Specialized Pathways to BA Completion
Yeshiva/Seminary
Puerta al Futuro
Emergency Services
International Transfers

The Bachelor of Arts Degree Completion Program, also known as the Bachelor of Arts in Individualized Studies or BAIS, is a baccalaureate degree program structured to meet the educational needs of adult learners. Designed for busy adults, the degree provides non-traditional students with a variety of options in meeting University requirements for an undergraduate degree grounded in the liberal arts. The degree is ideally suited to employed adult learners who have already earned some college credit. FDU will accept up to 90 credits, of the 120 required for the degree, from other sources. Students who receive the full 90 credits may complete the degree in as little as 18 months. The program recognizes the value of life/work experience and affords students the opportunity to receive advanced standing through portfolio assessment.

Students in the program may choose to pursue a single area of study in-depth or design a program of study by combining liberal arts courses with career-related specializations in a subject that matches their professional goals or personal interests. The result is a degree program that will be immediately appealing to mature adults who bring to FDU traditional course work completed over a period of years at a number of institutions, a history of work and life experiences that can be equated with credit-bearing courses, and the desire, commitment and self-discipline to complete the degree requirements.

Program highlights

  • Offered fully online, as well as in-person and blended courses
  • Transfer up to 90 credits from prior learning
  • Special tuition program
  • Career focused specializations in areas such as applied technology, business, communications, digital media arts, healthcare administration, homeland security, hospitality, human resource management, liberal studies, public administration, technology and sustainability
  • Personal attention from faculty with extensive industry experience

Program learning outcomes

Each college program has identified outcome measures that indicate whether students are successful in meeting the specific outcomes for the program. The following are outcome measures that will be assessed for the Bachelor of Arts Degree completion program:

  • Communication:  An FDU graduate will demonstrate the ability to communicate effectively in written documents, when making oral presentations, and when appropriate, by using graphic presentation software.
  • Critical Thinking:  An FDU graduate will demonstrate the ability to define problems; to use information resources such as libraries and computers; and to analyze and integrate knowledge, perspectives and techniques.
  • Global and Culture Understanding: An FDU graduate will demonstrate an understanding of the historic and global context of events and achievements over time as treated in subjects such as history, the arts and the humanities with an awareness of and sensitivity to global problems and social issues, including those involving ethnic and cultural differences.
  • Specialization:  An FDU graduate will demonstrate the mastery of a body of knowledge in one subject area or a group of related areas that will be considered the graduate’s specialization.

Admissions requirements

For adult learners, eligibility for admission to the University is based on previous educational experience:

  • Completed online application. There is no fee to apply.
  • Official transcripts or GED. If you have previously attended a regionally accredited college or university and have at least 24 transfer credits, submit official transcripts from each institution attended. These will be evaluated both for admission eligibility and to determine your advanced standing in (i.e. transfer credits to) your selected degree program. If you have not attended a regionally accredited college or university or have fewer than 24 transfer credits, submit an official high school transcript or proof of a GED (with Scoresheet).
  • SAT or ACT scores are not required.

Degree requirements

The minimum requirements for the baccalaureate degree are as follows:
  • completion of a minimum of 120 credits.
  • cumulative grade point ratio of 2.00.
  • cumulative grade point ratio of 2.00 in the upper-level courses completed at FDU.
  • upper-level credit courses: of the courses completed at FDU 24 credits (eight courses) must be upper-level.
  • at least 30 credits, normally the last 30, must be completed at FDU.
  • residency requirement/time limit on degree completion as explained below.

A transfer student may transfer credit achieved through either formal course work or through proficiency examination to the extent that the credits transferred do not circumvent existing University policy requiring a minimum of 30 credits in residence, including at least 50 percent of the credits required for upper-level course selections to be taken at FDU. Any course work completed more than 10 years before the projected date of awarding the degree (including work for which credit is transferred from another college) shall be evaluated for its currency by the appropriate department. Where it is deemed appropriate, the department will recommend courses to familiarize the student with more recent developments.

Online BA enrollment

The online BA option consists of registration forms and processes that are particular to this modality. The following links contain forms to assist students with enrollment in online courses. 

