Frequently Asked Questions

Printable PDF

Interested in the Bachelor of Applied Science degree through the University of Wyoming’s College of Agriculture and Natural Resources? Here are some commonly asked questions with answers to help get you started:

• Who completes this degree?
  This degree is designed for individuals with some work experience who have completed an Associate of Applied Science degree at a Wyoming Community College or other accredited institution. Beginning Fall 2011, students with Associate of Science or Associate of Arts degrees may also be accepted. The degree is especially relevant for those who need or desire the additional breadth in skills, knowledge, and professional expertise to enhance their capabilities in their own careers and in the organizations in which they work.
• Can I complete this degree at a distance?
  This degree can only be completed through distance delivery methods. It is not available on campus at the University of Wyoming.
• What is required to apply?
  Students apply through the University of Wyoming Admissions Office. Students are required to send official transcripts from all institutions attended, indicating proof of an existing Associates degree. Students are also required to submit a current resume with proof of two years of full-time work experience.
• What counts towards the two years of required work experience?
  Two years of work experience must be completed prior to applying for the B.A.S. All work experience done during the years prior to, during, and after your Associates degree was completed can count towards the required two years. Work experience does not have to be in a job that directly relates to your Associates degree focus.
  
  Students need to be aware that work experience that was part of an internship cannot double for credit hours toward the degree and go toward the two years of work experience. The internship will be taken as college credit. If additional hours were completed beyond those required for an internship, those hours can be shown in your resume as applied toward work experience.
• How do I document work experience?
  One of the admission requirements for the Bachelor of Applied Science Program is two years of work experience. Therefore, it is important to include documentation of this work in your resume. When completing your resume, please be certain to include the following work experience information:

   

  • Job title and description for each position
  • Starting and ending dates of employment for each position
  • Employer contact information (current name, address, phone or email)

  Omission of this documentation will delay or preclude admission to the BAS program.
  
  The University of Wyoming Center for Advising and Career Services (CACS) is happy to provide assistance with resume development. For this service, please contact Ann Jones aljones@uwyo.edu with an e-mail subject line of “BAS.” You may also call Outreach Credit Programs at 1-800-448-7801 and ask for extension 6-2398.

• I’m in the military. Will this program work for me?
  Since this program uses distance delivery methods, it is ideal for military personnel who may have duty assignments that require moving from place to place. Accredited courses that you may take as part of your military training that lead to an Associates degree will come in as coursework in your major. Also, your military service will count towards the required two years of work experience for entry into this program.
• How will I be notified of acceptance?
  Once the Admissions Office has confirmed that all of your application materials have been received and the application fee has been paid, your materials will be sent to the Office of Academic and Student Programs, College of Agriculture for review. They will be analyzed to be sure that all entry requirements have been met. You will receive a letter from the College of Agriculture stating whether or not you have been accepted into the B.A.S. distance program. If you are not accepted, the letter will indicate what requirements still must be met to be eligible for the program.
• Will I have an adviser?
  All students have an assigned adviser who will work with the student throughout their degree program. The adviser will analyze General Transfer Credits for program equivalents, work with the student to determine how many courses per semester they want to take, recommend the appropriate course sequence so that prerequisites are followed, and answer any questions the student might have about their program. The current adviser for this program is Rosalind Grenfell, Manager, Student Advising, University of Wyoming. Her email contact information is rgrenfel@uwyo.edu and she can also be reached by phone at 1-800-860-2398. She can also help with any questions you might have prior to applying for the B.A.S.
• What is required for degree completion?
  The BAS has four basic components. These components are:

   

  • University Studies
  • Career Specialty
  • Professional Concentration
  • Electives

  All students graduating from the University of Wyoming must have 48 hours of credit at the 3000 and 4000 level; 30 total hours in the degree program must be completed through the University of Wyoming.
  
