Welcome to Non-Traditional Degree Programs / Regents Bachelor of Arts
The Regents Bachelor of Arts (RBA) degree program is the University’s only non-traditional degree. The degree, designed especially for adult learners, allows students to enter the program four years after high school graduation. Offered at all four-year public colleges and universities of the West Virginia Higher Education Policy Commission, the RBA degree permits students to use options not always available to traditional students. In addition to earning credits through the conventional manner, RBA students can attempt to use work or training experiences to receive credit through a life and work experience portfolio. Please review the following portfolio links for more information about portfolio credit:
Checklist
Guidelines
Rubric
Template
Students can also take CLEP or DANTES tests (standardized tests) to accumulate credits. Students in the program can graduate with a minor (like traditional students) or they can graduate with an area of emphasis. If you are looking for an unconventional way to finish your degree, check into the RBA degree.
RBA ONLINE DEGREE PROGRAM
The RBA Online Degree Program is an exact copy of the on campus degree experience but you can do it all from the comfort of your home.
You must complete 120 semester hours to obtain an RBA degree from West Virginia State University. Below are the requirements that you much complete:
Curriculum Requirements
I. Upper Level Electives
Each student must obtain at least 39 semester hours of upper division work. “Upper division” means junior and senior level course work. At WVSU upper level means 300 and 400 numbered courses. While a person can count more than 39 upper division hours towards graduation, there must be at least 39. Courses in this group can be in any department or any combination of departments; these are elective hours.
II. Free Electives
Free electives can be at any level from freshmen to senior and from any department.
Ordinarily a maximum of 45 such credits can be used directly for graduation purposes.
III. General Education Distribution
Each student will obtain at least 36 semester hours of general education course work, as shown below. While a person can count more than 36 such credits directly towards graduation, there must be at least 36 properly distributed hours. Students should select from the list of approved general studies courses provided by the RBA Office.
1. Communications (Minimum of six credits selected from the following): English 101, 102 or any English Composition course at any accredited institution; Communications 100 or any Speech performance course.
2. Humanities (Minimum of six credits selected from the following): Literature, Foreign Languages, Philosophy, Art, Music, or any course titled Humanities at any accredited institution.
3. Science (Minimum of six credits selected from the following): Chemistry, Geology, Astronomy, Physical Science, Biological Science and Natural Science.
4. Social Sciences (Minimum of six credits selected from the following): Sociology, Psychology, Economics, Anthropology, History, Political Science, Social Science, Economics or Geography.
5. Math/Computer Science (Minimum of three credits).
6. Sufficient general education electives to yield the minimum of 36. Electives are generally additional courses from any of the categories listed.