Bachelor of Applied Science Degree Plan

This program is offered online only with no in-person requirements.

Classes are offered year-round, in a flexible full- or part-time pace that works for your schedule. Classes are taught in 7 or 16-week formats. Students attending full-time can complete the program in as little as a year.

Selecting a full-time or part-time schedule

Before deciding on a part- or full-time schedule, ask yourself:

Do I have 7-9 hours per week per class, to devote to studying?
What other obligations currently require my time?

Classes and Scheduling Options

Bachelor of Applied Science Degree Requirements

40 Foundational/ General Electives

- 34 – 37 Foundations Classes
- Can be completed at a regionally accredited community college

40 Technical Credits

- Satisfied by AAS degree from a regionally accredited institution or the equivalent

40 Upper Division Electives

- 12 required credits from the program
- 28 customizable credits
- Customize your degree plan at Boise State with minors and certificates

120 Total credits to earn your degree

View Detailed BAS Degree Requirements

Required Courses

BAS 305 Introduction to the Applied Sciences
Explore academic and career goal-setting, the connection of theory to practice, academic culture, academic integrity, the vital nature of an academic support community, and the qualities of a reflective and adaptive learner.

MDS 315 Integrative Learning
Explore the theory and practice of integrative learning and the skills and strategies necessary to develop an integrative mindset, to integrate personal histories and experiences with new ideas, and to become a reflective and adaptive learner. COREQ: BAS 305 or MDS 305

MDS 375 Perspective Thinking
Examine an issue from multiple perspectives and learn to broadly and accurately grasp other viewpoints, to identify the differences between them, to discover the common ground they share, and to evaluate their soundness. COREQ: MDS 315

MDS 385 Asking Questions and Framing Problems
Question a practical problem holistically to identify its conditions and costs, to discover new connections and relationships, and ultimately, to recognize, understand, and clearly articulate its breadth and complexity. COREQ: MDS 315.

BAS 425 Creating a Culture of Safety
Study of safety as a vital element of human behavior in society, business, and industry. Examines the safety responsibilities of leaders, managers, and supervisors, focuses on developing skills in planning, implementation, awareness, monitoring, and risk management, and covers governmental influence, hazard awareness and control, operational considerations in the workplace, accidents, and planning. COREQ: BAS 305 or MDS 305

BAS 492 Proposal for Capstone Project
Design and plan a personally and professionally relevant capstone project. COREQ: MDS 375 and MDS 385

BAS 495 Capstone Project
Finalize and present an approved capstone project and write a culminating self-evaluation. COREQ: BAS 492

Elective Courses

MDS 301: Prior Learning Seminar
Designed to assess prior learning obtained outside of a traditional classroom. Students will receive the knowledge necessary to petition previous, verifiable college-level learning gained through experience, not for the experience itself, as possible academic credit. Students will learn to differentiate between experience, experiential learning, and learning by experience. Emphasis will be on creating a prior learning portfolio. PREREQ: PERM/INST.

MDS 410: Case Studies in Leadership
This course introduces and analyzes effective leadership styles. Leadership practices and models are applied to case studies. Through various forms of reading, writing, presentations, video and/or multi-media, students will apply theories to assess their own leadership style and identify styles of popular companies/people. Completion of LEAD 325 is recommended. COREQ: BAS 305 or MDS 300 or MDS 305 or declared a leadership certificate with upper-division standing or PERM/INST.

MDS 420: Globalization
This course introduces the historical and modern phenomenon of Globalization. Various themes in globalization will be studied, including economics, national powers, history, trade, environment, religion and education. Each module will introduce particular aspects of globalization. COREQ: BAS 305 or MDS 300 or MDS 305 or PERM/INST.

MDS 430: Ethics
This course examines universal ethical principles and standards practiced across various disciplines. Exploration of personal and professional conduct and social responsibility in the light of existing ethical, moral and social values across disciplines will also be discussed. Designed to enable students to form individual positions on ethical conduct and social responsibility, this course both identifies and applies ethical principles to real world situations. COREQ: BAS 305 or MDS 300 or MDS 305 or PERM/INST.

MDS 440: Project Management and Design
This course develops a foundation of concepts that support the project management process groups required for the successful implementation and completion of a project. Principles and applied techniques of effective planning, communication, risk, schedule, and cost management are major themes discussed in this course. COREQ: BAS 305 or MDS 300 or MDS 305 or PERM/INST.

MDS 450: Teamwork and Innovation
This course identifies the creative people, processes and conditions necessary for fostering innovation and models of innovation including creative problem solving with teams. Students show understanding through demonstration of competency in identifying, describing, fostering, demonstrating and assessing programs that foster creativity and innovation in a team environment. COREQ: BAS 305 or MDS 300 or MDS 305 or PERM/INST.

MDS 493: Internship
Supervised fieldwork designed to receive academic credit for professional experience that is relevant to your Individual Degree Plan (IDP) goals. Up to six credits of internship may be applied towards your 21 upper-division credit requirement for the Bachelor of Arts in Multidisciplinary Studies. PREREQ: MDS 300 or MDS 305 and PERM/INST.

