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 g.p.a. 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 B.A.S.; for details, see B.A.S. Upper-level Coursework on the Bachelor of Applied Studies website.

B.A.S. students who earn the creative writing emphasis may not earn the Certificate in Writing.

Students also must complete the following core requirements and a set of distribution areas; see B.A.S. 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 B.A.S. 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 B.A.S. 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.

All of these:
CLSA:3742/WRIT:3742Word Power: Building English Vocabulary3
CW:2100Creative Writing3
CW:4897Novel Writing3
At least three of these:
CINE:1150Introduction to Screenwriting for Nonmajors3
CNW:1620Introduction to Creative Nonfiction3
CW:2870Fiction Writing3
CW:2875Poetry Writing3
CW:3005/INTD:3005/WRIT:3005Professional and Creative Business Communication3
CW:3870Advanced Fiction Writing3
CW:3875Advanced Poetry Writing3
CW:4745/WRIT:4745The Sentence: Strategies for Writing3
CW:4760/WRIT:4760The Art of Revision: Rewriting Prose for Clarity and Impact3
WRIT:1500Writing Commons: A Community of Writers3

For additional details about the emphasis area and related careers, see Creative Writing Emphasis Area on the Bachelor of Applied Studies website.

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.

All of these:
CSED:4194Interpersonal Effectiveness3
CSED:4197Citizenship in a Multicultural Society3
CSED:4199Counseling for Related Professions3
At least three of these:
CSED:4131Loss, Death, and Bereavement3
CSED:4162/PSQF:4162Introduction to Couple and Family Therapy3
CSED:4174Positive Psychology3
CSED:4176Child Abuse: Assessment, Intervention, and Advocacy3
CSED:4178Microcounseling3
CSED:4179Sexuality Within the Helping Professions3
CSED:4185Introduction to Substance Abuse3
CSED:4195Ethics in Human Relations and Counseling3
SSW:3712/NURS:3712Human Sexuality, Diversity, and Society3

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.

Two of these:
CRIM:1410Introduction to Criminology3
CSED:4197Citizenship in a Multicultural Society3
POLI:3111American Public Policy3
SOC:1022/SSW:1022Social Justice and Social Welfare in the United States3
SOC:1030Contemporary Social Problems3-4
SOC:4225The Social Psychology of Leadership3
At least four of these:
CRIM:4410Treatment Interventions in Corrections3
CRIM:4420Criminal Punishment3
CSED:4176Child Abuse: Assessment, Intervention, and Advocacy3
CSED:4185Introduction to Substance Abuse3
CSED:4194Interpersonal Effectiveness3
HRTS:2115/IS:2115Introduction to Human Rights3
MGMT:2000Introduction to Law3
POLI:3503Politics of Terrorism3
SOC:2810Social Inequality3
SSW:3797Child Welfare Policy and Practice3
SSW:4100Social Work in the Criminal Justice System3

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.

Two of these:
POLI:1100Introduction to American Politics3
POLI:1200Introduction to Political Behavior3
POLI:1400Introduction to Comparative Politics3
POLI:1500Introduction to International Relations3
POLI:1501Introduction to American Foreign Policy3
At least four of these:
POLI:3100American State Politics3
POLI:3102The U.S. Congress3
POLI:3110Local Politics3
POLI:3111American Public Policy3
POLI:3116The Presidency3
POLI:3202Political Psychology3
POLI:3203Campaigns, Elections, and Voting Behavior3
POLI:3405Authoritarian Politics3
POLI:3503Politics of Terrorism3
POLI:3506Consequences of War3
POLI:3519/ASP:3519Politics of Aging3

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 B.A.S. must apply for admission to the program by completing an application through the Office of Admissions. Additional information on the B.A.S. program may be found on the Bachelor of Applied Studies website.

Applicants to the B.A.S. 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 A.A. degree from a two-year institution participating in articulation agreements with the University of Iowa are considered to have satisfied the B.A.S. 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 g.p.a. of at least 2.00; those who graduated from Black Hawk College in Illinois must have a cumulative g.p.a. of at least 2.25; those who graduated from other institutions outside Iowa must have a cumulative g.p.a. of at least 2.50.