The Bachelor of Applied Studies (BAS)

External Degree Program

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Our BAS program is designed for graduates of community college technical programs who wish to complete a bachelor’s degree, but who, due to family and/or employment responsibilities, cannot engage in traditional on-campus study.

You may choose an interdisciplinary approach to coursework or incorporate one of three certificate programs into your studies: the Public Health Certificate, offered by the College of Public Health; the Certificate in Entrepreneurial Studies, offered by the John Pappajohn Entrepreneurial Center, Tippie College of Business; or the Nonprofit Management Certificate offered by the Iowa Nonprofit Resource Center

Because the program does not have departmental major requirements, you work with an advisor to plan your area of emphasis.

Approved by the Iowa Board of Regents in June 2005 and accredited by the Higher Learning Commission of the North Central Association, The University of Iowa BAS degree is quickly becoming a popular choice among persons wishing to complete their degrees at a distance. The BAS degree is awarded by University College.

BAS Admission Requirements

New applicants:

• An AAS or AS degree
• with a minimum of 60 semester hours (s.h.) of transferable credit
• a cumulative grade-point average (GPA) of 2.0 or above for Iowa Community College graduates
• a cumulative grade-point average (GPA) of 2.5 or above for applicants with a degree from a community college outside of Iowa
• three years of work experience recommended

Applying for Admission

File your application electronically with the Office of Admissions, or, if you prefer, contact The Center for Credit Programs, toll-free at 800-272-6430, to request a BAS information packet which includes an application form.

The following are needed to complete your application for admission:

• BAS application form
• $40 application fee
• an official transcript showing completion of AAS or AS degree*
• official transcripts from all postsecondary institutions attended
• documentation of military training, if applicable
• three letters of recommendation: one from an employer; one from former academic advisor, counselor, or faculty member; and one from a person of your choice

All application materials and official transcripts should be sent to the Office of Admissions, 107 Calvin Hall, The University of Iowa, Iowa City, IA 52242.

Application Deadlines
Applications are processed as soon as possible after all transcripts and letters of recommendation are received. Typically, the application process takes from four to six weeks. All University of iowa course work is semester based. While you may submit your application at any time, you can only begin course work at the start of the fall (August), spring (January), or summer (May) sessions.

Graduation Requirements

Students must earn a combined total of at least 120 semester hours from all sources. The 120 semester hours must include all of the following:

• 45 semester hours of upper-level course work
• 30 semester hours of credit earned from The University of Iowa after admission to the BAS program
• Completion of Core Requirements
  • Rhetoric: 4-8 s.h. (includes 2 composition courses and a speech course)
  • Quantitative or Formal Reasoning: 3 s.h.
  • Social Sciences: 3 s.h.
  • Cultural Diversity: 3 s.h.
  • Business/Management electives: 6 s.h.
• Completion of BAS Distribution Area Requirements
  • Students focus their plan of study by selecting a minimum of 3 of the 5 general thematic groupings, or Distribution Areas
  • Distribution Areas for the BAS degrees:
    • Humanities
  • Communications and Arts
  • Natural Science and Math
  • Social Sciences
  • Professional Fields
• Within each of the three selected areas, you are required to complete 12 semester hours of course work. At least six semester hours must be upper-level course work.
• A minimum 2.0 cumulative grade-point average (GPA) in
• All completed course work
• All upper-level course work
• All University of Iowa course work
• All transfer course work

*For more information on earning your Associate of Applied Science (AAS) or Applied Science (AS) degree, visit these Web sites:

Des Moines Area Community College
Eastern Iowa Community College (EICCD) 
Ellsworth Community College
Iowa Community College Online Consortium (ICCOC)
Iowa Lakes Community College
Kirkwood community College
Marshalltown Community College
North Iowa Area Community College (NIACC)
Northwest Iowa Community College
Southwestern Community College

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