Women's Studies Area of Emphasis for Regents B.A. Program

The Regents Bachelor of Arts degree is an innovative baccalaureate designed for adult students. The basic principle underlying the degree is that credit is awarded for what students know regardless of how that knowledge was attained. The program differs from other bachelor degrees in that Regents students may earn "college-equivalent credit" for selected work and life experiences which can be equated to college courses.

The Regents BA program assumes that adults have different needs and goals from traditional undergraduates. Therefore, time, space, and program requirements are designed to meet the special needs of the adult learner. The program is designed to provide students with a comprehensive general education without the requirement of a major. No specific courses are required for graduation, which allows students to design their own programs of study. There is considerable flexibility in how, when, and where course requirements are met: students may earn credit through regular courses, TV and satellite courses, Internet and e-mail courses, correspondence courses, credit by exam, and/or writing portfolios. For information on admission to the RBA program, email rba@wvu.edu, call 304-293-5441, or go to http://rba.as.wvu.edu/. The Regents BA Program, created by the West Virginia State Board of Regents in 1975, is offered at West Virginia University through the Eberly College of Arts and Sciences. Since its inception, WVU has granted over 2000 Regents Bachelor of Arts Degrees. Students at WVU's regional campuses at Potomac State College and WVU-Parkersburg earn Regents BA degrees through programs coordinated with the Morgantown campus. For more information on options for the Women's Studies Area of Emphasis at branch campuses, contact Dr. Barb Howe and see the course listings for the appropriate campus (scroll down and select "off campus").

Areas of Emphasis are an optional feature of the Regents B.A. degree. In some curriculum areas the faculty has identified a set of upper division courses that constitute an Area of Emphasis. All AOEs require a minimum of 15 hours of upper division (300 level or above) course work in some academic area. In some cases lower division prerequisites may also be required. The AOR courses are determined by faculty, not students. Some departments specify all the courses for the AOE; other departments allow students to select most of the courses. Only regular courses completed with a "C" or better can count toward the AOE, and earned AOEs are noted on the student's transcript.

Lower Division Prerequisites for Women's Studies emphasis:

WMST 170 Introduction to Women's Studies (3 hr.)
Student must have passed this class with a grade of "C" or better.

Upper Division Requirements for Women's Studies emphasis:

All AOEs require a minimum of 15 hours of regular Upper Division graded courses--students must get a minimum of a "C" in all courses.

All WVU-Morgantown students must take WMST 494: Seminar. Students at WVU-Potomac State or WVU-Parkersburg, where this course is not offered, should contact Dr. Barb Howe to discuss alternatives.
Options for Upper Division Electives (Morgantown main campus):
- Option 1:
- Option 2: 12 hours of 300 - 500 level courses divided between WMST courses, excluding independent study, field experience, and non-graded (pass/fail courses) and WVU-Morgantown courses from the list of approved courses. If students choose this option, courses must be from at least two different units (e.g. English and History).
How Do I Enroll In The Women's Studies Area of Emphasis?

Contact the Center for Women's Studies, 218 Eiesland Hall (293-2339) or Dr. Barbara Howe, Director, at 293-2339 x 1155, or barbara.howe@mail.wvu.edu) for an appointment. Check in at least once a semester with the Center to update your progress toward graduation.