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Regents Bachelor of Arts
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The Regents Bachelor of Arts Degree Program is a nontraditional academic program offered by the baccalaureate degree granting public institutions of the West Virginia Higher Education Policy Commission.
The Regents BA Degree Program (RBA), is an accredited and innovative baccalaureate degree, originally developed by the West Virginia Board of Regents. The Regents BA Degree Program is designed to give adults an opportunity to earn a four-year degree in a nontraditional way. A unique feature of the Regents BA Degree is that students may be awarded credit in the usual manner in addition to earning college equivalent credits for work and life experience. In the Regents BA Degree Program students are able to plan an individualized program of study tailored to meet personal goals.
The Regents BA Degree Program is of superior academic quality, and the holder of a Regents Bachelor of Arts Degree must meet requirements comparable to the more conventional baccalaureate degree. The difference in the two routes toward obtaining a bachelor of arts degree is the key element of the Regents BA Degree Program. Credit awarded in the conventional manner may be used in the Regents BA Degree Program and, in addition, college equivalent credits awarded for work and life experience may also count toward the Regents BA Degree.
Students entering the Regents BA Degree Program are judged on their own individual merit, and may create a very unique program suited to their personal individual needs. The Regents BA Degree Program is not designed as an escape outlet for students who are excluded from other traditional academic programs for reasons of poor scholarship. Poor scholarship in early years, however, should not preclude admission of a candidate who has demonstrated the ability to acquire and use knowledge.
The Regents BA Degree Program is different from other baccalaureate degree plans in that . . .
- College credit for work or life experience may count toward the Regents BA Degree requirements.
- While the program is designed to ensure the Regents BA Degree student’s sound educational foundation, rigid specialization requirements are not imposed.
- The student selects one of the ten participating institutions to sponsor the degree, but is permitted to take courses through all institutions in the West Virginia public system of higher education.
- Admission to the Regents BA Degree Program is open to students who have been graduated from high school for at least four years. For those passing a high school equivalency examination, admission must be at least four years after their class graduated from high school.
- By design the Regents BA Degree Program is operated on the same level of academic quality as other, more traditionally structured baccalaureate degree programs
- The Regents BA Degree Program has been designed as the mechanism suitable for adults who are interested in obtaining a four year college degree.
Regents Bachelor of Arts Program
Nine specific “area of emphasis” options have been established within the Regents Bachelor of Arts program at Bluefield State College. These “areas of emphasis” permit RBA students to take 15 semester hours of upper-level coursework (numbered 300-400) and three to eight semester hours of lower level coursework in designated academic areas (the precise number of specialized credits depends on the emphasis selected). When the area of emphasis is completed it will appear on the student’s BSC transcript. Areas of emphasis are: American Justice Studies, Business, English, Geography, History, Natural Science, Political Science, Psychology, and Sociology.
Students should contact the RBA Coordinator for specific “Area of Emphasis” course requirements.
In order to be considered for admission to the Regents BA Degree Program, it is necessary to submit the appropriate undergraduate application for admission to the Director of Admissions.
(1) To be eligible for the Regents BA Degree Program, the student must have graduated from high school at least four years ago. Students are not eligible for admission into the Regents BA Degree Program until at least four calendar years after graduation from high school.
(2) If the student has passed a high school equivalency examination (GED), admission to the Regents BA Degree Program must be at least four years after the student’s high school class graduated.
Those prospective applicants who are interested in applying for admission are advised to contact the Regents BA Degree Program Coordinator for an appointment to discuss their individual program objectives, and obtain the necessary application forms.
Admission to the Regents BA Degree Program at Bluefield State College does not provide for automatic admission to other programs at West Virginia colleges and universities, but provides only for admission to the Regents BA Degree Program at Bluefield State College.
A student may not be enrolled simultaneously in the Regents BA Degree Program and another baccalaureate degree program. Students with an accredited baccalaureate degree are excluded from admission to the Regents BA Degree Program.
Tuition and Fees
Registration, tuition, and service fees for enrollment in courses are assessed according to the current established fee schedule in effect at Bluefield State College.
A fee of $300 will be charged for standardized credit evaluation. Also, an evaluation fee of $300 is charged each time portfolios are submitted.
A graduation fee is required when the student submits the application for graduation. Students are required to submit the application for graduation within the first 30 days of the semester in which they plan to graduate.
All “F” grades received four years or more before admission to the program are disregarded. Grading, retention, and graduation requirements follow the same procedures that govern other degree programs at Bluefield State College.
