Department website: https://mds.wvu.edu/
Degree Offered
- Regents Bachelor of Arts (R.B.A.)
Nature of the Program
West Virginia University offers the Regents Bachelor of Arts (Regents BA) Degree Program through the Eberly College of Arts and Sciences. Regents BA is an innovative degree program designed to meet the unique needs of adult learners and non-traditional students. Specifically, the Regents BA provides a comprehensive general education and individualized curriculum designed to align with the needs of each student. The Regents BA program is designed to be flexible and can be tailored toward goals/aspirations such as pursuing a graduate/professional degree, transitioning into a new career, increasing one's marketability within an established career, and/or fulfilling a life-long goal of completing a bachelor's degree.
The Regents BA is an online program can be completed at one's own pace. Additionally, Regents BA students may pursue any Minors offered through West Virginia University or Areas of Emphasis unique to the Regents BA program.
Moreover, Regents BA offers unique opportunities not available through traditional degree programs. The Regents BA program offers F-Forgiveness to students if the failing grades are obtained four years or more prior to admission/readmission to the program. Additionally, eligible students may acquire college credit for professional, volunteer, and military experiences in select areas via the many credit for prior learning options available. Pursuing the Regents BA program and utilizing the unique opportunities available through the program provides many students with a time-efficient avenue to obtain a Bachelor of Arts degree.
Program Contact Information
Regents Bachelor of Arts Degree Program
PO Box 6211
Arnold Hall
650 Price Street
West Virginia University
Morgantown, WV 26505-6211
Phone: (304) 293-5441
E-mail: rba@mail.wvu.edu
Department Website: https://mds.wvu.edu/
Faculty
Director
- Scott Davidson - Ph.D. (Duquesne University)
Associate Professors
- Renee K. Nicholson - M.F.A. (West Virginia University)
- Carol Zwickel - Ph.D. (West Virginia University)
Assistant Professors
- Thaddeus Herman - Ph.D. (University of Illinois)
- Jayme Scally - Ph.D. (University of York)
- Nevena Stojanovic - Ph.D. (West Virginia University)
Instructors
- Andrea Soccorsi - M.A. (West Virginia University)
Admissions
The Regents BA program is designed for adult learners/non-traditional students. All students must have graduated from high school at least four years prior to admission to the program.
- First-Time Freshmen are admitted directly into the Regents BA program.
- Students admitted from another major within the West Virginia University system are admitted directly into the Regents BA program. Students must have a GPA of 2.0 after F-Forgiveness has been applied. Students who think they may qualify for F-Forgiveness, should meet with an adviser.
- Transfer students from another institution are admitted directly into the Regents BA program. Students must have a GPA of 2.0 after F-Forgiveness has been applied. Students who think they may qualify for F-Forgiveness, should meet with an adviser.
- Students who are concurrently earning another major or another degree are not admissible to the Regents B.A.
- Students who have completed a bachelor's degree from a regionally accredited institution are not eligible for admission into the Regents BA program. Students may not earn a Regents B.A. as a second degree.
Note:
- USDE Credits: Eligible students should inquire about the possibility of applying credit hours from institutions which are recognized by the United States Department of Education (USDE) but are not regionally accredited.
- Credit for prior learning: Eligible students may acquire college credit for professional, volunteer, and military experiences in select areas via the many credit for prior learning options available through the RBA major. Please discuss with an RBA adviser.
Admission Requirements 2024-2025
The Admission Requirements above will be the same for the 2024-2025 Academic Year.
Major Code: 14C8
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 Science (3 hours)
- Upper Division: A maximum 12 teaching practicum hours will be accepted toward graduation requirements if teaching practicum hours have been completed at the upper-division level. Teaching practicum hours are not a requirement for graduation. (Minimum of 30 hours)
- Residency: Students must complete a residency requirement 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.
- Portfolios: Students may earn credit through academic portfolios for prior learning and experiences to reach 120 hours.
- 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 of a 2.0 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
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 Science | 3 | |
Select courses fulfilling GEF 3, or courses fulfilling this outcome and approved by an advisor. | ||
UPPER-DIVISION COURSES | 30 | |
Select any courses at the 300 or 400 level | ||
ELECTIVES | 66 | |
Select any courses at any level | ||
Total Hours | 120 |
Degree Progress
- Regents BA students are expected to maintain satisfactory progress toward degree completion as determined in consultation with their advisor.
- Regents BA students are expected to enroll in coursework which applies toward completing the degree requirements of the program.
- Regents BA students are expected to complete all coursework with a D- or higher and maintain a minimum 2.0 GPA each term. These expectations are in place to ensure students remain in, or are working toward, good academic standing and remain on track for graduation.
Policies
F-Forgiveness
The R.B.A. offers unique opportunities not available through traditional degree programs. The Regents BA program offers F-forgiveness to students if the failing grades were obtained four years or more prior to admission/readmission to the program. This policy applies to both grades earned at WVU and those that have been transferred from another institution.
"F" Forgiveness is unique and only benefits students while in the RBA program. Thus, should students join the RBA program and benefit from the F-Forgiveness policy but later elect to transfer to another program, then all Fs that were forgiven will be re-instituted.
Credit for Prior Learning
Eligible students may acquire college credit for professional, volunteer, and military experiences in select areas via the many credit for prior learning options available through the R.B.A. major. These opportunities provide many students with a time-efficient avenue to obtain a Bachelor of Arts degree.
R.B.A. program allows adult learners to earn College Equivalent Credits (CECs) for work/career, life, and other academic experiences. The program recognizes the fact that many students have accumulated a wealth of work and life experiences that may be compatible with some of the courses that WVU and other state institutions offer. Thus we encourage our students to take advantage of this unique opportunity to petition for CECs if they have already acquired similar or equivalent learning experiences due to their work experiences. If successful, awarded credits could help meet graduation requirements while reducing their overall costs.
However, it is important that students understand that they are not being given credits for the years of service in their respective fields. Rather, they are being given credits based on their ability to articulate how their varied career experiences may have helped them to acquire equivalent or similar knowledge that they would have otherwise acquired in the classroom.
For instructions on how to submit a portfolio to petition for CECs, please visit the Portfolio Submission Guidelines page or speak with your adviser.
Major Learning Outcomes
Regents Bachelor of Arts
Due to the unique nature of the Regents BA program, the only consistent curriculum requirement for all Regents BA students is the general education requirement. Therefore the learning outcomes for Regents BA students are those outlined by the Association of American Colleges and Universities (AACU) Liberal Education and American Promise (LEAP). All general education courses will incorporate at least one of the LEAP Essential Learning Outcomes listed below. The Regents BA program assesses and measures LEAP Essential Learning Outcomes through completion of the general education requirement.
- Knowledge of Human Cultures and the Physical and Natural World - Measured by completion of Regents BA Natural/Physical Science, Mathematics, Social Science, and Humanities general education requirements
- Intellectual and Practical Skills - Measured by completion of Regents BA Communication Skills, Natural/Physical Science, and Mathematics general education requirements
- Personal and Social Responsibility - Measured by completion of Regents BA Social Science and Humanities general education requirements
- Integrative and Applied Learning - Measured by completion of Regents BA Communication Skills, Natural/Physical Science, and Mathematics general education requirements