University Catalog

Bachelor of Applied Arts and Sciences

About This Program*added Spring 2026

The Bachelor of Applied Arts and Sciences is a flexible, multidisciplinary degree plan designed to help transfer students with community college degrees and non-traditional students who wish to transfer previous college credit, including up to 24 credits of certain Workforce Equivalency Course Manual (WECM) credits earned from technical or military courses.  The program focuses on skills and content to prepare students for careers of their choice, through three tracks among which learners may choose to concentrate their studies: Geographic Information Systems Thinking (GIST), Justice Studies, and a student-designed option. 

Competencies

  1. Upon completion of the program students will be able to communicate effectively in writing and speech.
  2. Upon completion of the program students will be able to solve problems through analysis of data, reason, and proactive thinking.
  3. Upon completion of the program students will be able to demonstrate proficiency across a range of technologies.
  4. Upon completion of the program students will be able to have developed a desire for lifelong learning.

Admissions Criteria

Associate’s Degree, or minimum 60 hours college credit, or demonstration of progress toward degree and at least 10 years work experience.

Curriculum

Foundations
General Core Requirements 42
BAAS Program Foundations
UNIV-LA 1131STUDENT SUCCESS1
or UNIV-LA 1101 CAREER PREPARATION AND STUDENT SUCCESS
Select a 1441 and 1442 sequence in any modern or classical language.8
BAAS Specialization
Core
BAAS 3301 INTRODUCTION TO INTERDISCIPLINARY STUDIES FOR THE BAAS3
BAAS 4398 BACHELOR OF APPLIED ARTS & SCIENCES CAPSTONE3
Select one of the following concentrations.24
Geographic Information Systems Thinking
Select 6 from the following:
PHYSICAL GEOGRAPHY
HUMAN GEOGRAPHY
MAPS AND MAPMAKERS
AMERICA'S BORDERS AND BORDERLANDS
THE SPATIAL HUMANITIES
UNDERSTANDING GEOGRAPHIC INFORMATION SYSTEMS
ANALYSIS OF SPATIAL DATA
GLOBAL POSITIONING SYSTEM
Select 2 courses in GEOG in consultation with the BAAS advisor.
Justice Studies
Complete the following prerequisites:
INTRODUCTION TO THE CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM
INTRODUCTION TO LAW ENFORCEMENT
Select 6 from the following:
JUVENILE JUSTICE SYSTEMS
THE AMERICAN JUDICIAL SYSTEM
COMMUNITY CORRECTIONS
INSTITUTIONAL CORRECTIONS
COMPARATIVE CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEMS
Student Designed
Select 8 courses in consultation with the BAAS advisor.
General Electives
Select courses sufficient to complete 120 hours. 139
Total Hours120
1

No more than 24 hours of coursework transferred in as WECM may be used toward electives. No more than 4 hours of EXSA or DNCA courses can be counted toward electives.

Program Completion

The completion requirements are the same as the University’s minimum requirements.

Advising Resources

The Liberal Arts Applied Programs (LAAP) office offers advising for students majoring in Interdisciplinary Studies (INTS) or minoring in Law and Legal Studied (LLS) or Gender, Women, & Sexuality Studies (GWSS). First time in college students should speak to a LAAP advisor when starting their second year. Transfer students should contact a LAAP advisor when enrolled.

Location:

University Hall 520

Email:

laap.advising@uta.edu

Phone:

817-272-3131