Regents FAQ
ACADEMICS
ADMISSIONS
ADVISING
COSTS/FINANCIAL AID
ONLINE COURSES
DISABILITY SERVICES
LIBRARY RESOURCES
PORTFOLIO
ACADEMICS
Q. What is the Regents Bachelors of Arts Degree?
A. The Regents Bachelor of Arts Degree Program (RBA) is a nontraditional program designed for the adult student. The degree has no major or minor. We will help you tailor an academic program based on your individual needs and goals. You may also be eligible for College Equivalent Credits (CEC) which can be awarded for certain kinds of work, learning experiences, certificates and licenses.
Q. Can I go on to graduate or professional school with Regents Bachelors of Arts Degree?
A. Yes. Regents Bachelors of Arts Degree graduates go on to
professional schools, law school, and a variety of graduate programs. Students planning to seek graduate or professional school admission should consult with the RBA
staff and directly with the programs they
are considering about which courses will meet the admission requirements of these programs. (Note: In some professional programs there is an expectation that at least 50% of the student’s undergraduate course work should be in regular, graded courses.)
Q. How old must you be to be a Regents Bachelors of Arts Degree student?
A. There is no age requirement. You are eligible to be a RBA student if you meet the admissions requirements.
Q. Do I have to take a foreign language?
A. No. A foreign language is not required.
Q. Do I have to take the ‘24 hours of Residency’ credit at
Marshall
?
A. At least three credit hours must be taken from a
course offered by Marshall
University , but the
rest of the residency credit may be taken at any one or a combination
of the public higher education institutions in
West Virginia.
Q. Do I have to take the courses required for Residency on campus?
A. No.
Marshall
courses come in a variety of delivery formats including online and interactive video.
Q. Can I meet the Residency requirement with college-equivalent-credit?
A. No. Residency hours must be earned by taking traditional courses. Likewise, you cannot use CLEP or other tests or credit-by-exam to meet the residency requirement.
Q. Can the same courses I take to satisfy the Residency requirement satisfy the General Education or Upper Division requirements as well?
A. Yes. Some courses might meet all three requirements at once (but they only count once toward the 128 hours needed for graduation).
Q. What are upper-division credits?
A. Upper-division credits are earned
for course work that is considered to be of a junior or senior
level at a four-year institution. At
Marshall University
, upper-division courses are those
numbered in the 300s and 400s. Course work completed at a community
college is always considered lower division.
Q. Do I have to take traditional courses to satisfy the General Education and Upper Division requirements?
A. You may satisfy the General Education and Upper Division requirements by passing appropriate CLEP, Dantes or AP exams with specified scores, earning college-equivalent-credit or earning credit by exam from
Marshall
University
.
Q. How quickly can I graduate?
A. The Regents B.A. program is unique
in that there is no specific time for completion. How long it
takes you to graduate will depend upon (1) the requirements you
need to complete your degree, (2) your course load, and (3) how
much time you can devote to your courses.
Q. I never finished high school, and would like to get a Regents Bachelors of Arts Degree. What do I have to do?
A. You will need to earn a G.E.D. (General Education Development), degree in order to be admitted to
Marshall
University
. You must attain a standard score of 45 on each of the five parts of the General Education Development Test or an average standard score of 50 or above on the entire test. GED scores must be sent directly to the Admissions Office from the testing center, West Virginia Department of Education or county superintendent of schools.
The RBA requires 15 hours of earned,
graded college credits for admission to the
program.
Q. If I earned a GED recently, do I still have to wait 4 years to be admitted to the Regents BA program?
A. This depends on your individual situation. You would be eligible for admission at least four years after your class graduated from high school.
Q. Some of my college credits are pretty old and are from
different schools. Can these credits be used in this program?
A. Credit earned at regionally-accredited colleges
and universities is generally transferable. Courses taken through
the U.S. Armed Forces, business, industry, and hospital schools
may be acceptable if recommended by the American Council on Education.
Q. What if my GPA is below 2.0?
A. The Regents Bachelors of Arts Degree program allows
failing grades earned more than four years ago to be excluded
from your GPA calculation. (Note: those failing grades will
still remain on your transcript.)
Q. Can I complete the Regents
Bachelors of Arts Degree without taking courses on the
Marshall
University
campus?
A.
Marshall
University
offers college courses online, through interactive video, and from the
School
of
Extended Education
locations throughout the state of
West Virginia
. Completing the RBA degree program requirements without coming to campus is possible depending on where you live and/or the number of credits you’ve earned before you begin the RBA program.
For further information on
Marshall
University
courses offered through interactive video and online, please visit our website:
http://www.marshall.edu/muonline
For further information on
School
of
Extended Education
locations through the state of
West Virginia
, please visit our website:
http://www.marshall.edu/see
Q. Will my Associate degree credits transfer to
Marshall
University
for the Regents Bachelors of Arts degree Program?
A. Yes. Associate degree credits often will transfer. However, should you leave the Regents Bachelors of Arts
Degree Program for another
Marshall
University
program,
your credits may not apply.
Q. Is there any limit on the amount of credit I can transfer from other institutions?
A. While all passing grades are accepted, only 72 hours of lower division credit from community and junior colleges can count toward the 128 hours needed for graduation.
