The Bachelor of Applied Arts and Sciences is a degree completion program designed specifically for nontraditional students seeking to finish their baccalaureate degree in an academic environment that recognizes the importance of obtaining highly desired 21st century workforce skills as well as focusing their studies in a specific content area. This flexible degree plan utilizes credits from community colleges and universities to provide a more efficient route to completing a baccalaureate degree with minimal loss of academic credit. This unique degree program also allows students the opportunity to present a portfolio of prior learning experiences in consideration for academic credit from a thematic concentration course and earn an external microcredential.
Acceptance to UT Tyler does not equate to admission into the BAAS degree program. All students must have 60 hours of transferrable credit accepted at UT Tyler, or successful completion of an AA or AS, and complete a survey outlining why the BAAS program is the appropriate choice for their academic and professional goals. Transferrable credit only includes credits accepted by the Registrar’s Office, and all credits completed at previous institutions may not be applied to the BAAS degree.
Ordinarily, a UT Tyler student currently enrolled in another program may not change their major to the BAAS. However, a recommendation to pursue the BAAS by a student’s home college may be made on behalf of the student. Academic Affairs will review these recommendations and grant approval as appropriate.
Degree Requirements
Core Curriculum
Forty-two (42) semester credit hours of University Core Curriculum requirements. (See the Core Curriculum requirements section of this catalog.)
BAAS Electives
Students may transfer up to 45 credit hours to satisfy this degree requirement. For those students with less than 45 transferrable elective hours, upper division electives, chosen with advisor guidance, take online or in-person courses at UT Tyler to fulfill this degree requirement.
Professional Core
The professional core is comprised of courses based on highly sought after marketable and transferable skills to develop students into desirable candidates for a wide variety of high-demand careers. This curriculum was designed to refine sought after transferable skills that today’s employers find important. Students take the following required 18 credit hours to fulfill this Professional Core requirement.
BAAS Recommended 4 Year Course Sequence
The first 60 hours of credit are to be completed at the community college level and/or transferred from another U.S. Department of Education (USDE) recognized accredited institution.
Junior Year - Fall (15 hours)
| CMST 4350 |
Communication in the Workplace-Professional Core
|
3 hrs. |
|
Upper Division Elective |
3 hrs. |
|
Thematic Concentration |
3 hrs. |
| |
Upper Division Elective |
3 hrs. |
| |
Thematic Concentration |
3 hrs. |
Junior Year - Spring (15 hours)
| ALHS 3370 |
Health and Wellness-Professional Core
|
3 hrs. |
| PHIL 3344 |
Ethical Leadership-Professional Core |
3 hrs. |
|
Upper Division Elective |
3 hrs. |
|
Thematic Concentration |
3 hrs. |
| |
Upper Division Elective |
3 hrs. |
Senior Year - Fall (15 hours)
| EDUC 4340 |
Artificial Intelligence Tools in Society
|
3 hrs. |
| MANA 4385 |
Strategic Leadership-Professional Core |
3 hrs. |
|
Upper Division Elective |
3 hrs. |
|
Thematic Concentration |
3 hrs. |
|
Upper Division Elective |
3 hrs. |
Senior Year - Spring (15 hours)
| PSYC 4345 |
Addressing Pressing Issues in a Diverse World (capstone)
|
3 hrs. |
|
Thematic Concentration
|
3 hrs. |
|
Upper Division Elective |
3 hrs. |
|
Upper Division Elective |
3 hrs
|
| |
Upper Division Elective |
3 hrs. |
Thematic Concentrations
Students tailor their degree to their specific academic and professional goals by completing a required 15-credit hour concentration of their choosing.
Business Occupations
The Business Occupations thematic concentration, offered by the Soules College of Business, is designed to provide general business knowledge for individuals interested in business careers. This thematic concentration can be used by anyone holding an AAS degree in business or related area.
General Studies
The General Studies thematic concentration, offered by the College of Arts and Sciences, is well-suited for students interested in obtaining knowledge across a variety of different disciplines. It is required that students work with an advisor to ensure that course selection is intentional, focused, and based on a common theme.
Healthcare Management
The Healthcare Management thematic concentration, offered by the School of Health Professions, is designed to provide knowledge important for individuals looking to expand their career into management options within the healthcare field. This includes opportunities such as managing a doctor’s office or medical practice or advancing into management with your current healthcare field organization. This thematic concentration is appropriate for individuals holding an AAS degree in a health-related area.
Health Occupations
The Health Occupations thematic concentration, offered by the School of Health Professions, is designed for individuals working in the healthcare field or holding an AAS degree in a health-related area. This includes professionals holding positions such as EMT, Radiology Technicians, COTA, and Physical Therapy Assistant. This concentration in the BAAS can facilitate your career advancement in your current health-related occupation or in preparation for a health-related profession graduate program.
Human Behavior
The Human Behavior thematic concentration, offered by the College of Education and Psychology, is designed to provide students with insights into human behavior.
Prior Learning Assessment
Upper-division credit not to exceed 3 hours may be granted to individuals submitting evidence of relevant work experience in an area of technical expertise or for an approved internship within the student’s thematic concentration area. Evidence of this experience must be submitted to BAAS student’s advisor for review by the BAAS Advisory Council within six months of initial enrollment and requires a cover letter and resume.
Additional Degree Requirements and Notes
- Students must complete a minimum of 120 semester credit hours, of which 33 must be upper division. The 33 upper division hours requirement is an exception to item 3 of the General Degree Requirements policy. Any BAAS students who change majors to another program must follow the standard minimum requirement detailed in that program and workforce credits will not apply to traditional academic degrees.
- Students needing less than 45 credits to complete their BAAS degree are not eligible to be considered for Latin academic honors. BAAS students desiring to graduate with Latin academic honors must earn 45 hours from UT Tyler.
- Students may not earn more than 30 hours of academic credit from the Soules College of Business.
- Students must earn a C or better in all Professional Core courses.
- Students must maintain a minimum of a 2.0 GPA to be eligible for graduation.