We all know someone who has spent years in a role they know like the back of their hand, working right alongside someone who went to college to study what they already do. They didn't learn it in a classroom. They built it, day by day, through experience.

If that story sounds familiar, you may recognize it in the students of our BAAS-APAL program. Our students are working professionals who have spent years in the industry and have too much momentum to stop mid-career. So they find flexibility, affordability, and a program designed to meet them where they are. Here at the Marilyn Davies College of Business.

Which MDCOB program uses CBE?

The Bachelor of Applied Arts and Sciences – Applied Public Administration and Leadership (BAAS-APAL) is our fully online, competency-based program. Its courses are designed so that your real-world knowledge and experience can carry you through the material in a way that a traditional course structure simply doesn't allow for.

The Bachelor of Applied Arts and Sciences – Applied Administration (BAAS-AA) is a more traditional online format, offering the same flexibility and affordability in an asynchronous online structure.

Both programs are built for working adults. The difference is in how the coursework is designed.

Who is BAAS-APAL designed for?

Students who thrive in the BAAS-APAL program are typically:

• Working professionals in the public sector like city, county, state, or federal government
• Military veterans with extensive hands-on training and leadership experience
• Adult learners returning to complete a degree after years in the workforce
• Community college transfers ready to finish their bachelor's
• Anyone who feels like their experience should count for something in the classroom

The BAAS-APAL is literally designed for people from these backgrounds. CBE means the program bends to fit your expertise, not the other way around.

What does this look like in practice?

Because the BAAS coursework is competency-based, students can move through areas where they already have mastery and invest more time in developing new skills. The program focuses on practical, career-ready competencies including leadership, communication, budgeting, HR, and project management. Subjects all grounded in real public sector workplace challenges like crisis management and negotiation.

The result is a program that doesn't feel like starting over. It feels like building on what you've already earned.

What is the catch?

No catch! This degree is a legitimate recognized university degree! Understandably, that's the first question many working adults ask. CBE is not a loophole. It's a recognized and rigorous course design evaluated by MDCOB faculty and advisors who understand exactly what mastery of the curriculum looks like. You graduate with the same bachelor's degree as any other degree holder, join an alumni network of thousands of UHD graduates, and earn a credential you can take to employers or use to continue into a master's program.

And with UHD being the most affordable university in Houston, the return on investment after graduation is hard to match.

Here is one of our BAAS alumni to give her story on the flexibility of receiving her BAAS degree:

Ready to find out if BAAS-APAL is right for you?

Connect with a trusted advisor to explore which program fits your background and goals. Learn more about BAAS-APAL and BAAS-AA or reach out to get started.