Regents Bachelor of Arts, R.B.A. < West Virginia University

Degree Offered

Regents Bachelor of Arts

Nature of the Program

The RBA is an innovative degree program designed to meet the unique needs of the adult student. Specifically, this program provides students with a comprehensive general education based on individualized skills and learning outcomes. Moreover, eligible students may acquire college credits based on their professional experiences in select subject areas and earned certifications. This option may provide a more cost-effective way of completing their education in a timely manner.

Mission

The mission of the RBA program is to provide adult learners with an opportunity to achieve their academic and career goals through a first-time Bachelor’s degree. This is accomplished by providing the highest quality education, services, and resources to promote student learning and academic success.

Fees

RBA tuition and fees are set according to Potomac State College of WVU standards.

For Additional Information:

Bonnie Lawson, Professional Advisor, RBA Advisor
106 Administration
WVU - Potomac State College
Keyser, WV 26726
Phone: (304) 788-6956
E-mail: Bonnie.Lawson@mail.wvu.edu

Admissions

How to Apply to the RBA Program

Students apply to Potomac State College through the Enrollment Services Office. Applications can also be submitted online from the potomacstatecollege.edu website.

Once the student’s application and transcripts have been received and processed by the Admissions Office. Enrollment Services will then send the student an acceptance letter with their Student ID number (WVU no longer uses Social Security Numbers for identification purposes). The student will also receive a MIX account username that gives access to their academic records, secure email systems, and links to other information available regarding WVU. Any academic information must be submitted through the student’s MIX email account. The Help Desk (304-293-4444) can assist any student with accessing their MIX account.

Students should contact the Enrollment Services office regarding deadlines, the application process or obtaining transcripts. Once the student has been admitted, they should contact the Academic Affairs office for assistance in registering for classes.

Admission Eligibility

High School Graduates

Students are eligible to be admitted to the RBA degree program if they have graduated from high school at least three years prior to application.

GED Students

Students who have passed a high school equivalency examination are eligible for admission three years after their high school class graduated.

Associate Degree Students

Students who have earned any Associate of Arts (AA), Associate of Science (AS), or Associate of Applied Science (AAS) degree are eligible for admission.

Transfer Students

Eligible students may transfer into the RBA program from other regionally accredited institutions or other majors within WVU.

RBA “F” Forgiveness

The RBA “F” forgiveness policy allows students to remove all failing grades three years or more prior to entering the RBA program from GPA calculations. This gives eligible students a second chance at completing their RBA degree by helping them meet the minimum GPA requirement. This process is only for first-time admission to the RBA program and is not applied to future semesters or readmission to the program. RBA “F” forgiveness only applies to students who remain in the RBA program.

NOTE: Students with accredited baccalaureate degrees are not eligible for the Regents Bachelor of Arts degree. Students cannot declare a second bachelor degree with the Regents Bachelor of Arts degree.

College Equivalent Credits (CEC) and Fees

Portfolios

College Equivalent Credit can be awarded to students for selected work and life experiences that can be equated to college coursework. Students can petition for credit for specific courses that relate to their work experience through the RBA portfolio option. The portfolio consists of developing:

A resume that highlights experiences that are relevant to courses being petitioned.
Narratives connecting work experiences with the learning outcomes of all courses petitioned.
Relevant supporting documents to help substantiate petition(s).

It is recommended that students take WVU’s portfolio development courses, MDS 301 (Integrative Writing) and MDS 302 (RBA Portfolio Development). These courses are designed to help prepare students who plan to petition for college equivalent credits through the portfolio option, including course selection, verification, and narrative development). This unique process requires one-on-one in-depth advising and approval to begin developing a portfolio. Students may also reach out to their RBA Advisor for guidance with this process.

Standardized Credits

Certain professional courses and certifications can be awarded college credit through the RBA’s Standardized Award process. The RBA program uses several different resources to research credit recommendations for professional courses and certifications. These include the West Virginia state RBA handbook and the American Council on Education (ACE). Courses that do not have a credit recommendation that would make them eligible for Standardized Award may be utilized as supporting documentation in the Portfolio option.

Restrictions

Students must have been admitted to the WVU RBA degree program to submit Portfolios or request Standardized Awards. Portfolio credit cannot be used to meet the residency requirement but may be used to meet general education and upper-division requirements. Portfolio credit may not duplicate credit already on the student’s transcript, and portfolio credit may not be transferred to other degrees. Courses or certifications issued credit via Standardized Award cannot be used as supporting documentation in the Portfolio option.