  The University Studies Program (USP) Component consists of a minimum of 30 credit hours as adopted by the UW faculty and the Articulation Agreement between UW and the Wyoming Community Colleges (www.uwyo.edu/unst/Artic_agree_full.pdf). Students with an Associate of Applied Science degree from a Wyoming community college will normally matriculate with 15-20 hours of credit that count toward this component. The remainder may be acquired as part of the student’s UW coursework, including the Professional Concentration or Electives coursework.
  
  The Career Specialty Component is fulfilled with the Associate of Applied Science degree. This component will consist of a minimum of 40 credit hours in the major.
  
  The Professional Concentration Component is the advanced component of the program and the courses are selected by the student and the advisor. The specifics may vary according to the student’s program, community college, and the student’s interests and career aspirations. However, all students are required to take a range of courses from the prescribed set of areas of concentration within this component. This component provides the breadth and depth of learning necessary for a baccalaureate degree. This component will consist of 36-40 upper division or articulated equivalent credit hours.
  
  The Elective Component will consist of the number of credit hours needed (after completing the other three components) to complete the minimum total credit hours (120) required by the College of Agriculture. This component also provides an opportunity for each student to individualize their learning to fit their career aspirations.

• What if I decide to change my major once I’ve been accepted into the B.A.S. program?
  If you decide to change your major from the B.A.S. to another program that will result in a B.S. or B.A. degree, you may lose some credit hours if your original degree was an Associate of Applied Science (A.A.S.). The B.A.S. program accepts technical and other credits associated with an A.A.S. that may not be applicable for other degree programs. Should you contemplate changing your major, it is recommended that you work with an adviser so you understand fully what the change will entail.
• How do I sign up for classes?
  Advising will occur every October/November for spring courses, and every March for summer and fall enrollment. Once your adviser has recommended the courses you need to take, you can sign up for courses using the WyoWeb portal at http://wyoweb.uwyo.edu or call 1-800-448-7801. For Correspondence Study, enroll by phone at 1-800-448-7801 or FAX at (307) 766-4048. Do not attempt to register for courses without first contacting your advisor. Failure to do so may result in being dropped from your classes!
• How do I get textbooks?
  Once you have enrolled in a course, contact the University Bookstore at 1-800-423-5809 or order books online using the WyoWeb portal at http://wyoweb.uwyo.edu . Books can be charged and will be shipped directly to you.
• What is OSI?
  OSI is Online Supplemental Instruction. It is an option in your AGRI 3000 course and you may find it in other online courses in your program as well. Online supplemental instruction sessions are designed to promote greater student interaction and peer support. Online supplemental instruction sessions are facilitated by an undergraduate or graduate student leader who attends the course regularly and engages in the readings and discussions. Most OSI leaders have already taken and successfully completed the course, and had the same teacher as the students he/she is leading. It has also been shown in studies that students who regularly attend OSI sessions are more successful in the course. More information on OSI is available at http://www.uwyo.edu/learn/si/.
• Are there internship possibilities?
  AGRI 4960 is an internship that was created just for BAS students. It can be applied to the Career Elective portion of the degree program. Students may elect to do an internship close to the end of their program after working with the instructor to identify a site placement and on-site mentor. More information can be found on the BAS website where the syllabus for the course is posted.
• What about Financial Aid?
  Planning ahead is critical for financial aid options, including possible support from your employer. Please contact the University of Wyoming Outreach School Regional Centers in your area for general information about financial aid. You may also call 1-800-448-7801, UW Outreach Credit Programs, and ask to be transferred to the UW Financial Aid Office. As a student in the College of Agriculture and Natural Resources, you will have the opportunity to be considered for a Brand of Excellence scholarship. The scholarship application, instructions, and deadlines can be found on the following webpage http://www.uwyo.edu/agprograms/scholarships/index.html. For more information please contact the Office of Academic & Student Programs at 307-766-4135. The University of Wyoming College of Agriculture and Natural Resources and UW Outreach Credit Programs wish you the very best in pursuing your dreams of continuing your education and career aspirations. Please do not hesitate to call or contact us.