BA in Applied Studies

Transfer your career or technical training, complete your degree.

If you’ve gained valuable technical expertise through a trade or specialized vocational training, Antioch’s Bachelor of Arts in Applied Studies (BAS) degree is an excellent option. The BAS is designed for transfer students with a passion for learning and transferable college units from a vocational field. Unlike other degree programs, the BAS accepts credits when a student has a focused area of study in paralegal studies, transportation and mechanical technology, medical assisting, office administration, cosmetology, construction, culinary arts, electrical technology, and more. A blend of enriching coursework and experiential learning, the BAS prepares students to advance professionally and to pursue graduate studies at Antioch or at other universities.

This degree is offered by AU Los Angeles.

Program Overview

The BA in Applied Studies is part of a suite of Applied Studies degrees, each of which provides an opportunity for students with technical and occupational training to apply that learning toward the completion of an interdisciplinary undergraduate degree. Students reflect on past experience and explore other disciplines such as business, psychology, urban studies, and the liberal arts. BAS students take courses alongside other Applied Studies and Liberal Studies students in small, diverse, and highly interactive classes. By exploring real-world problems from multiple perspectives, BAS degree-seekers become more effective as problem solvers and leaders, poised to create meaningful change in the world. Students completing this degree will have a liberal education perspective that will enhance and build upon their employable skills from their careers and technical learning experiences.

Degree Requirements

Program Length

The length of time a student takes to complete the degree depends upon (1) the number of credits transferred into the program and (2) the number of credit hours taken each term. For example, a student who transfers in 90 quarter units (60 semester units) can complete the degree in 6 to 7 quarters of full-time enrollment, or 1 1/2 to 1 3/4 years.

Requirements

Applied Studies degree requirements are listed below. Note that many of these requirements can be earned at Antioch and/or transferred in. Students can transfer in up to 135 quarter/90 semester units from a previous college or university. Of those, up to 105 quarter/70 semester units can be lower division, or 100- and 200-level courses. A minimum of 30 semester or 45 quarter credits must be completed with Antioch University

• 180 quarter units to graduate.
• 27 or more transferred units in one cohesive technical area.
• 45 minimum units earned at AULA (residency requirement).
• 75 or more upper-division units (almost all of Antioch’s courses are upper division).
• Successful completion of our gateway course, Educational Foundations, during the first quarter of enrollment.
• 36 units of General Studies courses (6 units in each of the following domains): Communications, Science, Humanities, Quantitative, Social Science, Fine Art.
• Eight units of experiential, non-classroom learning such as internships, self-directed independent studies or prior learning.
• Ten units of hybrid professional seminars focused on topics such as leadership, business communications, group dynamics, cultural contexts, and technology in society.
• Nine units (about three courses) of core courses related to business, career development, and cultural studies. Examples of BAS core courses are listed below:
  • Interpersonal Communications in Workplace
  • Psychology of Leadership
  • Social and Ethical Issues in Management
  • Principles of Marketing
  • The Business of Social Change
  • Nonprofit Management
  • Systems and Systems Thinking
  • Toolkit for Community Leaders

For detailed curriculum and degree requirements, please visit the AULA catalog.

Learning Outcomes

Students completing the BA in Applied Studies degree demonstrate the ability to:

• Use career, technical, and occupational skills in a professional context while thinking critically about obstacles and their solutions
• Communicate effectively while exhibiting leadership, and interpersonal skills that promote professional and personal development
• Consider problems in their field from multiple perspectives and offer strategies for problem-solving in that professional context

Scheduling

Antioch’s academic year is comprised of four quarters: fall (October), winter (January), spring (April), and summer (July). Quarters are ten weeks long with three-week breaks in between, during which instructors review and evaluate students’ work. Bachelor’s degree classes have anywhere from 8 to 18 students in each class, and are offered in three formats:

1. Three- and four-unit regular classes that meet face-to-face for one 2 hours and 50-minutes session per week for 10 weeks. This is the most common format.
2. Three- and four-unit online and hybrid classes that alternate face-to-face or video-conference meetings with online activity.
3. One- and two-unit workshops that meet for just one or two full days during the quarter and occur on Fridays, Saturdays, or Sundays.

Additionally, students have a variety of options for earning credit through non-classroom learning activities: internships, prior learning, and independent study projects. View samples of current and past schedules

Internships

The internship office maintains partnerships with over 200 organizations in Los Angeles and supports students who wish to earn academic credit for hands-on, workplace experience. As interns, students expand their social networks, apply new skills, and actively contribute to community life. As part of the internship process, they also reflect upon the relationship between academic studies and real-world activities. The following are just a few examples of the many exciting internships our students pursue:

• Social Media Marketing Practices for a talent management agency;
• Veterans Engagement and Mentorship through a college Veteran’s Resource Center;
• Instructional Support for an Automotive Workforce Development program;
• Promoting resilience through empathy and community building at the Relational Center;
• Mentoring youth artists at Venice Arts to develop skills in photography and other creative media;
• Assistant-Teaching for Bridge, Antioch’s free community humanities program for non-traditional adult students;
• Internship placement at their own jobs.

Internships represent one way for students to satisfy the non-classroom learning degree requirement.

Fast Track to Graduate Programs

Antioch offers “Fast Track” options into two of our graduate programs. Once accepted, undergraduate students complete their remaining bachelor’s degree units by taking first-term graduate courses. Units earned in Fast Track apply toward both the student’s bachelor’s and master’s degrees, saving significant time and money in the process. Prior to applying for the graduate program, undergraduate students must consult with their Academic Advisors to determine their eligibility to become a Fast Track candidate and gain approval from the Undergraduate Studies Chair. Our Fast Track option is available for the following graduate programs: Master of Arts in Psychology (MAP), and Master of Fine Arts in Creative Writing (MFA).

Undergraduate New Student Orientation

New Student Orientation is scheduled every term. It’s a chance for students to visit the campus, meet faculty, register for classes, and get started on their educational journey. Upon acceptance into the program, students receive specific information for the New Student Orientation designed for them.  To RSVP for an orientation, admitted students should email:[email protected] or call 310.578.1080 x.3210.