of their intent to withdraw. Refunds for online degree-seeking withdrawals are on a per semester % attended basis. See Reductions in Charges and Financial Aid.
Readmission
Online students who have been withdrawn must reapply and be accepted by the Office of Admissions at miu.edu/application before continuing their online studies.
Individualized major program
The goal of the Individualized Major is to provide students with an exceptional academic experience based on their unique vision, allowing them to take ownership of their learning, develop a strong sense of self-efficacy, and experience personal as well as academic growth. An Individualized Major meets all the standards of a college major but is composed of courses from two or more majors organized around a theme of the student’s choosing. The proposal for each student’s Individualized Major must be approved by the university’s Individualized Major Committee.
The degree plan should provide for 1) A foundation of skills, concepts, and methods appropriate to the proposed area of study. 2) Study of leading thinkers in the field. 3) A planned opportunity to apply one’s knowledge and skills to real-world problems and issues or to complete a substantial research project. Learning outcomes must be clearly identified.
Senior project
The goal of the Individualized Major is to provide students with an exceptional academic experience based on their unique vision, allowing them to take ownership of their learning, develop a strong sense of self-efficacy, and experience personal as well as academic growth. An Individualized Major meets all the standards of a college major but is composed of courses from two or more majors organized around a theme of the student’s choosing. The proposal for each student’s Individualized Major must be approved by the university’s Individualized Major Committee.
Degree requirements
A minimum of 128 credits (semester hours) is required for students to graduate with a bachelor’s degree. This may include up to 90 transfer credits.
Undergraduate degree students can apply transfer credits to cover general education requirements and electives for a maximum of 90 total credits. Transfer credits are accepted for courses completed with a grade of “C” or higher.
To graduate with an Individualized Major degree, students must successfully complete 128 credits, including General Education and Individualized Major Requirements.
General education requirements
General education courses
To graduate with a bachelor’s degree, students must satisfy the following general education requirements:
- STC 108 Exploring Consciousness
- PH 101 Physiology is Consciousness
- PHYS 310 Foundations of Physics and Consciousness
- A college-level math course
- WTG 192 CCTS College Composition 2
- FOR 431 Higher States of Consciousness
- FOR 103 Fit for Life
- Forest academy courses at the beginning of each semester
Individualized Major Requirements
The requirements for the major are 48 credits of coursework as follows:
- At least 16 credits from one area, and preferably one major
- At least 24 credits at the 300 level or above
- IM 400 Individualized Major Senior Project, or the senior project from the department of one’s concentration. (4-12 credits)
- Up to 24 transfer credits may apply to the major
- Up to 16 credits of internships may apply to the major
The Individualized Major proposal must be approved by the semester in which a student has 90-course credits. After that time, students qualify for a Bachelor of Applied Arts and Sciences, but not a BA or BS with an Individualized Major. Transfer students with 90 credits must have their proposal approved by the end of their first semester of classes.
Other requirements
- Cumulative Grade Point Average (GPA) of 2.0 or higher
- General university assessments administered by the Evaluation Department as part of the University’s evaluation of its academic programs. They have no bearing on students’ standing, but every student is required to participate upon entry to the University and again prior to graduation.
- Placement test to determine which courses students need to enroll in to satisfy their composition and mathematics requirements.