The Bachelor of Applied Studies requires a minimum of 120 s.h. and is intended to be completed entirely by distance education. Students must maintain a cumulative grade-point average of 2.00 or higher in all coursework attempted, all coursework taken at the University of Iowa, and all upper-level coursework.
After admission to the University of Iowa, one of the following residence requirements must be met—at least 90 s.h. completed at the University of Iowa, or 45 of the final 60 s.h. completed at the University of Iowa, or the final 30 s.h. completed at the University of Iowa.
Students must earn at least 60 s.h. of the minimum 120 s.h. required for the degree at four-year colleges, including 45 s.h. in upper-level coursework. University of Iowa upper-level courses are numbered from 3000 to 4999. Some courses numbered below 3000 may be considered upper level for the BAS; for details, see BAS Upper-level Coursework on the Bachelor of Applied Studies website.
BAS students who earn the creative writing emphasis may not earn the Certificate in Writing (College of Liberal Arts and Sciences).
Students also must complete the following core requirements and a set of distribution areas; see BAS Core Requirements and Distribution Areas on the Bachelor of Applied Studies website for more information.
Core Requirements
- Rhetoric coursework equivalent to 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.
Distribution Areas
Students must 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.
- Communication and arts (e.g., journalism, communication studies, creative writing, art, music).
- Humanities (e.g., literature, history, philosophy, religion).
- Natural sciences and mathematics (e.g., mathematics, biology, statistics, computer science).
- Professional fields (e.g., business, education, nursing, social work, aging and longevity studies).
- Social sciences (e.g., sociology, psychology, economics, political science, anthropology).
All University College policies regarding grading, course drops, withdrawals, academic standards, and so forth apply to BAS students. For more information, see Taking University College Courses on the University College website.
Optional Emphasis Area
Students may include an emphasis area in their BAS program.
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 coursework.
| Course # | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| All of these: | ||
| CLSA:3742/WRIT:3742 | Word Power: Building English Vocabulary | 3 |
| CW:2100 | Creative Writing | 3 |
| CW:4897 | Novel Writing | 3 |
| At least three of these: | ||
| CINE:1150 | Introduction to Screenwriting for Nonmajors | 3 |
| CNW:1620 | Introduction to Creative Nonfiction | 3 |
| CW:2870 | Fiction Writing | 3 |
| CW:2875 | Poetry Writing | 3 |
| CW:3005/INTD:3005/WRIT:3005 | Professional and Creative Business Communication | 3 |
| CW:3870 | Advanced Fiction Writing | 3 |
| CW:3875 | Advanced Poetry Writing | 3 |
| CW:4745/WRIT:4745 | The Sentence: Strategies for Writing | 3 |
| CW:4760/WRIT:4760 | The Art of Revision: Rewriting Prose for Clarity and Impact | 3 |
| WRIT:1500 | Writing Commons: A Community of Writers | 3 |
For additional details about the emphasis area and related careers, see Creative Writing Emphasis Area on the Bachelor of Applied Studies website. Students who earn the creative writing emphasis may not earn the Certificate in Writing (College of Liberal Arts and Sciences).
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 coursework.
| Course # | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| All of these: | ||
| CSED:4194 | Interpersonal Effectiveness | 3 |
| CSED:4197 | Citizenship in a Multicultural Society | 3 |
| CSED:4199 | Counseling for Related Professions | 3 |
| At least three of these: | ||
| CSED:4131 | Loss, Death, and Bereavement | 3 |
| CSED:4162/PSQF:4162 | Introduction to Couple and Family Therapy | 3 |
| CSED:4174 | Positive Psychology | 3 |
| CSED:4176 | Child Abuse: Assessment, Intervention, and Advocacy | 3 |
| CSED:4178 | Microcounseling | 3 |
| CSED:4179 | Sexuality Within the Helping Professions | 3 |
| CSED:4185 | Introduction to Substance Abuse | 3 |
| CSED:4195 | Ethics in Human Relations and Counseling | 3 |
| SSW:3712/NURS:3712 | Human Sexuality, Diversity, and Society | 3 |
For additional details about the emphasis area and related careers, see Human Relations Emphasis Area on the Bachelor of Applied Studies website.
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 coursework.
| Course # | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Two of these: | ||
| CRIM:1410 | Introduction to Criminology | 3 |
| CSED:4197 | Citizenship in a Multicultural Society | 3 |
| POLI:3111 | American Public Policy | 3 |
| SOC:1030 | Contemporary Social Problems | 3-4 |
| SOC:4225 | The Social Psychology of Leadership | 3 |
| At least four of these: | ||
| CRIM:4410 | Treatment Interventions in Corrections | 3 |
| CRIM:4420 | Criminal Punishment | 3 |
| CSED:4176 | Child Abuse: Assessment, Intervention, and Advocacy | 3 |
| CSED:4185 | Introduction to Substance Abuse | 3 |
| CSED:4194 | Interpersonal Effectiveness | 3 |
| HRTS:2115/IS:2115 | Introduction to Human Rights | 3 |
| MGMT:2000 | Introduction to Law | 3 |
| POLI:3503 | Politics of Terrorism | 3 |
| SOC:2810 | Social Inequality | 3 |
| SSW:3797 | Child Welfare Policy and Practice | 3 |
| SSW:4100 | Social Work in the Criminal Justice System | 3 |
For additional details about the emphasis area and related careers, see Justice Studies Emphasis Area on the Bachelor of Applied Studies website.
Political Science Emphasis Area
The political science emphasis area requires 18 s.h. It focuses on the political role of the United States in shaping social and public policy worldwide and on the interplay between foreign and domestic politics. The emphasis area requires the following coursework.
| Course # | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Two of these: | ||
| POLI:1100 | Introduction to American Politics | 3 |
| POLI:1200 | Introduction to Political Behavior | 3 |
| POLI:1400 | Introduction to Comparative Politics | 3 |
| POLI:1500 | Introduction to International Relations | 3 |
| POLI:1501 | Introduction to American Foreign Policy | 3 |
| At least four of these: | ||
| POLI:3100 | American State Politics | 3 |
| POLI:3102 | The U.S. Congress | 3 |
| POLI:3110 | Local Politics | 3 |
| POLI:3111 | American Public Policy | 3 |
| POLI:3116 | The Presidency | 3 |
| POLI:3202 | Political Psychology | 3 |
| POLI:3203 | Campaigns, Elections, and Voting Behavior | 3 |
| POLI:3405 | Authoritarian Politics | 3 |
| POLI:3503 | Politics of Terrorism | 3 |
| POLI:3506 | Consequences of War | 3 |
| POLI:3519/ASP:3519 | Politics of Aging | 3 |
For additional details about the emphasis area and related careers, see Political Science Emphasis Area on the Bachelor of Applied Studies website.
Individuals who wish to earn a BAS must apply for admission to the program by completing an application through the Office of Admissions. Additional information on the BAS program may be found on the Bachelor of Applied Studies website.
Applicants to the BAS program must have earned an associate degree from a regionally accredited institution. They must have a minimum of 60 s.h. of approved transfer credit, which includes career-technical credit.
Students who have an AA degree from a two-year institution participating in articulation agreements with the University of Iowa are considered to have satisfied the BAS core requirements, except for the business/management courses. Additional information on articulation agreements can be found on the Office of Admissions website.
Applicants who graduated from an Iowa community college or Waldorf College must have a cumulative grade-point average (GPA) of at least 2.00; those who graduated from Black Hawk College in Illinois must have a cumulative GPA of at least 2.25; those who graduated from other institutions outside Iowa must have a cumulative GPA of at least 2.50.