This degree combines a well-rounded, rigorous core curriculum with an individualized track that complements your technical education and professional expertise. You will work closely with your academic advisor to develop a strong, focused academic degree plan.
The Bachelor of Applied Science (B.A.S.) degree is a collaborative IU regional degree. It is appropriate for those students seeking to further their career by finishing a baccalaureate degree. Most of these students will be in technical fields where the path ahead in their careers requires completion of a baccalaureate degree.
The B.A.S. degree is an interdisciplinary degree designed for students that have completed an Associate of Applied Science (A.A.S.) degree and who would benefit from a Bachelor’s degree for career or personal advancement. The B.A.S. gives students the opportunity to apply up to 64 of their technical A.A.S. credits to an Indiana University bachelor’s degree program.
Please note: This degree is for students who have already acquired an Associate of Applied Science only.
The Health care Management track may appeal to you if you hold an A.A.S. in one of the many fields, such as medical assisting, health care support, paramedic science, and medical laboratory technology. As a student in this track, you take courses that prepare you to:
- Compare and contrast the U.S. health care system (including reimbursement) with other systems around the world;
- Demonstrate an understanding of the ethical, legal, financial, and political factors that influence the provision of health services in the United States;
- Evaluate access to, and the cost of, U.S. health care (including reimbursement practices) for different types of care;
- Effectively assess and implement improvements in clinical care, customer service, and human resource planning in a health care setting;
- Integrate knowledge and skills and apply to health management issues or challenges. This is the capstone course.
Studying sustainability is a way to bridge the arts and humanities, social sciences, and the physical and life sciences. The Sustainability Studies Track provides you with a broad introduction to the complex, system-scale challenges of sustainability, as well as the tools you will need to address problems that transcend solely social or environmental domains.
This specialized track attracts students from a variety of backgrounds and interests. Students who choose this track usually have:
- An interest in sustainability, the human-environment interaction, sustainable food systems, and/or environmental ethics.
- A broad range of interests and a desire to take courses from the arts and humanities, social sciences, and physical and life sciences.
- An interest in a career in areas such as environmental planning and coordination, environmental education and communications, sustainability coordination or consulting in the private or public sector, green design, environmental law or public affairs, or graduate study.
- A desire to help make the world a better place.
Choose the individualized track if you hold an A.A.S. in a field other than health care. The individualized track is highly flexible. As a student in the track, you take courses based on your interests, backgrounds, and needs. These courses prepare you to:
- Demonstrate your ability to think critically in the fields studies;
- Effectively present central ideas, issues, and methods of inquiry specific to the fields studied;
- Apply knowledge and skills from general education, the B.A.S. core, and the individualized track to issues or challenges in your area of technical expertise.
The following examples show how you might tailor this track to meet your individual needs:
- If you have an A.A.S. in Criminal Justice and want to advance your career in criminal justice, you might work with your advisor to design an individualized track that includes 300- and 400-level courses in criminal justice, public affairs, psychology, and sociology.
- If you have an A.A.S. in Design Technology and want to change careers, you might select courses in web development and graphic design.
