The Bachelor of Applied Arts and Sciences is an accelerated, non-traditional degree program designed to offer adult students an opportunity to have prior learning experiences assessed for college credit. Prior learning may have occurred through the student’s occupations, formal training received in a non-college setting such as business and industry, and/or military training. The BAAS program also accepts transfer credit from accredited institutions and the U.S. military. Applicants to the BAAS program must have a minimum of five years work experience in a field and a minimum of 15 semester college hours and be TASP except or TASP complete. BAAS students applying for non-traditional credit evaluation must enroll in PSY 390, Psychology of Work, to develop a portfolio documenting college-level experiential learning. Credit is awarded for documented learning, not for experience. The portfolio must be completed within the required time frame to receive the credit award. For non-collegiate credit, three primary categories are considered:

1. Work/Life: Students may apply for a maximum of 24 semester credit hours of college credit based on prior learning experiences acquired through their occupation. The portfolio process (in conjunction with PSY 390) will assist students in identifying and verifying such learning to be presented for credit. Students should possess adequate writing skills that will enable them to develop a portfolio of sufficient depth and quality to be assessed for college-level credit. Credit for the portfolio is awarded in a “block” of semester credit hours based on the student’s vocational-occupational specialization. The major of the degree plan is Applied Arts and Sciences. An official degree plan is issued after the portfolio is evaluated and credit is awarded. Students may not complete the portfolio and graduate within the same semester without permission of the Coordinator of the BAAS program.

2. Non-Collegiate: Students may apply for a maximum of 30 SCH of college credit in this category which includes job-specific training of 40+ contact hours, military training, and courses evaluated by the American Council on Education.

3. Credit by Exam and Correspondence: Students may earn a maximum of 18 through examination or correspondence courses from accredited institutions. Credit by Exam includes such programs as College Level Examination Program (CLEP), Advanced Placement (AP), and College Entrance Examination Board (CEEB). All alternative course work must be approved by the Coordinator of the BAAS degree program. Regardless of the number of semester credit hours awarded as non-traditional credit, students must complete a minimum of 30 SCH in residence coursework at Texas A&M University-Texarkana. Residency hours cannot be awarded by non-traditional means. BAAS students must also complete a minimum of 54 upper division hours and 60 hours from a senior level institution in order to qualify for graduation. Prior learning credits are not transferable to other institutions or other degree programs nor does Texas A&M University-Texarkana accept portfolio credits granted elsewhere. Note: Non-traditional credit will not count toward the residency requirement for graduation or honors designation. Students who wish honors designation must complete 45 resident hours.