Curriculum

Students completing the requirements for the Bachelor of Arts Degree Completion program are required to demonstrate proficiency in the following areas:

General Education Requirements (50 credits)

I. Communication, Mathematics and Computer Skills – 18 credits (6 courses)

  • Written Communication – 6 credits (2 courses) 

Six credits in English composition (WRIT1002 Comp I: Rhetoric and Inquiry and WRIT1003 Comp II: Research and Argument).

  • Speech/Professional Communication – 3 credits (1 course) 

Three credits in a course substantially concerned with public speaking, oral, written and/or professional communication/presentations (e.g. SPCH1155 Public Speaking, COMM3310 Professional Presentations,  COMM3329 Communication in a Changing World).

  • Ethical and Moral Analysis – 3 credits (1 course)

Three credits in a course from any discipline that is substantially concerned with ethical theories and questions such as a course in philosophy, religion or a course with “ethics” in its title (e.g. PHIL2255 Business Ethics, PHIL2261 Ethical Issues in Computer Information Technology, PHIL2351 Medical Law and Ethics).

  • Quantitative Analysis – 6 credits (2 courses)

Three of the six credits must be in a college-level mathematics course (e.g. MATH1131 College Mathematics I). The other three credits can be from a second mathematics course or from a statistics, logic, computer science, computer technology or other course that requires substantial quantitative analysis (e.g. MATH1132 College Mathematics II, MATH1142 Introduction to Statistics, PHIL1101 Introduction to Logic, MIS1135 Intro to Computers, MIS2151 Electronic Commerce and Beyond).           

II. Liberal Arts and Sciences – 24 credits (8 courses)

  • Scientific Analysis – 6 credits (2 courses) 

Six credits in course work from biology, chemistry, physics, environmental/earth/planetary sciences and/or other course that requires substantial scientific analysis (e.g. SCIE2008 Chemistry in Everyday Life, SCIE2010 Contemporary Environmental Issues). Courses need not be from the same scientific discipline.

  • Arts and Culture – 6 credits (2 courses) 

Six credits from any combination of studio, performing or creative arts or global studies/culture including, but not limited to, computer animation, photography, creative writing, dance, film production, globalization, culture and identity, world literature. Courses may be from the same discipline/category (e.g. ART1071 Film and Society, ENGL2211 Masterpieces of Literature I, ENGL3111 Introduction to Memoir Writing, SOCI3610 Multicultural Perspectives)

  • Social and Behavioral Sciences – 6 credits (2 courses) 

Six credits from any combination of courses in the social sciences (anthropology, economics, criminology, geography, political science, sociology) or behavioral sciences (psychology or communication studies). Courses may be in the same discipline; at least three credits must be at the 2000 level or above.

  • Humanities – 6 credits (2 courses) at least two of the following areas must be represented:

Six credits in any combination of courses in history, literature, philosophy, art history, film (not filmmaking). Courses may be in the same discipline; at least three credits must be at the 2000 level or above.

III. University Core – 8 credits (4 courses)

FDU requires all students to complete this common University Core curriculum consisting of the following four integrated courses that have a strong emphasis on liberal arts:

  • UNIV1001 Transitioning to University Life (waived for adult learners)
  • UNIV1002 Preparing for Professional Life (waived for adult learners)
  • UNIV2001 Cross-Cultural Perspectives
  • UNIV2002 Global Issues

UNIV1001 and UNIV1002 are waived for adult learners; either two transfer credits or two additional credits of free electives may be used to meet the 120 credits required for the degree.

Major Requirements (24 credits)

I. International Perspective – 3 credits (1 course)

This requirement may be met through one of a variety of designated courses from anthropology, business, economics, literature, fine arts, history, music, philosophy, political science or sociology. This course must emphasize an international perspective.

II. Advanced Writing – 3 credits (1 course)

This requirement must be met with a writing-intensive course at the 2000 level or above (e.g. COMM2101 Professional Communication, ENGL2209 Business Communications, ENGW3006 Persuasive Writing, ENGL3115 Food Writing, and ENGL3141 Travel Writing).

III. Specialization – 18 credits (3 courses)

A minimum of 18 credits (6 courses) that provides the student an opportunity to pursue a single area of study in depth. A minimum of nine credits must be taken in FDU graded course work and be at the 2000 levvgbel or above.

