BAS FAQ - Distance Education - The University of Iowa

Frequently asked questions about the BAS degree program

I have worked for three years or more, but only at a part-time and not a fulltime job. Do I qualify for BAS admission?
What is considered transferable credit?
I'm in the military. Will my educational efforts and military training help me graduate faster?
Does The University of Iowa award credit for DANTES exams?
Does The University of Iowa award credit for professional training or life experience activities?
What are upper-level credits?
Will there be opportunities for me to earn a minor in another area of study?
How quickly can I graduate?
What should I do if I’m not sure I'll meet admission requirements?
Will my employer or graduate schools accept my BAS degree?

I have worked for three years or more, but only at a part-time and not a fulltime job. Do I qualify for BAS admission?
Yes, you do not need to have three years of fulltime employment. Part-time employment as well qualifies you for admission into the BAS program.

What is considered transferable credit?
You can transfer credit from any or all of the following educational institutions.

Four-year institutions:
All credit from regionally accredited institutions can be transferred to the UI. Regional accrediting agencies are the North Central, Middle States, and Southern Associations of Colleges and Schools; and the New England, Western, and Northwest Associations of Schools and Colleges.

Evaluation of credit from schools not regionally accredited is based on recommendations in the current issue of Transfer Credit Practices of Designated Educational Institutions, published by the American Association of Collegiate Registrars and Admissions Officers.

Note: Excelsior College exam credit is not accepted.

Two-year institutions:
A maximum of 60 s.h. of credit from regionally accredited institutions will be counted toward the 120 s.h. graduation requirement.

Community college credit earned beyond 60 s.h. should still be transferred to Iowa. It may be used to satisfy categorical graduation requirements, but it will not reduce the total number of hours needed to graduate.

Note: A maximum of 16 s.h. of vocational-technical credit can be counted toward the 120 s.h. needed to graduate. These hours are considered part of the 60 hours of community college credit.

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I'm in the military. Will my educational efforts and military training help me graduate faster?
Contact the Office of Admissions for the "Military Transcripts" fact sheet. It includes information about what transcripts are needed for military training experience along with the forms that are needed to order those transcripts.

Does The University of Iowa award credit for DANTES exams?
DANTES (Defense Activity for Nontraditional Educational Support) credit does not count toward graduation requirements, except for selected CLEP tests that are reported on a DANTES transcript (see below). For information on policies and tests that are accepted by The University of Iowa College of Liberal Arts and Sciences, refer to the CLAS Student Academic Handbook.

Does The University of Iowa award credit for professional training or life experience activities?
UI awards credit only for academic course work. In general, no credit is awarded for life experience. Exceptions: American Council on Education (ACE) recommendations are used to evaluate non-collegiate training programs.

Credit may be available for training programs that are offered on a nationwide or industry-wide basis or by a major corporate employer. Evaluation of local, statewide, or regional training is typically not available.

Satisfactory performance on Iowa's foreign language proficiency test may satisfy all or part of the
foreign language requirement. No credit is awarded, but the foreign language requirement may be considered satisfied without completion of formal course work.

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What are upper-level credits?
Upper-level credits are earned for course work that is considered to be of a junior or senior level at a four-year institution. At The University of Iowa, upper-level courses are primarily those numbered XX:100 or higher. At other four-year institutions, the upper level designation often is XX:300 or higher. Course work completed at a community college is always considered lower level.

Will there be opportunities for me to earn a minor in another area of study?
Because the BAS degree allows for a flexible degree program, students may not minor in another area of study.

How quickly can I graduate?
The BAS program is unique in that there is no specific time for completion. How long it takes you to graduate will depend upon the requirements you need to complete, your course load, and how much time you devote to your courses.

What should I do if I’m not sure I'll meet admission requirements?
Contact the Center for Credit Programs Information Center, toll-free, at 800-272-6430 or 319-335-2575 with your questions about the BAS degree program.

Will employers or graduate schools accept my BAS degree?
The BAS degree is an accredited University of Iowa degree approved by the Iowa Board of Regents. It is quickly becoming a popular choice among persons wishing to complete their degrees at a distance. Graduates of our external degree programs report they believe their programs help them better perform their job duties. Many of our graduates go on to complete advanced degrees in law, business, medicine, and education.

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