Jun 19, 2025  
Catalog 2025-2026 
    
Catalog 2025-2026

Bachelor of Applied Arts and Sciences

Location(s): Online, On-Campus


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Program Description

The Bachelor of Applied Arts and Sciences is an interdisciplinary degree program designed to deliver the university’s unique knowledge of an integrated view of the modern disciplines in light of the knowledge and experience of consciousness. This view is introduced in the first course required for all MIU undergraduate students, STC 108 - Exploring Consciousness , and then further elaborated throughout the program. In a final senior project, students demonstrate their ability to integrate two or more fields based on their deepening knowledge and experience of consciousness. The BAAS program focuses on holistic personal development, both from the standpoint of general intelligence and from the standpoint of the skills essential for workplace success, including quantitative reasoning, critical thinking, written and oral communication, holistic thinking, and health.

Studying on-campus vs Online

The on-campus BAAS program is open to new high school graduates and students with 90 or less approved transfer credits from a prior college or university. The online program is designed primarily as a degree completion program for those with 60 or more approved transfer credits from a prior college or university. Online students who transfer fewer than 60 credits are welcome to enroll in the program but may be required to take some courses on campus to complete their degree.

Program Learning Outcomes

Upon successfully completing the Bachelor of Applied Arts and Sciences degree program, students will be able to:

  1. Display improvements in perception, thinking, feeling, and overall growth of consciousness.
  2. Display a healthy and optimal quality of life that allows them to accomplish their daily activities without undue fatigue or physical stress.
  3. Apply unifying principles within and across disciplines to synthesize ideas, integrate divergent perspectives, and understand what they have learned in light of their own consciousness.
  4. Evaluate a thesis or judgment based on logic, reliable evidence, ethical values, and openness to alternative assumptions and points of view.
  5. Respond to and express ideas, feelings, and information clearly and coherently in speech, text, and other media.
  6. Improve their employment status through the combination of communication, critical thinking, holistic thinking, and problem-solving skills gained in the program.

Graduation Requirements

To graduate with a Bachelor of Applied Arts and Sciences degree with a Specialization, a student must successfully complete 128 total credits required for a bachelor’s degree, including a 4-credit course writing and composition course required for all undergraduate students, 10-11 credits of Foundational Courses, 8 credits in courses that strengthen Core Abilities, 32 credits of courses required for the student’s chosen BAAS Specialization, 8 credits for the BAAS Senior Project, and one Forest Academy course in each semester in which the student is enrolled for 12 credits or more.  

Some of these credits may be fulfilled with approved transfer credit or waived by examination. Up to 90 credits of the required 128 credits may be fulfilled with approved transfer credits from prior institution(s).  

Bachelor of Applied Arts and Sciences (with no Specialization) Requirements


Required Prerequisite Writing and Composition Course


Foundational Courses (24 credits | 26 credits online)


Additional Upper Division 300+ Level Courses from 2 or More Departments (Choose 12 credits)


  • Upper Division 300+ level courses from Department 1 Credits: variable
  • Upper Division 300+ level courses from Department 2 Credits: variable

BAAS Senior Project (8 credits)


Forest Academy Requirement


  • Any Forest Academy courses Credits: variable3

Open Electives


  • Open Elective courses Credits: variable

Total Credits Required 128


1The WTG 191  requirement may be fulfilled with approved transfer credit from a prior institution or waived by examination.

2Successfully completing WTG 192  or MATH 130  or MATH 140  may also fulfill the 4-credit CCTS course requirement.

3STC 108 , FOR 103 , and FOR 431  fulfill the Forest Academy requirement for the semester in which each course is completed.

Bachelor of Applied Arts and Sciences (with Specialization) Requirements


Graduation Requirements

To graduate with a Bachelor of Applied Arts and Sciences degree with a Specialization, a student must successfully complete 128 total credits required for a bachelor’s degree, including a 4-credit course writing and composition course required for all undergraduate students, 10-11 credits of Foundational Courses, 8 credits in courses that strengthen Core Abilities, 32 credits of courses required for the student’s chosen BAAS Specialization, 8 credits for the BAAS Senior Project, and one Forest Academy course in each semester in which the student is enrolled for 12 credits or more.  

Some of these credits may be fulfilled with approved transfer credit or waived by examination. Up to 90 credits of the required 128 credits may be fulfilled with approved transfer credits from prior institution(s). 

Required Undergraduate Writing and Composition Course (4 credits)


Foundational Courses (10 credits on-campus / 11 credits online)


STC 108 and FOR 103 fulfill the Forest Academy requirement for the semester in which each course is completed.

The WTG 192 requirement may be fulfilled with approved transfer credit from a prior institution. 

Courses that Strengthen Core Abilities (Choose 8 credits)


Students may propose other courses to fulfill this requirement by submitting a written petition to the BAAS program director. 

BAAS Specialization Requirements (32 credits)


Courses required for the chosen BAAS Specialization

BAAS Senior Project (8 credits)


Forest Academy Requirement


Any Forest Academy courses | Credits: variable

*STC 108 and FOR 103 fulfill the Forest Academy requirement for the semester in which each course is completed. 

Open Electives


Open Elective courses | Credits: variable

Total Credits Required 128


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