Free Electives (46 credits)

It is recommended that interdisciplinary electives be chosen to support the area of specialization.

Specialized Pathways to BA Completion
Yeshiva/Seminary
Puerta al Futuro
Emergency Services
Contact Information
Dr. Francisco Parra, Asst. Director for Petrocelli UG Advisement
201.692.2746
fparra@fdu.edu
Contact Information
Office of Online Undergraduate Programs
201.692.7357
online@fdu.edu

Course Descriptions

  • ART1071 The film from the earliest years to the present, as a reflection of the social, political and psychological ideas defining the modern world; the film as an art form. Fall, Spring

  • COMM2101 Study of and practice in major oral and written communication techniques and modes appropriate to professional communicators and others. Emphasis on group dynamics, collaborative presentations, research, audience analysis, effective writing and speaking styles.

  • COMM3310 Advanced communication techniques in the profes- sional environment; collaborative presentations; effective written and oral styles; audience analysis, among other topics.

  • COMM3329 An exciting new course for the basic DL class. ?Communication in A Changing World? is distinguished by its emphasis on ethics and civility in communication; its original, comprehensive and integrated treatment of computer-medicated communication; and its authentic, engaging examples drawn frequently from popular culture. ?Communication in A Changing World? regards communication as integral to the development of students as responsible citizens in a diverse world. Its goal is to help create good communicators who are skilled in their construction, presentation, understanding and evaluation of messages, and who also have the knowledge and willingness to take responsibility for their communication behaviors.

  • ENGL2209 Clear and effective business communication, both oral and written. Appropriate style, tone and organization for reports, memos and letters.

  • ENGL2211 Readings in Greek, Roman and Hebrew masterpieces. Fall

  • ENGL3111 We each have a unique story to tell about our past as we remember it. A memoir takes real events from one's life and conveys them through a fictional style of writing. This course consists of reading and analyzing popular memoirs while building the skills necessary to complete a memoir of one's own. Literary styling and the ability to critique writing are used throughout the course.

  • ENGL3115 Do you enjoy reading food magazines and talking about what you ate or are planning to eat? This course will focus on how to write precisely about food. Taste, restaurant environment and the history of the dishes will be considered in the pieces. (No cooking skills required!) Ultimately, good writing is the basis for any strong piece of writing and the skills developed in this class can be transferred to other subject. Readings will include published magazine articles as well as a current book on the subject.

  • ENGL3141 The art and practice of travel writing, explored through contemporary travel essays. We will write and discuss a range of essays from personal essays to commercial reviews. Write about where you are, have been, or would like to be.

  • ENGW3006 Analysis of and practice in forms of persuasive writing; study of major rhetorical theories as they relate to public relations, advertising, proposals and position papers.

  • MATH1131 Set theory, number sets, coordinate geometry, matrices, number theory. Fall, Spring

  • MATH1132 Permutations, combinations, probability, introductory concepts in statistics, descriptive measures of central location, normal curve. Fall, Spring

  • MATH1142 Collection and presentation of data, descriptive measures, sets, probability theory, random variables, mathematical expectations, discrete and continuous probability distributions, including Binomial, Poisson and Normal, sampling distributions, introduction to regression and correlations. Fall, Spring

  • MIS1135 An overview of computers. Topics include hardware, software components,word processing, spreadsheets, databases, e-mail and the Internet.

  • MIS2151 This course addresses the use of e-commerce technologies for competitive advantage within a global market economy. Emphasis is placed on the ramifications of the use of a business tool that does away with the old notions of time and space. Interaction of students with international companies and business professionals in other countries through the virtual environment will give them the advantage of a real world view of globally connected economy and provide concrete examples of how business can take advantage of this web of connections for substantial growth, progress, success and profit. Topics to be discussed include: e-commerce basics and components; e-commerce strategy; e-commerce web presence development; online marketing; online security; online legalities.

  • PHIL1101 Principles of correct reasoning for understanding, analyzing and criticizing a variety of deductive and inductive arguments.(This course cannot be substituted for the core requirement in philosophy).

