• Contacts: Andrew Gooding, Director; rba@marshall.edu
• Website: https://www.marshall.edu/rba/

RBA@marshall.edu

The Regents Bachelor of Arts degree program (RBA) is a nontraditional program designed for the adult student. It has several differences from other baccalaureate degree programs. While the program provides the RBA student with a sound general educational foundation, there are no required major courses. Instead, with the assistance of an advisor, a student creates the course plan that best fits his or her individual needs. Students in the program have the opportunity to request College Equivalent Credits (CEC’s) for documented course-level learning resulting from life and work experiences. Examples of CEC credit may include military credits, standard awards for certain licenses, certifications and corporate training, CLEP and DSST examinations, and portfolio petitions for credit. CEC credit will be added after a semester completed in the program with the student having a Marshall and overall grade point average of 2.0 or better.

All failing grades received three years or more before admission to the program may be forgiven and disregarded in the calculation of the GPA required for graduation. (Note: If failing grades are forgiven the student will not be eligible for university-level honors. Academic forgiveness may only be done once and it only pertains to graduating from the RBA program, not to admission to other programs.) This will be completed after the student completes a successful semester in the program. A successful semester is completing 2 classes with a semester grade point average of 2.0 or better.

General Education Requirements

36 semester hours (including applicable CEC general education hours) distributed among the following categories:

• Communications – 6 semester hours*
• Natural or physical sciences – 3 semester hours
• Mathematics/Computers – 3 semester hours
• Social Sciences – 6 semester hours
• Humanities – 6 semester hours
• Additional approved 3 credit hours from natural or physical sciences or mathematics or computers
• Additional approved credit hours from any of the above categories – 9 semester hours

While RBA students do not declare a major, they may earn a minor in any academic program offered at Marshall by following the minor requirements of that program.

The RBA staff assists students in all aspects of their college needs: admission, program design, course selection, enrollment, assessment for CEC’s, and many other factors.

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*

Beginning with students admitted for Fall 2025, ENG 201 is required as part of the communications requirement. ENG 201 has a prerequisite of ENG 101 or 101P. For ENG 201 to count towards degree completing and satisfying the communications requirement, the course grade must be a 'C' or better.

Areas of Emphasis: Marshall University Regents Bachelor of Arts

An Area of Emphasis gives RBA students the opportunity to show a focus as part of the RBA degree. Areas of Emphasis are not required for the degree and are not all available online. An RBA area of emphasis, by state statute, requires a minimum of 15 hours of 300-400 level courses with a C or higher for each course. Substitutions are only allowed with the appropriate department’s written permission. The most current list of Areas of Emphasis is found on the RBA website https://www.marshall.edu/rba/ or by contacting the RBA office. CEC’s may not be used in completing an Area of Emphasis.

Admission Requirements

Admission

• The student must meet all general Marshall University admission requirements
• The student must be at least 3 years out of high school. For those students who passed the GED, admission must be at least 3 years after their class graduated from high school. 
• Exceptions: Students with an A.A., A.S., or A.A.S. community college degree may enter the RBA program directly without waiting 3 years out of high school.

Students who have already completed a bachelor’s degree from an accredited institution of higher learning may not pursue the RBA degree.

The RBA degree by state statute is a degree completion program and students may not double major in the RBA or use it as a subsequent degree.

Graduation Requirements

• Total credit hour requirement: 120 credit hours, including any CEC’s
• General education hours: 36
• Upper division hours (300-400 level): 30
• Grade Point Average at Marshall and overall: 2.00
• Residency: 24 graded semester credit hours earned at any of the WV public institutions of higher education. At least 3 credit hours must be earned at Marshall University.
• No more than 72 hours of community college credit can be applied toward the RBA.

 Course Requirements

General Education Requirements for the Regents Bachelor of Arts (R.B.A.)

Course List

Code	Title	Credit Hours
Communications 1		6
Humanities		6
Natural or Physical Sciences		3
Social Sciences		6
Mathematical Sciences or Computer Applications		3
Additional course in Natural/Physical Sciences or Mathematical Sciences or Computer Applications		3
Additional General Education hours		9
A minimum of 30 hours of 300/400 level courses		30
Additional courses to reach the minimum of 120 credit hours		54
Total Credit Hours		120

¹

Beginning with students admitted for Fall 2025, ENG 201 is required as part of the communications requirement. ENG 201 has a prerequisite of ENG 101 or 101B.

Areas of Emphasis