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

Admission to the Program

Before a student can be admitted, the student must arrange an interview with the Director or Academic Advisor of the BAAS Program.

BAAS students are limited to not more than twenty-five percent of their total semester credit hours in courses transferable to a program in a school of business and not more than fifteen semester credit hours in business school courses completed at Midwestern State University. However, students may select a minor in Business Administration  with the approval of the BAAS Advisor and Dean of the Dillard College of Business Administration.

A minimum of 24 semester hours of non-core work in the area of occupational specialty must be completed before the student can be admitted into the program.  Students currently enrolled at Midwestern State University in a designated degree program who satisfy the intent of the mission statement, meet the occupational specialty hours, and have at least a 2.0 cumulative GPA at the end of their currently enrolled semester, will be allowed to transfer to the BAAS degree program. Exceptions to this policy will be considered on an individual basis by the BAAS Director. In such cases, the student must submit to the BAAS Director a petition letter accompanied by a letter of recommendation from an advisor in the student’s current major.

Degree Requirements

All transfers from another MSU program must complete at least 12 hours under the BAAS program at MSU to be eligible to graduate from the BAAS program.

The student must complete a baccalaureate degree plan from residence and transfer credit hours by meeting the requirements as follows:

General

(See General Requirements for all Bachelor’s Degrees )

Academic Foundations and Core Curriculum - 42 semester hours

(See Academic Foundations and Core Curriculum - 42 semester hours )

Occupational Specialty Area - 42 semester hours and any additional hours necessary to meet the 120-hour university requirement.

The following, although not limited, are nontraditional and prior learning experiences which may be utilized in the occupational specialty area: Vocational/technical hours from the community college; elective hours from colleges and universities; hours from joint services transcripts; ACE (American Council on Education)-accredited programs and courses; unique partnerships with licensing and certifying entities; and qualifying work experience. To qualify for work experience credit a student must have three (3) consecutive years of full-time employment within the last six (6) years. Two hours of credit may be granted for each qualifying year of work experience related to the student’s occupational specialty or professional concentration, up to a maximum of six (6) hours. Credit for nontraditional experiences is granted on the basis of evaluation by the BAAS Director utilizing the National Guide of American Council on Education (ACE) and other appropriate publications and documentation. Documentation will be placed in the student’s permanent file in the Office of the Registrar when the student has completed at least nine (9) semester hours in the BAAS Program.

Professional Development Area Concentrations: 36 advanced semester hours

• The BAAS Degree with General Studies Concentration
• The BAAS Degree with Adult Education Concentration
• The BAAS Degree with Childhood and Adolescent Studies Concentration
• The BAAS Degree with Criminal Justice Concentration
• The BAAS Degree with Healthcare Administration Concentration
• The BAAS Degree with Human Resource Development Concentration
• The BAAS Degree with Human Services Concentration
• The BAAS Degree with Kinesiology Concentration
• The BAAS Degree with Liberal Arts Concentration
• The BAAS Degree with Technology Concentration

The BAAS Degree with General Studies Concentration

The General Studies Concentration is a multi-interdisciplinary approach that will allow students to design their own course of study by selecting subject areas of choice. Students are able to form a coherent specialization that is unavailable elsewhere in the university as an organized plan of study. Students are able to pursue a particular intellectual or personal interest, or complete courses as professional development, which may be employment related. Students may select no more than 15 hours of business courses through the College of Business. A graduate would be prepared to work in a wide range of careers. Employment may be found in both the private and public sectors of the workforce, or students may elect to continue on to graduate and professional studies.

The BAAS Degree with Adult Education Concentration

The Adult Education Concentration is a gateway program that provides students with the background to serve an organization in the area of training and development for adults. The coursework combines strategies in adult learning, instructional system designs, best practice for adult learners regarding curriculum development, mentoring and the integration of technology into the training and development process. A graduate would be prepared for a career in training and development for civil service, business, or industry.

