Bachelor of Applied Arts and Sciences, B.A.A.S.

William Harris, coordinator
Ferguson Building, Room 273AA
Phone: (936) 468-6537
Fax: (936) 468-8240
E-mail: baas@sfasu.edu
Web: sfasu.edu/oidp

The B.A.A.S. is unique among all other degrees at SFA in that it allows students to apply non-academic credit to the completion of a bachelor’s degree. Credits earned through community college vocational or technical programs, military training, and occupational licensure or certification are generally not accepted as college credit hours in traditional bachelor’s degree programs. However, after evaluating appropriate documentation (see Eligibility and Documentation below), a B.A.A.S. advisor may apply these credits to the degree, providing a shorter route to completing a bachelor’s degree than many traditional programs. Students who hold an associate degree in a technical field are particularly well positioned to take advantage of the opportunities offered by the B.A.A.S.

Eligibility and Documentation

Students must have a cumulative GPA of 2.0 or higher to be considered for admission to the B.A.A.S. program. Normally, students admitted to this program will fall within one of the following categories:

Those students who have earned all or a substantial part of an associate degree that included technical credit, such as courses in respiratory therapy, graphic arts, welding, etc. Transcripts from the junior or community college will provide sufficient documentation to verify eligibility.
Those students who have been out of school for a number of years and have developed vocational-technical competencies equivalent to a community college program. Documentation necessary to determine eligibility for B.A.A.S. credit may include, but is not limited to, a certificate of completion, a letter from a supervisor certifying training hours completed toward certification or licensure, and a description of training sessions with hours required to complete each. If the learning experience occurred outside of a training program related to professional licensure or certification, the student must submit an occupational portfolio.
Those students who are veterans or are currently serving in the military and have acquired specialized training as part of their service. (Military transcripts will need to be submitted to the Office of Admissions for evaluation.)

Is the B.A.A.S. program for you?

The B.A.A.S. is NOT designed to accommodate students seeking teacher certification while completing the bachelor’s degree. Coursework in elementary or secondary education is not normally used in the B.A.A.S.

The B.A.A.S. is NOT normally intended to prepare students for graduate or professional school. Students who plan to apply to law school, medical school or graduate programs in academic disciplines should consult with an SFA advisor before applying for the B.A.A.S. program.

Many B.A.A.S. applicants also are eligible for the SFA Community College Transfer Scholarship program. Contact the Office of Admissions for more information.

Degree Components (Total: 120 hours)

There are essentially three parts to the B.A.A.S. - the core curriculum, which provides academic foundations for all university students; the area of specialization, which is the equivalent of coursework in the major in a traditional degree program and is where non-academic credit is applied; and the professional development area, which takes the place of the minor in a traditional degree program and is intended to broaden the academic foundations of the student.

1. Core Curriculum Requirements (42 hours)

Core curriculum requirements (42 hours) are listed in the Core Curriculum section of this bulletin.

Collateral Requirements: (6 hours)

Three hours from:

CSC 101 - Introduction to Computing Credit(s): 3
CSC 102 - Computer Science Principles Credit(s): 3
CSC 121 - Introduction to Information Processing Systems Credit(s): 3
CSC 201 - Introduction to Information Technology Credit(s): 3

Three hours of

ENG 273 - Technical and Scientific Writing Credit(s): 3

2.

An area of specialization consisting of 36 to 48 hours from a specific occupational area. The area of specialization includes AAS 300 , which is a required three-hour seminar in professional planning and development. Students also may choose to take AAS 496 , an optional internship in the area of specialization. The area of specialization will be designated as one of the following:

agricultural technology
allied health occupations
applied technology
business occupations
energy technologies
public safety and administration
graphic arts

3.

A professional development area consisting of at least 24 hours selected from an academic discipline in consultation with an advisor. The professional development area should provide an intellectual foundation for the area of specialization. The professional development area also includes AAS 498 , a three-hour capstone seminar taken in the student’s final semester. Students also may choose to take AAS 495 , an optional internship in the professional development area.

4.

Sufficient electives to total 120 semester hours.

5.

A minimum of 42 semester hours of residence work at SFA.

6.

A minimum of 36 semester hours of advanced courses (300-499 courses) at SFA.

7.

A grade of at least C in each freshman English course; if required by the Texas Success Initiative, and unless exempted from the Texas Success Initiative, a C in MTH 099 and IRW 099 ; a grade of at least a C in ENG 273 , AAS 300 and AAS 498 ; a C average in the area of specialization; a C average in the professional development area; a C average in work completed at SFA. These required averages are based on those courses in each category that are included in the student’s official degree plan.

8.

Students must complete a minimum of nine semester hours that follow the Division of Multidisciplinary Program’s writing-enhanced Policy.

9.

Students may not earn more than 30 hours of academic credit from the Nelson Rusche College of Business .

To Apply

If you think you meet eligibility criteria for the B.A.A.S., the following steps are necessary to be admitted to the program.

Apply for admission to SFA.
Upon being admitted to the university, you must submit a B.A.A.S. application for admission and documentation of eligibility to the B.A.A.S. program director. B.A.A.S. applications are available online at sfasu.edu/oidp/100.asp.
Allow four to six weeks for your materials to be reviewed and eligibility determined. If you are accepted into the B.A.A.S. program, you will be contacted to arrange an appointment for advising and degree planning.
Deadlines for admission into the B.A.A.S. program are July 31 for fall semesters, Dec. 1 for spring semesters and April 1 for summer semesters.

Send all B.A.A.S. materials to:
Division of Multidisciplinary Programs
P.O. Box 6082, SFA Station
Nacogdoches, TX 75962
Phone: (936) 468-6537
Fax: (936) 468-8240
Email: baas@sfasu.edu