Earning a bachelor’s degree shouldn’t depend on whether you follow a traditional path straight out of high school. This includes working adults who have earned college credit hours without graduating or those who have completed a vocational, technical or community college program.
If this describes you, then the online Bachelor of Applied Arts and Sciences (B.A.A.S.) program from Texas State University might be exactly the right fit. This award-winning, 100% online degree-completion program is designed with nontraditional learners and working professionals in mind. Enrolling in this degree path will give you the chance to develop an individualized study plan that fits your needs, and the program’s flexibility is tailored to accommodate busy adults. It might just be the perfect next step on your professional journey.
What Is a Degree-Completion Program and Who Is It For?
There are plenty of working adults who possess some amount of college credits, technical credentials or certificates from a regionally accredited community college. It’s this group of people that the degree-completion model aims to serve, providing the opportunity for nontraditional students to complete the requirements for a bachelor’s degree. It is an efficient option for those who, due to life circumstances, did not complete a four-year degree immediately after high school.
In line with this mission, Texas State University’s B.A.A.S. online degree allows enrolled students to transfer up to 90 prior credits toward its 120-hour graduation requirement. The program also awards credit for previous work or relevant life experience through prior learning assessment (PLA). It’s important to remember that enrolling in a degree-completion program is not the same as starting from scratch. Rather, it’s a way for students to finish the journey they’ve already begun, but on a faster, more affordable timeline than a more traditional approach would provide.
Why Are Working Adults Going Back to Finish Their Degrees?
It is no surprise that working adults might want to earn a bachelor’s degree. After all, employment and income are linked with educational attainment. More specifically, employment rates are consistently highest for those with at least a bachelor’s degree, according to data from the U.S. National Center for Education Statistics (NCES). Likewise, in 2022, median earnings for people who possess a bachelor’s degree were “59 percent higher than the earnings of those who completed high school,” according to NCES data.
There are other intangible benefits for degree-holders. Finishing a college program signals commitment and competency to employers, which can open doors to career advancement that credits and certificates alone cannot. For example, most jobs in management typically require candidates to have at least a bachelor’s degree, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS).
How Does the Online Format Fit a Busy Life?
For working professionals, Texas State’s online B.A.A.S. degree is structured for maximum schedule flexibility, and its online course delivery allows students to balance their studies with prior professional and personal commitments. The program also uses a pay-as-you-go tuition model, intended to help keep costs manageable for adults who need to continue earning income while studying.
Fortunately, the development of online learning in recent years has established the practice as more than a fad, and the NCES notes that the number of undergraduate students enrolled partially or fully in distance learning programs has increased in recent years. It is now a credible and affordable way to achieve your educational goals.
What Can You Do With an Interdisciplinary Degree?
Texas State’s B.A.A.S. has two focus areas: Organizational Leadership and Workforce Ready. Both are designed to develop soft skills critical to professionals across many industries. These skills include leadership, communication and collaboration, to name just a few.
Additionally, the interdisciplinary nature of the degree program allows students to tailor their course of study to fit with their specific career goals, rather than relying on a one-size-fits-all curriculum. This flexibility helps to ensure graduates are prepared for their next steps, whether that’s advancing in their current jobs or transitioning to a brand-new field.
An Online Interdisciplinary Degree Is Your Ticket to a Successful Future
When you’re a working professional, it can be tempting to put your head down and focus on the short term. However, with the increasing prevalence of flexible, practical online degree programs, there has never been a better time to invest in your own future. Obtaining a bachelor’s degree is one of the most reliable ways of increasing your prospects for long-term career advancement and improved earning potential.
Texas State’s online B.A.A.S. degree gives working adults a realistic path to finishing what they started. With a fully online format, transfer credit flexibility and an interdisciplinary curriculum built around real-world skills, the program is designed to meet you where you are and help you get where you want to go.
Learn more about Texas State University’s online Bachelor of Applied Arts and Sciences program.
