Frequently Asked Questions
Frequently Asked Questions Regarding the Applied Technology, Training & Development Program:
1. Why should I pursue a BAAS degree?
2. What exactly is the Bachelor of Applied Arts and Science degree?
3. How many hours is the BAAS degree?
4. How many hours will I be required to take at the University of North Texas?
5. Can I complete the degree via Distance Education?
6. What courses can be used in the occupational specialization?
7. What is the purpose of a specialization?
8. Can I complete my academic (university) core at the community college?
10. What are my options with the BAAS degree?
11. What type of courses am I required to take in the professional development area?
12. What are the support courses in the professional development area?
13. Is there a GPA requirement for graduation?
15. How do I get an official degree plan?
16. I'm working full-time, when can I take my courses at the University of North Texas?
17. What courses can be taken to meet the Natural Science requirement?
18. What courses may be taken for the Behavioral and Social Science requirement?
19. What courses can be taken for the Cross-Cultural Diversity, and Global Studies requirement?
20. Are there other on-line courses that I can take?
21. Are there any on-line courses in the professional development area?
1. Why should I pursue a BAAS degree?
Your AAS degree from the community college is typically your entrance into the world of work. Many employers request that their employees hold a Bachelor's degree or pursue a Bachelor's degree as part of their on-going career development. Students typically use their BAAS degree to advance into leadership or supervisory positions within their field of specialization.
2. What exactly is the Bachelor of Applied Arts and Science degree?
The BAAS degree is just like a BS or BA degree but this degree is intended to be the transfer degree for students enrolled in area community colleges. It is commonly referred to as an "inverted degree", that is, the courses you take in the occupational specialization are taken at a community college, whereas with the BS or BA degree, the specialization courses or courses in major are typically taken at the junior or senior level.
3. How many hours is the BAAS degree?
The BAAS degree is 125 hours divided as follows: 47 hours in the University core, 36 hours in the occupational specialization, and 42 hours of Professional Development.
4. How many hours will I be required to take at the University of North Texas?
You will be required to take 42 hours at the University of North Texas. These are the junior/senior level (professional development) courses that accompany the major in the BAAS degree. These courses are 100% on-line!
5. Can I complete the degree via distance education?
You can complete part of the degree via distance education. However, it is NOT a distance education degree program. Eighty-six of the hours can be completed at your local community college. This leaves approximately 42 hours for you to take at University of North Texas (UNT) that are 100% on-line!
6. What courses can be used in the occupational specialization?
Virtually any courses that support your specialization can be used. Your advisor will work with you to identify the courses that will make up your specialization. Here's the basic question that your course selection must answer: Does this course help you get a job or advance you in your current job? If the answer is yes, the course should be able to be included in the occupational specialization area.
7. What is the purpose of a specialization?
A specialization is in essence, your major. These are the courses you've taken at a community college for your AAS degree.
8. Can I complete my academic (university) core at the community college?
In fact, we strongly encourage you to complete the academic core at the community college and transfer the completed core to UNT. By transferring your completed core, you simply need to make up the number of hours between the academic core at your community college and the university core at the University of North Texas. For example, if your academic core is 45 hours, you'd be required to take 2 additional hours to meet UNT's core of 47 hours.
9. Why are the course numbers on the University of North Texas degree plan different from those at the community college?
All institutions use their own set of course numbers. There is a common core for course numbers. You can check with your academic advisor to find the equivalent course at your community college to match the course numbers at UNT.
10. What are my options with the BAAS degree?
There are two options with the BAAS degree. The first option is a teaching certificate related to your specialization. The required certification courses would be taken in the Professional Development area as support courses. Keep in mind that the teaching certification requires occupational experience anywhere from one to five years. Contact the University of North Texas advisor for an answer to your teaching certification questions. The BAAS degree at UNT offers certification in the following areas: marketing education, trade and industrial education, and health science. Each area requires a different number of years of occupational experience; therefore, it is best to contact your advisor for this information.
The other option is the non-teaching option, and is the most popular option for BAAS degree students. This is the option for those wishing to advance in their field of specialization.
11. What type of courses am I required to take in the Professional Development area?
You will take courses in personal development, presentation skills, leadership, computer applications, facilitation skills, human relations, and business communications.
12. What are the support courses in the Professional Development area?
There are 15 hours of support courses in the Professional Development area. These courses are selected between the student and his/her advisor. The only stipulation is that those courses must be on the junior/senior (3000 or 4000) level.
13. Is there a GPA requirement for graduation?
The GPA requirement is 2.5 overall for graduation. This includes all grades from all colleges.
14. I'm not quite ready yet to transfer to the University of North Texas, but can I begin to take courses while I'm still enrolled in a community college?
Yes, you may take courses while you are enrolled in a community college as well as at the University of North Texas. The only requirement is that you must file a concurrent enrollment form at UNT. Contact the Student Advising Office in Matthews Hall, Room 105.
15. How do I get an official degree plan?
Once you've been admitted to the University of North Texas and are taking courses, meet with your advisor and request that an official degree plan be filed. You will receive an official degree plan in 6-8 weeks, and this will be the degree plan you will follow through the completion of you degree.
16. I'm working full-time, when can I take my courses at the University of North Texas?
The BAAS courses are offered 100% on-line.
17. What courses can be taken to meet the Natural Science requirement?
Any natural science course can be taken to meet the natural science requirement, as long as it involves both a classroom and laboratory experience. Review the University catalog for more information in this area.
18. What courses may be taken for the Behavioral and Social Science requirement?
The behavioral and social science courses should be selected from courses in Anthropology, Economics, Political Science, and Sociology. Consult the University catalog for a complete selection of Behavioral Social Sciences.
19. What courses can be taken for the Cross-Cultural Diversity, and Global Studies requirement?
There are a wide variety of courses designed to meet the requirement for the Cross Cultural, Diversity and Global Studies requirement. Consult the University catalog for a selection of courses.
20. Are there other on-line courses that I can take?
The University of North Texas offers a wide variety of on-line courses. Consult the desired semester schedule from the menu on the left side of the page.
21. Are there any on-line courses in the Professional Development area?
All the courses in the Professional Development area are 100% on-line.