Q. Can I transfer in "D" grades from other institutions?
A. Yes.
Q. Are there credits from other institutions which will not transfer?
A. Remedial courses do not transfer, nor do credits earned as credit-by-exam at other institutions. College-equivalent-credit is not transferable, nor are most credits earned on the basis of articulation agreements between colleges and their local agencies and industries. Aside from these exceptions, almost all satisfactorily completed course work taken at regionally accredited higher education institutions is transferable.
Q. Do CLEP test out credits work in the RBA program?
A. Credits from CLEP subject
exams generally substitute for General
Education courses. The RBA staff will evaluate your CLEP credits.
ADMISSIONS
Q. How do I apply for admission to the Regents Bachelors of Arts degree Program?
A. You must complete and submit a Marshall University Admissions Application Form. You can do this online or you can download a form, print it, and mail it to the Regents Office.
Application forms are also available from the Regents BA Office in Prichard Hall 218, or from the Marshall University Admissions Office in Old Main 125.
Click here to obtain an admissions application form online.
Our team of dedicated Admissions counselors is waiting to hear from you -- contact them at 1-800-642-3499 or admissions@marshall.edu.
Q. What if I don’t take any classes at
Marshall
University
for one or two semesters. Do I have to re-apply to
Marshall
University
to continue in the RBA program?
A. You will remain an active student at
Marshall
University
for two years from the time of your initial admission (even if you do not take a course every semester). You will remain active as long as you continue to take courses, submit portfolios, or transfer credits.
If you become inactive for two continuous years or longer, you must re-apply for admission. You will be re-admitted under the Regents policies in effect at the time of readmission (which may include new requirements, higher portfolio fees etc.).
ADVISING
Q. Will I have an academic advisor knowledgeable about the RBA program?
A. Yes. The professional staff in the RBA office will assist you with all of your RBA program questions and needs.
COSTS / FINANCIAL AID
Q. How much will the RBA degree program cost?
A. For complete information on tuition and fees
see our website:
http://www.marshall.edu/sfa/
Q. Is financial aid available?
A. You may be eligible for financial aid.
Call us for information our see our website:
1-800-438-5390 or 304-696-3162
http://www.marshall.edu/sfa/
NOTE: If you are employed, check with your company's human resources department. Many companies and government agencies offer tuition assistance.
You may also be eligible for a federal income tax credit, the lifetime learning credit. For more information see our website:
http://www.marshall.edu/bursar/information/taxpayer.html
For federal assistance and many other opportunities, file the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). You may submit a paper copy or apply online at:
http://www.fafsa.ed.gov
ONLINE COURSES
Q. What is the difference between online classes and regular
classes?
A. There is no difference between online classes and
regular classes in terms of quality and learning. The classes
are "delivered" differently and communication takes
place electronically over the internet rather than face-to-face.
Q. What are the advantages of taking an online course?
A. The main advantage is convenience. You will be able
to access the course materials at times and places convenient
to you.
Q. Do I need special computer equipment or skills to take an online course?
A. All the information you need to learn about taking online courses at
Marshall
University
is at this website:
http://www.marshall.edu/muonline
DISABILITY SERVICES
Q. I am disabled and need special software and hardware to
work a computer. Will
Marshall University
help me obtain this equipment?
A. While
Marshall University
will not purchase this special equipment
for you, the Marshall University Disabled Students Services
program has a limited equipment inventory available
to loan to students on a semester basis.
Equipment currently on hand includes manual wheelchairs, electric scooter, tape recorders and players, and a laptop computer. A Braille printer, large print screen computers, and scanners are available in the
Study
Center
of the Drinko Library. There is also a CC TV located in Prichard Hall.
LIBRARY RESOURCES
Q. Are library resources available to Regent’s degree students?
A. Yes. Marshall University Libraries offer complete library services. These services include an on-line catalogue as well as many online databases of journals and other research materials. In addition, for students who do not come to campus,
Marshall
offers a full array of off-campus library services. For more information, see our website: http://www.marshall.edu/library/offcamp/default.asp
Q. Is there a toll-free number for
Marshall
University
library services?
A. Yes. Please dial 1-800-818-9816
REGENTS BACHELOR OF ARTS DEGREE (RBA) PORTFOLIO
Q. Exactly what is a RBA Portfolio?
A. A RBA Portfolio is a written document justifying
and documenting your request for college-equivalent credit. Portfolios
have four parts: 1) a request for credit for specific college
courses; 2) a resume identifying your educational, professional,
and other relevant activities; 3) a narrative demonstrating
that you have "college-equivalent" knowledge and skills;
and 4) documentation to support your claims of accomplishment.
Q. Who reads the portfolios and determines whether credit is awarded?
A. Once reviewed and approved
by the RBA program, portfolios are sent to
the departments which offer the requested
credits. Faculty in those departments read
and recommend the credit awards.
Q. How do the credits earned by creating a portfolio appear on my transcript?
A. They are designated as "c.e.c" credits. "College-equivalent credit" is not graded.
Q. Can I get college credit for my Military Service?
A. Yes.
Credit will be given for documented military training which has been assessed by the American Council on Education. There is no fee for the posting of military credit.
Students must supply appropriate military
transcripts or form DD-214.
Q. Is there a limit on the amount of college-equivalent credit that can be earned?
A. No.
Q. How do I find out about Standard Awards of Credit for licenses
or certifications?
A. Awards of credit change over time. Standard Awards of credit
require specific documentation. Check with the RBA staff to
determine what is required. There is a $300 fee for evaluating
credentials and awarding credit.
The RBA Program also recognizes standard credit awards that are
listed in the ACE (American Council on Education) Guide.