Transfer of credits from any accredited college or university to the Regents BA Degree Program can be accomplished by having an official transcript of all earned credits sent directly to the Admissions Office at Bluefield State College.
In transferring credits from accredited institutions of higher learning to the Regents BA Degree Program, all passing grades, and accredited correspondence credits are accepted. Established policies regarding the transfer of credits between institutions apply to students in the Regents BA Degree Program.
Satisfactory results from the Proficiency Examination Program (PEP), the College Level Examination Program (CLEP), the United States Air Force Institute (USAFI), and other similar tests are acceptable for credit.
Transfer credits are assessed for purposes of meeting requirements in upper level and lower level division instruction at the time of entrance into the Regents BA Degree Program.
Students enrolled in the Regents BA Degree Program are admitted to particular courses of instruction subject to availability of class space and/or enrollment limitations on the same basis as any other student at Bluefield State College.
Students are instructed to note the Bluefield State College Catalog regarding specific course prerequisites.
Grading standards are the same as for other Bluefield State College students.
In addition, the required credits in communication, humanities, social sciences, natural sciences, mathematical sciences or computer applications may be met by college equivalent credit.
Credits for the Regents BA Degree Program may be fulfilled by traditional college courses, instructional television courses, distance learning courses, credit for accredited correspondence courses, college equivalent credit, credit by examination, and credits earned as an approved transient student at other accredited institutions.
In the case of “pass-fail” grades, the “pass” grade will be accepted for credit, but will not be included in the cumulative grade point average.
The credit awarded for work and life experience is called college equivalent credit.
The Registrar’s Office at Bluefield State College maintains a complete permanent academic record of each student enrolled in the Regents BA Degree Program.
All transfer credits, and college equivalent credits which have been approved for work and life experience appear on the permanent academic record. However, not all such credit may be applicable should a student wish to pursue an additional degree program.
Students planning to graduate are advised to obtain graduation information (i.e., fees, caps, gowns, etc.) from the Registrar’s Office. Graduation fees are due and payable during the first 30 days of the semester in which the student expects to graduate.
Graduation with Honors
To be eligible for these honors the Regents BA Degree student must have completed 32 semester hours at Bluefield State College; of the last 32 hours, 16 hours must be completed at Bluefield State College.
All institution procedures and policies prevail for the Regents BA Degree Program with regard to: Academic Calendar; Institution Procedures and Policies; Eligibility for Financial Assistance; Athletic Participation; Student Government and Elective Office; and Graduation Requirements, etc.
Total Semester Hours Required: 128
Candidates for the Regents BA Degree must earn a minimum of 128 semester hours. A cumulative grade point average of 2.0 or better is required for graduation.
General Education Distribution Requirements: 36 hours
Of the 128 hours required for the Regents BA Degree, a minimum of thirty-six semester hours must be distributed as follows:
- CoMMUNICATIONS - Minimum of six (6) semester hours: English 101, 102 or an equivalent English Composition course, Speech, Journalism, or Foreign Language
- HUMANITIES - Minimum of six (6) semester hours: Literature, Religion, Philosophy, Art, Music, History
- NATURAL SCIENCE - Minimum of six (6) semester hours: Chemistry, Physics, Geology, Astronomy, Physical Science, Biology, Botany, Zoology, Mathematics
- SOCIAL SCIENCE - Minimum of six (6) semester hours: Sociology, Psychology, Economics, Anthropology, Political Science, Social Science, Geography, Criminal Justice
- MATHEMATICAL SCIENCES/COMPUTER APPLICATIONS - Minimum of three (3) semester hours: Mathematics, Statistics, Computer Applications, Computer Programming Language
- An additional nine (9) semester hours chosen from the five areas listed above: Communications, Humanities, Natural Science, Social Science, Mathematical Sciences/Computer Applications
Regents BA students must obtain a minimum of forty (40) semester hours of upper division/level courses. “Upper Division/Level” means 300 and 400 junior and senior level courses. All upper division courses are electives unless specified for an area of emphasis option.
Residency Requirements : 24 hours
Completion of twenty-four (24) semester hours from any accredited West Virginia state public institution (including community colleges) is required. A minimum of twelve (12) semester hours must be completed at Bluefield State College. This requirement cannot be satisfied by CLEP, PEP, USAFI, or College Equivalent Credits.
Contact Information
For additional information contact Dr. Felica Wooten Williams.
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Dr. Felica Wooten Williams
Executive Director, Title III/Academic Outreach Programs Room: Conley Hall 212 Telephone: (304) 327-4212 Email: fblanks@bluefieldstate.edu |
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