The BAAS Degree with Childhood and Adolescent Studies Concentration

The Childhood and Adolescent Studies Concentration prepares individuals to work with children and adolescents in career environments related to school, youth related social service careers, health care, athletics, and other community settings.  This concentration does not lead to a teacher certification.  The interdisciplinary approach allows the student to learn about the unique perspectives of children and adolescents as they learn about the developmental and cognitive stages of childhood and adolescences.

The BAAS Degree with Criminal Justice Concentration

The Criminal Justice Concentration provides students the background to pursue employment options in the criminal justice career field. The combination of such courses as law enforcement, political science, psychology, sociology, and social work prepares those already working in the field for career advancement. For those wishing to enter a criminal justice field, the degree offers the graduate the possibility of employment in such career fields as federal, state, and local law enforcement, institutional and community-based corrections, and criminal investigations.

The BAAS Degree with Healthcare Administration Concentration

The Healthcare Administration Concentration is designed for students or healthcare professionals who have an accredited associate’s degree or certificate from a vocational technical program, hours from a medical or healthcare services degree or program, or those currently working or desiring to work in the healthcare or medical field.  This concentration prepares individuals to assume positions as managers, trainers, and educators within various healthcare-related fields.  Upon completion of this concentration students will have acquired the foundation to further advance their knowledge and skills to be more effective in their roles as managers and trainers within their various fields.

The Healthcare Administration Concentration is an interdisciplinary approach to a general foundation of healthcare administration theory, application, education, and training, and previous healthcare and medical coursework.  This concentration would provide entry level access for those interested in the healthcare or medical professions, and those continuing professionals in various healthcare and medical professions not requiring professional certification and licensure.

The BAAS Degree with Human Resource Development Concentration

The Human Resource Development Concentration prepares individuals to work towards improving the performance of workers within industry or governmental sector.  The multi-disciplinary coursework combines strategies in counseling, adult learning, and the integration of technology into the training and development process.  A graduate would be prepared for a career in training and development for any industry.  Those currently in the field will have acquired the foundation to further advance their knowledge and skills to be more effective in their roles as managers and trainers within their organization’s employee assistance, training, or employee development programs.

The BAAS Degree with Human Services Concentration

The Human Services Concentration prepares individuals to meet human needs through an interdisciplinary knowledge base.  Focusing on prevention, as well as remediation of problems, graduates will help improve the overall quality of life of the serviced populations. The multi-disciplinary coursework combines a general foundation of human services theory, work application, and academic coursework for students at entry level or those currently working in social services, governmental agencies, institutional and community-based corrections, child welfare systems, and nonprofit and health service agencies.

The BAAS Degree with Kinesiology Concentration

The Kinesiology Concentration provides students with knowledge and structured learning experiences in the areas of health, wellness, and sports and fitness.  Students will gain foundational knowledge in planning, organizing, and implementing leisure, recreation, and sports programs.  Employment, not requiring licensure or certification, in areas such as health and wellness, sports-related programs, recreation and leisure, across a spectrum of industries and businesses are relatable to this Concentration.  Those currently in the field will advance knowledge and skills beneficial for employment and career advancement.

The BAAS Degree with Liberal Arts Concentration

The Liberal Arts Concentration is a gateway program that provides students with the critical thinking tools for a lifetime of learning and career achievement. The program is designed to fulfill the needs of students who wish to prepare for the challenges of today’s world by acquiring the skills and tools provided by a broadly based liberal arts education. The goal of the program is to equip these students with that broad base of knowledge in the liberal arts and to provide them with the communication and language skills necessary for success in the marketplace and in life.

The BAAS Degree with Technology Concentration

The Technology Concentration provides students with the technology tools for a lifetime of learning and career achievement.  The program is designed to fulfill the needs of students who wish to prepare for the challenges of today’s world by acquiring the skills and tools provided by a broadly based technology education.  The goal of the program is to equip these students with that broad base of knowledge in technology and to provide them with the communication and language skills necessary for success in the marketplace and in life.