Fees

Requesting college equivalent credit (through the portfolio option or standardized awards) requires students to pay a standard CEC submission fee of $300 and an additional $10 per credit hour awarded through this process. Fees are billed through West Virginia University’s Office of Student Accounts.

Non-Regionally Accredited Credit Hours

The RBA program at WVU allows students to apply credit hours from institutions that are recognized by the United States Department of Education (USDE) but are not regionally accredited. This includes credit hours from institutions that are accredited by national, programmatic, or other accrediting bodies recognized by the USDE. Common examples include Technical and Junior colleges. This policy complies with West Virginia Higher Education Policy Commission Title 133 Series 17.

Credit hours accepted from non-regionally accredited institutions may not be used to meet the residency requirements for the RBA Program. Residency requirements must be completed at institutions within the West Virginia public higher education system.

Credit hours from non-regionally accredited institutions can apply only to the completion of the RBA degree program. In the event a non-regionally accredited institution utilizes clock hours, conversion of these hours will occur through WVU's Prior Learning Credit request process. Applying non-regionally accredited credit hours may impact financial aid and D/F repeat eligibility for RBA students as these hours are considered earned credit hours and contribute toward the course completion rate and maximum time frame for degree completion.

Degree Requirements

General Education:
- Communication Skills (6 hours) Outcome: Courses in this area must provide the student with skills and knowledge to be able to communicate effectively in a variety of formats.
- Humanities (6 hours) Outcome: Courses in this area must demonstrate knowledge in the interdisciplinary study and philosophy of diverse cultures.
- Social Science (6 hours) Outcome: Courses will demonstrate understanding of the development, diversity, and complexity of human behavior and institutions.
- Natural or Physical Science (3 hours) Outcome: Courses in this area must provide an understanding of the physical world through the scientific method (understanding of the basic facts, principles, theories and methods of science).
- Mathematics, Statistics, or Computer Applications (3 hours)
- Additional, Mathematics, Computer Applications, Statistic, or Science (3 hours)
Required Major Courses: MDS 311 Professional Development (1 hour); MDS 411 Capstone (1 hour).
Residency: Students must complete a residency of 24 hours of coursework taken at one or more institutions within West Virginia's public higher education system. Six of the 24 hours must be taken at WVU PSC.
Portfolios: Students may earn credit through academic portfolios for prior learning and experiences.
Grade Point Average: Students must have a minimum GPA of 2.0 to be eligible for graduation.
Grade Point Average in the Major: A minimum GPA is required in all courses applied to major requirements. If a course is repeated, all attempts will be included in the calculation of the GPA, unless the course is eligible for a D/F repeat.

Curriculum Requirements

Course List
Code	Title	Hours
General Education
Communication Skills		6
Select courses fulfilling GEF 1 or courses fulfilling this outcome and approved by an advisor.
Humanities		6
Select courses fulfilling GEF 5 or 6, or courses fulfilling this outcome and approved by an advisor.
Social Science		6
Select courses fulfilling GEF 4 or 7, or courses fulfilling this outcome and approved by an advisor.
Natural or Physical Science		3
Select courses fulfilling GEF 2, or courses fulfilling this outcome and approved by an advisor.
Mathematics, Statistics, or Computer Applications		3
Select courses fulfilling GEF 3, or courses fulfilling this outcome and approved by an advisor.
Additional Mathematics, Computer Applications, Statistics, or Science		3
Select an additional course fulfilling GEF 2, GEF 3, or courses fulfilling this outcome and approved by an advisor.
Upper Division Courses		30
RBA Required Courses
MDS 311	RBA Professional Development (1 credit))
MDS 411	RBA Capstone (1 credit)
Select 28 additional credits at the 300 or 400 level
Electives		63
Select any courses at any level
Total Hours		120

Business Administration Area of Emphasis

Course List
Code	Title	Hours
15 credits of upper-level (300 and 400-level) BMAN, BUSA and/or BTEC coursework.		15
Total Hours		15

Criminal Justice Area of Emphasis

Course List
Code	Title	Hours
15 credits of upper-level (300 and 400-level) CJ courses required.		15
Total Hours		15

Major Learning Outcomes