Explore CU Denver's Bachelor of Applied Science - Professional Studies Program
At the University of Colorado Denver’s College of Liberal Arts and Sciences, opportunity doesn’t start over, it gains momentum.
For students who have already earned an Associate of Applied Science, the Bachelor of Applied Science (BAS) in Professional Studies is designed to help you carry that progress forward and transform it into your next step. This is where your experience meets possibility. This is how you build your momentum and meet your moment.
A Degree Designed for Real Lives and Real Goals
Many AAS graduates reach a turning point. You may be ready for a promotion that requires a bachelor’s degree. You may want to pivot into a new field. Or you may simply want more from your career.
The challenge has traditionally been starting over.
"The degree audit can be discouraging,” said BAS Program Director Paul Le. “Students see how many credits they lose and feel like they’re starting from scratch.”
It was clear to Le that a pathway needed to be built to ease this process and build real momentum for students looking to transform their AAS degree into something more. The BAS program does just that. Instead of losing momentum, you build on it. Students coming into the BAS program work with and other program advisors to connect their AAS degree to count towards, typically, about 60 credits. This means they can complete the remaining coursework at CU Denver, often in as little as two years.
What Makes the BAS Different
The BAS is not a one-size-fits-all degree. It is intentionally flexible, designed to meet students where they are and move them forward.
At its core, the program allows students to:
- Transfer the full value of their AAS into a bachelor’s pathway
- Choose two certificates aligned with career goals
- Customize their coursework to fit evolving interests and industries
- Complete the program full-time or part-time, with many online options
“Everyone has different goals,” Le said. “We help students tailor a degree that fits what they want to do next.”
This flexibility reflects the reality of today’s workforce, where change is constant and adaptability is essential.
Guided Every Step of the Way
Flexibility can be powerful, but it can also feel overwhelming. That is why BAS students are not navigating the process alone. From the moment you express interest, the BAS team works with you one-on-one to map your path forward.
“We really try to hone in on what your goals are,” Le said. “Then we help build a plan that gets you there.”
This personalized approach includes:
- Individual advising tailored to your career goals
- Support in selecting the right certificates
- Help building a schedule that fits your life
- Ongoing guidance if your interests or plans evolve
The result is a program that feels both structured and personal, a rare combination at a large university.
- Transform Your AAS into a BAS: For AAS graduates, the BAS is more than a continuation of education. It is a strategic upgrade.
- Keep What You’ve Earned: Your technical and applied coursework counts. Instead of losing credits, they are integrated into your bachelor’s degree.
- Gain Career Mobility: A bachelor’s degree can open doors to leadership roles, career advancement, and new industries that require four-year credentials.
- Build New Skills with Purpose: Through stackable certificates, you gain clearly defined, workforce-ready skills that show up on your transcript as you complete them.
“It’s not like you have to wait until the very end,” Le explained. “As you finish certificates, they’re already on transcripts for employers to see.”
In addition to technical expertise, students complete knowledge area courses that broaden critical thinking, communication, and problem-solving skills, essential tools for long-term success.
A Program That Evolves with You
The BAS is built for a world that does not stand still. New certificate pathways are continuously developed in response to student demand and workforce needs, from data science, to law studies, to health and behavioral sciences.
This means your degree stays relevant, aligned with real opportunities in today’s job market.
It also means your voice matters.
“As a newer program, we’re still growing,” Le said. “Student feedback helps shape what the BAS becomes.”
Momentum That Meets the Moment
At CU Denver, education is not just about earning a degree. It is about building momentum that carries you forward. The BAS program reflects that belief. It recognizes the value of where you have been, supports where you are now, and prepares you for what comes next.
Whether you are advancing in your current field, pivoting to something new, or returning to education after years in the workforce, this is a pathway designed for you. You have already started your journey. Now it is time to build on it.
Abby Epstein is continuing her momentum in the BAS program by turning her love for Formula 1 and automotive AAS into a BAS concentrating on global communications. She sees it as her pathway to a career abroad, following the Formula 1 circuit.
See How Abby's Doing the BAS-PS Explore the CU Denver BAS-PS Program