Regents, R.B.A.

The Regents B.A. Degree Program, offered at Shepherd University and all other public baccalaureate institutions in West Virginia, is a flexible higher education plan. Originally designed for those adults whose University educations had been interrupted or discontinued, this versatile program also meets the needs of many adults who have had no previous University work. It provides a means by which experiential learning may be evaluated for the awarding of University equivalent credit. Credits earned at regionally-accredited institutions can be transferred; American Council on Education guidelines on non-collegiate sponsored training programs and educational experience in the armed services are honored; and credits may be earned through CLEP testing.

The Regents B.A. Degree Program provides mature persons four years post-high school a special opportunity to complete baccalaureate degree studies. It is not an option for traditional-aged University students, and it specifically is not an alternative for students who are disqualified from traditional programs for reasons of poor scholarship. Applications are not accepted from anyone who was graduated from high school (or was awarded a GED) less than four years prior to seeking admission. Baccalaureate degree holders are not eligible for admission.*

Students seeking admission to the Regents B.A. Degree Program must first be admitted to Shepherd University. There is no program application fee, and tuition costs are the same as for students in other degree programs at Shepherd University. A fee of $300 is charged if a comprehensive evaluation of experiential learning is requested, regardless of the number of semester hours of credit awarded. A $10 per credit posting fee will be applied.

The degree is intentionally unstructured regarding academic discipline.  It recognizes neither majors nor minors, although students can take an emphasis in Agricultural Entrepreneurship, Business, Global Studies, Health, Human Services, Social Issues, or Sustainable Food Production.

Admission to the Regents B.A. Degree Program requires a minimum cumulative 2.0 grade point average for all University work, as well as a 2.0 average on all Shepherd University credit. Graduation requires a total of 120 semester hours of credit with a minimum of 2.0 on all Shepherd work as well as cumulative 2.0 grade point average.** In order for Regents B.A. Degree Program students to be considered for honors at graduation, they must have earned a minimum of 80 semester hours for which a traditional grade has been given with 32 of these semester hours of resident study completed at Shepherd.***

There are no required courses in the program; instead there are required areas in which credits must be earned. General education credits must be earned as follows:

A further requirement is 30 semester hours credit in 300- and 400-level courses. Students are permitted to select these courses without restrictions as to field of study. They must, however, meet the prerequisites for these courses. In this way students may plan a program designed to suit their individual needs or ambitions. Appropriate credits, no matter by which means they are awarded, may be applied toward any requirement.

*A student may not be enrolled simultaneously in the Regents B.A. Degree Program and another baccalaureate degree program.

**Twenty-four semester hours must be earned at institutions under the administration of the West Virginia Higher Education Policy Commission, with a minimum of 12 semester hours at the host institution (Shepherd).

***Rules relating to Fs: All Fs received four years or more before admission to the Regents B.A. Degree Program are disregarded in the calculation of the institutional and overall grade point average. If an R.B.A. graduate returns to complete a traditional baccalaureate degree, all grades of F will be returned to the calculation of the institutional overall grade point average.  Students receiving F Forgiveness cannot receive honors at graduation.

Any RBA student may elect to have an emphasis. A minimum 2.0 is required in each upper division course in the emphasis.