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Bachelor of Applied Studies

Undergraduate Program of Study

• Bachelor of Applied Studies

The Bachelor of Applied Studies (B.A.S.) is designed for graduates of community colleges who wish to complete a bachelor's degree by distance education. The B.A.S. is a general undergraduate degree without a traditional academic major, but students have the option to include a certificate or an emphasis area in their program or to design an individual program. B.A.S. students may not earn minors.

Working with their academic advisors, B.A.S. students may plan programs designed to advance their careers, begin new careers, or prepare for graduate or professional study. Students who have specific career goals or advanced degree programs in mind should learn what educational background they will need in order to achieve their goals, and they should include appropriate course work in their B.A.S. programs.

Students may earn credit toward the degree through several types of courses, including Saturday & Evening Classes, web-based independent study courses, semester-based web courses, extension courses at sites throughout Iowa, and regular session courses.

Individuals interested in applying to the B.A.S. program should hold an A.A.S., an A.A., or an A.S. degree; see "Admission" below for more detailed admission requirements.

The B.A.S. is awarded by University College and is administered by the Division of Continuing Education.

Bachelor of Applied Studies

The Bachelor of Applied Studies requires a minimum of 120 s.h. and is intended to be completed entirely by distance education. Students must earn at least 30 s.h. of credit toward the degree in University of Iowa courses after admission to the B.A.S. program. They must earn at least 60 s.h. of the minimum 120 s.h. at four-year colleges, including 45 s.h. in course work defined as upper level.

The University is in the process of revising its course numbering system. Under the current system, University of Iowa courses are considered upper level if they are numbered 100 and above. Some courses numbered below 100 may be considered upper level for the B.A.S.; for a list of these courses, contact the Division of Continuing Education. Under the new system, University of Iowa courses numbered 3000-4999 will be considered upper level for the B.A.S.

The program of study requires that students complete 12 s.h. in three of the following five distribution areas (total of 36 s.h.). In each distribution area, 6 of the required 12 s.h. must be earned in upper-level courses.

Humanities (e.g., literature, history, philosophy, religion)

Communication and arts (e.g., journalism, speech, drama, art, music)

Natural sciences and mathematics (e.g., geology, biology, statistics, computer science)

Social sciences (e.g., geography, psychology, economics, political science, anthropology)

Professional fields (e.g., business, education, nursing, social work, library science)

Students must maintain a cumulative g.p.a. of 2.00 or higher in all course work attempted, work undertaken at The University of Iowa, and all upper-level course work.

All University College policies regarding pass/nonpass and satisfactory/fail grading, academic standards, and so forth apply to B.A.S. students.

Optional Certificate or Emphasis Area

Students may include a certificate or an emphasis area in their B.A.S. programs, or they may design an interdisciplinary focus area. Certificates and emphasis areas are noted on students' transcripts.

Certificate In Entrepreneurial Management

The Certificate in Entrepreneurial Management is offered by the Tippie College of Business. It requires 18-20 s.h. Courses are offered online. See Entrepreneurial Management (Tippie College of Business) in the Catalog or contact the Tippie College of Business for details.

Certificate In Nonprofit Management

The Certificate in Nonprofit Management is offered by University College in collaboration with Distance Education and the Larned A. Waterman Iowa Nonprofit Resource Center. The certificate requires 18 s.h. Courses are offered primarily online. See Nonprofit Management (University College) in the Catalog or contact the Division of Continuing Education for details.

Certificate in Public Health

The Certificate in Public Health is offered by the College of Public Health and is designed primarily for individuals working in public health practice and for those considering public health careers. The certificate requires 12 s.h. Courses are offered online. Applicants must have substantial relevant work experience. Contact the College of Public Health for details.

Creative Writing Emphasis Area

The creative writing emphasis area requires 18 s.h. It provides students with an understanding of the multiple facets of written communication. The emphasis area requires the following course work.

All of these:

Three of these:

For additional details about the emphasis area and related careers, see the creative writing emphasis page on the Bachelor of Applied Studies web site.

Human Relations Emphasis Area

The human relations emphasis area requires 18 s.h. It focuses on human development, personality theory, interpersonal and group communication, multiculturalism, professional ethics, and the development of helping skills. The emphasis area requires the following course work.

For additional details about the emphasis area and related careers, see the human relations emphasis page on the Bachelor of Applied Studies web site.

Justice Studies Emphasis Area

The justice studies emphasis area requires 18 s.h. It is a good choice for students who hold associate degrees in disciplines such as community service, corrections, criminal justice, law enforcement, police science, or public safety. The emphasis area requires the following course work.

Two of these:

At least four of these:

For additional details about the emphasis area and related careers, see the justice studies emphasis page on the Bachelor of Applied Studies web site.

Politcial Science Emphasis Area

The political science emphasis area requires 18 s.h. It focuses on the United States' political role in shaping social and public policy worldwide and on the interplay between foreign and domestic politics. The emphasis area requires the following course work.

Two of these:

At least four of these:

For additional details about the emphasis area and related careers, see the political science emphasis page on the Bachelor of Applied Studies web site.

Admission

Individuals who wish to earn a B.A.S. must apply formally for admission to the program. Prospective students should contact the Division of Continuing Education before applying.

The B.A.S. is designed for students who need to earn a bachelor's degree by distance education. Individuals who have access to the full range of the University's on-campus daytime classes should seek admission to the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences in order to earn a degree with a major. The interdepartmental studies major allows students to tailor a degree program to their individual interests (see Interdepartmental Studies in the Catalog).

Applicants to the B.A.S. program must have earned an Associate of Applied Science (A.A.S.) degree, an Associate of Arts (A.A.), or an Associate of Science (A.S.) from a community college that participates in the Iowa Community College/Regents Articulation Agreement or from a regionally accredited community college. They must have a minimum of 60 s.h. of approved transfer credit. Applicants who graduated from an Iowa community college must have a cumulative g.p.a. of at least 2.00; those who graduated from a community college outside Iowa must have a cumulative g.p.a. of at least 2.50.

The program recommends that B.A.S. applicants complete the following B.A.S. minimum core requirements before entering the program.

Rhetoric (course work equivalent to composition I, composition II, and speech)

Quantitative or formal reasoning (3 s.h.)

Social sciences (3 s.h.)

Values, society, and diversity (3 s.h.)

Business/management (6 s.h.)

See a B.A.S. advisor for a list of other acceptable courses.

Contact the Division of Continuing Education for more information about the B.A.S. program.