COMM 341: Nonverbal Communication
This course examines the function of nonverbal behavior codes in communication.

30 Credit Sample Schedules

The sample schedules below are general guides for the courses you will take and when they can be completed if you are starting the program with 90 or more credits. You will work closely with your academic advisor to arrange your degree plan after you are admitted to the program and complete new student orientation.

Full-time, 30 Credit Sample Schedule, completed in 12 Months

Full-Time Schedule - 12 Months
Semester - Total Credits	Courses	Credits
First Semester - 6 Credits	1st 7 weeks
	BAS 305 Introduction to the Applied Sciences	1 cr
	2nd 7 weeks
	MDS 315 Integrative Learning	2 cr
	Upper-division Emphasis course	3 cr
Second Semester - 12 Credits	1st 7 weeks
	MDS 375 Perspective Taking	3 cr
	Upper-division Emphasis course	3 cr
	2nd 7 weeks
	MDS 385 Asking Questions and Framing Problems	3 cr
	Upper-division Emphasis course	3 cr
Third Semester - 12 Credits	1st 7 weeks
	BAS 492 Proposal for Capstone Project	1 cr
	Upper-division Emphasis course	3 cr
	Upper-division Emphasis course	3 cr
	2nd 7 weeks
	BAS 495 Capstone Project	2 cr
	Upper-division Emphasis course	3 cr

Part-time, 30 Credit Sample Schedule, completed in 20 Months

Part-Time Schedule
Semester	Courses	Credits
First Semester - 6 Credits	1st 7 weeks
	BAS 305 Introduction to the Applied Sciences	1 cr
	2nd 7 weeks
	MDS 315 Integrative Learning	2 cr
	Upper-division Emphasis course	3 cr
Second Semester - 6 Credits	1st 7 weeks
	MDS 375 Perspective Taking	3 cr
	2nd 7 weeks
	Upper-division Emphasis course	3 cr
Third Semester - 6 Credits	1st 7 weeks
	MDS 385 Asking Questions and Framing Problems	3 cr
	2nd 7 weeks
	Upper-division Emphasis course	3 cr
Forth Semester - Credits	1st 7 weeks
	Upper-division Emphasis course	3 cr
	2nd 7 weeks
	Upper-division Emphasis course	3 cr
Fifth Semester - Credits	1st 7 weeks
	BAS 492 Proposal for Capstone Project	1 cr
	Upper-division Emphasis course	3 cr
	2nd 7 weeks
	BAS 495 Capstone Project	2 cr

60 Credit Sample Schedule

The sample schedules below are general guides of the courses you will take and when they can be completed if you are starting the program with 60 or more credits. You will work closely with your academic advisor to arrange your degree plan after you are admitted to the program and complete new student orientation.

Full-time, 60 Credit Sample Schedule, Completed in 20 Months

Full-Time Schedule
Semester	Courses	Credits
First Semester - 12 Credits	1st 7 weeks
	BAS 305 Introduction to the Applied Sciences	1 cr
	FW ENGL 102 Writing and Rhetoric II	3 cr
	FA Foundations of Arts course	3 cr
	2nd 7 weeks
	MDS 315 Integrative Learning	2 cr
	FS Foundations of Social Sciences course in a second field	3 cr
Second Semester -12 Credits	1st 7 weeks
	UF 200 Foundations of Ethics and Diversity	3 cr
	FN Foundations of Natural, Physical, & Applied Sciences course with lab	4 cr
	2nd 7 weeks
	FN Foundations of Natural, Physical, & Applied Sciences in a second field	3 cr
	Upper-division Elective	2 cr
Third Semester -12 Credits	1st 7 weeks
	MDS 375 Perspective Taking	3 cr
	Upper-division Emphasis course	3 cr
	2nd 7 weeks
	Upper-division Emphasis course	3 cr
	Upper-division Emphasis course	3 cr
Fourth Semester -12 Credits	1st 7 weeks
	MDS 385 Asking Questions and Framing Problems	3 cr
	Upper-division Emphasis course	3 cr
	2nd 7 weeks
	Upper-division Emphasis course	3 cr
	Upper-division Emphasis course	3 cr
Fifth Semester -12 Credits	1st 7 weeks
	BAS 492 Proposal for Capstone Project	1 cr
	Upper-division Elective	3 cr
	Upper-division Elective	3 cr
	2nd 7 weeks
	BAS 495 Capstone Project	2 cr
	Upper-division Elective	3 cr