  • PHIL2255 Ethical theories and moral concepts in their application to business. Moral issues in regard to justice, social responsibility, regulation vs. free enterprise, the right of consumers, corruption and conflict of interest, advertising, environmental and ecological problems. Fall, Spring

  • PHIL2261 This course provides a foundation for understanding the legal and ethical issues that have arisen as a result of the use of computer information technology. Current topics such as identity theft, employee surveillance, freedom of expression, computer crime, copyright infringement, social networking, and the ethics of IT corporations will be examined to better prepare individuals for making decisions in today's workplace.

  • PHIL2351 This course is an introduction to the relationship between law and ethics applicable to the health care industry. Emphasis will be placed on understanding and properly employing the patient-healthcare provider relationship, maintaining patient right-to-privacy considerations, examining various ethical issues in health care and understanding the parameters of liability and malpractice.

  • SCIE2008 Designed specifically for non-science majors, this course explains the importance of basic chemical principles and the impact they have on our daily lives within a amework of relevant, real world applications. Included may be topics such as the nutritional basis of healthy living, medicines and drugs, pollution & the conservation of natural resources, and the agricultural production of food for an ever-expanding world population.

  • SCIE2010 Water, an essential element for life, covers over two/thirds of the planet. It also links the forest ecosystem with the bays and estuaries as well as carrying nutrients and other biological organisms. This course explores the importance of water in the ecosystems and how these relate to agriculture. Laws, rules, and regulations will also be studied.

  • SOCI3610 Students will examine how cultural differences that result from race, class, gender, and sexual orientation impact behaviors and attitudes. The existing systems of power and privilege that maintain the social constructions of race, gender, and sexual orientation within the United States will be analyzed. Historical and current perspectives on race, class, gender, and sexual orientation will be presented.

  • SPCH1155 Training in the organization of ideas and effective delivery through practice in speaking before an audience.

  • UNIV1001 The first course in the University Core program provides support for the transition to university life. Students are introduced to the global mission of the University as well as to the competencies of information and technological literacy. Students participate in formal and informal learning experiences that facilitate their personal and academic growth, enabling them to become more thoughtful and engaged citizens of the world. Respect for individual and cultural differences is fostered throughout the course, as is the generation of positive attitudes toward life long learning.

  • UNIV1002 The second course in the University Core program helps promote the transition from classroom learning to experiential learning, as well as the transition from academic life to professional life. Students are introduced to methods of self-awareness and engaged learning, and are encouraged to develop an academic plan, with formal and informal components, that supports their ultimate career goals. Respect for individual and cultural differences is fostered throughout the course, as is the importance of an international perspective for professional success.

  • UNIV2001 In the third course in the University Core program, students learn to describe and analyze cultural phenomena in their own lives, to grapple with cultural differences and to understand cultural conflicts. Through a study of samples across a variety of cultures, students examine the fluidity and multiplicity of cultural identities and borders. Ways in which cultures changes, how cultures shape and are shaped by individuals, how misunderstands and conflicts arise within and between cultures, and how those differences evolve are central to the course. Critical thinking skills are a developed and brought to bear on these topics.

  • UNIV2002 In the fourth course in the University Core program, students develop essential aspects of critical thinking and apply those skills in evaluating international systems, environmental issues, and human rights questions. Not only will this course demonstrate the global dimensions of crucial contemporary issues, it will also develop the relational thinking that students will be expected to exercise in other academic contexts and throughout the rest of their personal and professional lives. In other words, this course is as much about how to study and think about global problems and relationships as it is a course about specific global issues.

  • WRIT1002 This course provides students with intensive study and practice in process-oriented writing, critical reading, and rhetorical inquiry. Students engage expository texts in order to describe and evaluate the choices writers make and then apply that knowledge to their own compositions. Throughout the course, students give and receive feedback, revise their work, and reflect on their growth as writers.

  • WRIT1003 This course focuses on the study and practice of writing as research-based argument. As a means of arriving at the writing from committed stances, students learn to seek out, engage, and interrogate a variety of sources. Students write in academic, professional, and/or public forms, including academic essays and rhetorical analyses. Particular emphasis is placed on information literacy, source integration, and appropriate documentation.