Online Bachelor of Arts in Applied Studies Degree

Explore multicultural perspectives, sociological change, technological advances and leadership theories in today's workforce. This cross-disciplinary curriculum will build your technical and occupational skills and prepare you for success.

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Rather than focusing on a single academic area, the applied studies degree provides a well-rounded learning experience. The Bachelor of Arts in Applied Studies is a degree completion program suited for police officers, EMS workers, firefighters and other professionals seeking a degree for career advancement.

As a student, you will:

Learn leadership, applied communication, and applied humanities.
Leverage the experience you have already gained and finish your degree for professional advancement.
Customize your choice of courses to align with your career path.

Next Session

Spring II (Mar 3, 2025)

Estimated Tuition

$500/Credit

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Ways to Learn

Online

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Applicants for this program must complete the formal application process and submit required documents. Documents required vary based on the number of transferable credits and include:

0 - 11 TRANSFERABLE CREDITS

High school diploma or GED equivalent
Official high school transcript indicating the date of graduation

12 OR MORE TRANSFERABLE CREDITS

A minimum 2.0 cumulative GPA
Provide official transcripts from ALL colleges and universities attended

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Admissibility and minimum transfer credit awarded will be determined based on the Community College of the Air Force, SMART, AARTS or JST transcripts.

Transcripts

Only credits from regionally accredited institutions may be accepted in transfer. Failure to report any previous academic work at another college or university may be considered a violation of academic integrity.

HAVE QUESTIONS ABOUT UNDERGRADUATE REQUIREMENTS? Request more information>

My professors are awesome. Very flexible, quick to respond to questions, very knowledgeable, and my impression is that they want you to be successful and do well in their class.

Cynthia S.
BA, Applied Studies

When you take those things that you learn in school and apply it, it makes so much sense how you're able to lead; and then you become a better leader. Within two years after going back to school I was recognized and received a 2018 non-commission officer of the year award. And that was all, I feel, because of my education.

Jorge H.
BA, Applied Studies

General Education Requirements

Bachelor degrees require students to complete a minimum of 120 semester units which include a combination of General Education requirements and program specific requirements. In the absence of sufficient transfer credit, students may need to take additional general electives to satisfy the 120 total units for the degree which a UMass Global Academic Advisor will help you evaluate.

Code	Course Name	Credits
Basic Skills		12
ENGU103	Writing Communication I: Writing and Rhetoric	3
ENGU 104	Written Communication II: Writing About Literature	3
MATU 103	Applied Mathematics	3
COMU 101	Public Speaking 1	3
	Quantitative reasoning	3
	Oral communication	3
Breadth Requirements		24
Humanities	Select from 3 different areas: Communications, English, Fine Arts, Foreign Languages, Humanities, Liberal Studies, Philosophy, Religious Studies	9
Natural Sciences	Select 6 credits	6
Social Sciences	Select from 3 different areas: Criminal Justice, Early Childhood Education, Economics, History, Marketing, Organizational Leadership, Political Science/Legal Studies, Psychology, Social Sciences, Social Work, Sociology	9
Liberal Education Foundations		6
LBSU 302	Information Fluency and Academic Integrity	3
LBSU 304	Liberal Arts Core Foundations	3
Total Credits		42

Core Requirements

In addition to the University General Education and elective requirements, the BAAS has a foundation requirement of 15 credits and a degree concentration of 21 additional credit hours at the upper division level, for which students may select any 21 credits of elective, upper division courses or may select one of the three degree concentrations below.

Foundation courses may be used to fulfill both major and general education requirements.

Code	Course Name	Credits
LBSU 306	Transition to Applied Studies	3
COMU 315	Intercultural Communication	3
COMU 375	Media Ethics	3
ENGU 380	Professional Writing	3
LBSU 487	Applied Studies Capstone	3
Total Foundation Course Credit Requirement		15
Select one of the concentrations		21
Total Credits		36

Applied Communication Concentration

Code	Course Name	Credits
COMU 300	Communications and Media: Challenges and Opportunities	3
COMU 301	Advanced Public Speaking	3
or COMU 370	Principles of Public Relations	3
COMU 330	History of Communication and Technological Revolutions	3
COMU 420	Strategic Social Media	3
ENGU 348	Writing and Producing for New Media in the 21st Century	3
HUMU 345	Art, Media Technology, and Culture	3
Select upper division course (three credits) from Communications, English, or Psychology		3
Total Credits		21

Applied Humanities

Code	Course Name	Credits
ENGU 348	Writing and Producing for New Media in the 21st Century	3
ENGU 350	Ethical Leadership through Literature	3
HISU 319	Modern European History	3
HISU 330	America and Its Revolution: The Bonfires of Change	3
HUMU 250	Humanities in the Digital Culture	3
HUMU 345	Art, Media Technology, and Culture	3
Select one upper division course from Humanities, English, Philosophy, History or Liberal Studies*		3
Total Credits		21

*Except LBSU 302 Information Fluency and Academic Integrity and LBSU 304 Liberal Arts Core Foundations

Leadership Concentration

Code	Course Name	Credits
COMU 301	Advanced Public Speaking	3
ENGU 350	Ethical Leadership through Literature	3
OLCU 414	Team Building	3
OLCU 425	Leadership in Diverse and Multicultural Organizations	3
PSYU 481	Industrial/Organizational Psychology	3
OLCU 300	Organizational Behavior	3
or OLCU 303	Organizational Development and Change
Select one upper division course from Communication, Entrepreneurship, Human Resources, and/or Organizational Leadership		3
Total Credits		21

Accreditation

University of Massachusetts Global is accredited by the WASC Senior College and University Commission (WSCUC)

arts-sciences

Dr. Ned Camuso

Associate Dean, School of Art & Sciences, Associate Professor of Humanities

Specialty

Humanities

Communications and Media

Political Philosophy

All arts & sciences faculty

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BA in Applied Studies