Full-time, 60 Credit Sample Schedule, Completed in 40 Months

Part-Time Schedule
Semester	Courses	Credits
First Semester - Six Credits	1st 7 weeks
	BAS 305 Introduction to the Applied Sciences	1 cr
	2nd 7 weeks
	MDS 315 Integrative Learning	2 cr
	FW ENGL 102 Writing and Rhetoric II	3 cr
Second Semester - Six Credits	1st 7 weeks
	UF 200 Foundations of Ethics and Diversity	3 cr
	2nd 7 weeks
	FA Foundations of Arts course	3 cr
Third Semester - Six Credits	1st 7 weeks
	FN Foundations of Natural, Physical, & Applied Sciences course with lab	4 cr
	2nd 7 weeks
	Upper-division Elective	2 cr
Fourth Semester - Six Credits	1st 7 weeks
	FS Foundations of Social Sciences course in a second field	3 cr
	2nd 7 weeks
	FN Foundations of Natural, Physical, & Applied Sciences in a second field	3 cr
Fifth Semester - Six Credits	1st 7 weeks
	MDS 375 Perspective Taking	3 cr
	2nd 7 weeks
	Upper-division Emphasis course	3 cr
Sixth Semester - Six Credits	1st 7 weeks
	MDS 385 Asking Questions and Framing Problems	3 cr
	2nd 7 weeks
	Upper-division Emphasis course	3 cr
Seventh Semester - Six Credits	1st 7 weeks
	Upper-division Emphasis course	3 cr
	2nd 7 weeks
	Upper-division Emphasis course	3 cr
Eighth Semester - Six Credits	1st 7 weeks
	Upper-division Emphasis course	3 cr
	2nd 7 weeks
	Upper-division Elective	3 cr
Ninth Semester - Six Credits	1st 7 weeks
	Upper-division Emphasis course	3 cr
	2nd 7 weeks
	Upper-division Elective	3 cr
Tenth Semester - Six Credits	1st 7 weeks
	BAS 492 Proposal for Capstone Project	1 cr
	Upper-division Elective	3 cr
	2nd 7 weeks
	BAS 495 Capstone Project	2 cr

The Bachelor of Applied Science (BAS) internship provides academic credit for on-the-job experience under the guidance of a supervisor who is a professional in the field. Internships require approximately 45 hours of work for each hour of academic credit awarded. An internship experience offers students:

Practical, hands-on work experience
The opportunity to see first-hand whether a particular field is a good match
The chance to practice what you have learned in the classroom
First-hand knowledge of an organization
The ability to earn academic credit
The potential to earn money while also taking classes
The opportunity to network and make valuable connections for future jobs
Experience in resume writing and interviewing

Is an Internship Right for You?

Are you interested in maximizing your educational experience and putting yourself in a better position for future success? Do you know that over 80% of all college students graduate with an internship experience? Do you know that many organizations use their internship program as an applicant pool from which to draw on when hiring for full-time employment?

BAS students enrolled in both the Flex and Online tracks may earn up to 9-credits* of internship toward their degree. Contact your academic advisor to discuss whether an internship is right for your academic goals.

You must complete 45 hours of work at your internship in order to earn 1-credit. Be sure to work with your internship supervisor and academic advisor to determine how many credits are appropriate.

(*493 Internship, 494 Conference or Workshop, and 496 Independent Study are limited to a combined total of 9-credits)

How to Enroll in a Bachelor of Applied Science (BAS 493) Internship

Once you’ve decided that an internship is right for your academic goals, follow these steps to get enrolled in BAS 493.

Identify an internship opportunity.
Schedule an appointment with the BAS Internship Coordinator, Baker Lawley, by emailing bakerlawley@boisestate.edu.
Apply online through the Career Center website. (Click on the Internship Application for Academic Credit link in Step 1. You will find BAS 493 listed under Department: College of COAS and Subject: Applied Science.)
Complete the internship online orientation workshop and quiz.

Emphasis Areas

Customize your degree with an emphasis area! Emphasis areas include courses, certificates and other programs that complement your degree and give you the skills you need to reach your personal and professional goals.

Learn More About Emphasis Areas

Transferring Technical Associate Degree Credits

It’s never too early to begin planning to transfer from a community college to a university where you’ll earn your bachelor’s. A Boise State Student Success Coach can help you determine the best way to transfer technical associate degree credits, based on your unique circumstances. We’re here to help you take each step to reach your career goals and keep up the momentum to get that bachelor’s degree.

Contact a BAS Student Success Coach

Experiential Learning

Earn credit during a program internship or while on the job. Your Academic Advisor will help you navigate the details of learning by experience. Credits earned during an internship can be connected to your emphasis area and help you fulfill upper-division credit requirements.

Start With The Career Center to Learn More

Credit for Prior Learning

The Boise State BAS program allows students to earn credit for past professional experience through a seminar and portfolio review process. Ask your advisor about how you can get credit for prior learning and test out of up to 12 credits.

Contact a Student Success Coach to Learn More

Steps to Graduation

As you near your final semester you will begin to take the steps to graduation. You will work with an academic advisor to review the graduation requirements, fill out a form verifying you have the required credits to graduate, enroll in your final capstone courses, apply for graduation through your student center and then participate in your commencement ceremony. Our graduation guide takes you through each step in detail.

BAS Graduation Guide