The
Bachelor of Liberal Studies (BLS)
External Degree Program
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The BLS degree program allows you to complete a bachelor's degree from The University of Iowa without attending classes full-time on campus. It is designed for individuals who, due to family and/or employment responsibilities wish to pursue a degree at a distance. An interdisciplinary approach to course work can reflect your interests as well as incorporate certificate programs into your studies: the Certificate in Public Health, offered by the College of Public Health; the Certificate in Entrepreneurial Management, offered by the John Pappajohn Entrepreneurial Center, Tippie College of Business; or the Certificate in Nonprofit Management offered by the Larned A. Waterman Iowa Nonprofit Resource Center. Because the program does not have departmental major requirements, you work with an advisor to plan your area of emphasis. To participate in the BLS program, it is essential to have Internet access. The Bachelor of Liberal Studies degree is awarded by the UI College of Liberal Arts and Sciences. The BLS is not an on-campus degree option. More than 800 students have graduated from the program since it was established in 1977; many have pursued graduate or professional work. The program is fully accredited by the North Central Association of Colleges and Schools (NCACS). |
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Admission Requirements
New University of Iowa applicants:- 60 semester hours (s.h.) of transferable credit,
- a cumulative grade-point average (GPA) of 2.5 or above and
- high school course requirements
Previously admitted University of Iowa students:
- 60 semester hours of transferable credit and
- a GPA of 2.0 or above on either all University of Iowa course work or on all course work completed
Other options for gaining admission:
Associate of Arts (AA)* degree:
- An AA from any Iowa community college or from Waldorf College allows you to be admitted with a 2.0 GPA. All General Education Program requirements are considered satisfied except the foreign language requirement.
- Applicants holding an AA from Black Hawk College in Illinois may be admitted with a 2.25 GPA. All General Education Program requirements are considered satisfied except the foreign language requirement.
- Students with AA degrees from other institutions are eligible for admission according to the criteria for new University of Iowa applicants listed above. Transfer credit is evaluated on a course-by-course basis.
Liberal Studies Interest (LSI):
LSI is designed for students who fall short of the 60 s.h. needed for direct admission to the BLS program. If you have 24-60 s.h. of transferable credit and a cumulative GPA of 2.5 or above, you will be admitted to The University of Iowa in LSI status.
Upon completion of 60 s.h. of credit, you may transfer into the BLS program by meeting the admission requirements for previously admitted University of Iowa students.
Applying for Admission
You can file your application electronically with the Office of Admissions. If you prefer, contact Distance Education, toll-free at 888-4-UofI-Ed (888-486-3433), to request a BLS information packet which includes an application form.
The following are needed to complete your application for admission:
- application form
- $40 application fee
- an official high school transcript (call Admissions if it's not available)
- official transcripts from each postsecondary institution you've attended
- documentation of military training, if applicable
- official transcripts for professional training programs, if applicable
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
Fall Semester: April 1
Spring Semester: November 15
Summer Session: April 1
Applications are processed as soon as possible after all transcripts 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. A maximum of 60 semester hours credit may be from two-year institutions. 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 BLS program
Completion of General Education Program requirements:
- Rhetoric course work equivalent to Composition I, Composition II, and Speech.
- Foreign Language: 0-16 semester hours (fourth semester course proficiency)
- Historical Perspectives: 3 semester hours
- Interpretation of Literature: 3 semester hours
- Humanities: 3 semester hours
- Natural Science: 7 semester hours
- Quantitative or Formal Reasoning: 3 semester hours
- Social Science: 3 semester hours
- Distributed General Education: 6 semester hours
For additional information on how Distance Education course work can satisfy graduation requirements, please see General Education Program Requirements.
Completion of BLS Distribution Area requirementsStudents focus their plan of study by selecting a minimum of three of the five general thematic groupings, or Distribution areas.
- 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.
- For additional information on how Distance Education course work can satisfy graduation requirements, please see Distribution Area Requirements.
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 Arts (AA) degree, visit these Web sites:
- Des Moines Area Community College (DMACC)
- Eastern Iowa Community College District (Clinton, Muscatine & Scott Community Colleges)
- Hawkeye Community College
- Indian Hills Community College
- Iowa Central Community College
- Iowa Community College Online Consortium (ICCOC)
- Iowa Lakes Community College
- Iowa Valley Community College District (Marshalltown, Ellsworth, Iowa Valley/Grinnell Community Colleges)
- Iowa Western Community College (IWCC)
- Kirkwood Community College
- North Iowa Area Community College (NIACC)
- Northeast Iowa Community College (NICC)
- Northwest Iowa Community College
- Southeastern Community College (SCC)
- Southwestern Community College
- Western Iowa Tech Community College (WITCC)
© The University of Iowa | All Rights Reserved
Contact the Division of Continuing Education | Updated
April 7, 2009