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Frequently Asked Questions

Applying to Our Program

Applying to the BOT/BA Degree Program
Each prospective student to the WIU Board of Trustees Bachelor of Arts (BOT/BA) Degree Program must submit an application for admission to the Non-Traditional Programs office. Apply online at www.student.services.wiu.edu/admissions/bot/application/. Returning WIU students should use the "Board of Trustees Readmission Application." You can also download the Board of Trustees Bachelor of Arts (BOT/BA) Degree Program Application (PDF). To view and print the Board of Trustees Bachelor of Arts Degree Program application you need Adobe Acrobat Reader.
What if I don't meet the admissions requirements?
If you do not meet the admissions requirements, you may be considered for admission if:
  • You have been separated from higher education institutions for five or more years.
  • You submit a letter of explanation to the office of Non-Traditional Programs explaining past academic performance and why you should be admitted in to the Board of Trustees Degree Program.
How do I apply for admission if I've attended another college or university?
If you have attended other regionally accredited colleges or universities:
  • You must have a “C” average for all work attempted.
  • You must be in good standing at last college or university attended.
  • It must be at least five years since your scheduled high school graduation date.
  • Or you must have earned an accredited associate’s degree or successfully completed 60 semester hours of coursework at a regionally accredited institution.
How do I apply if I've never attended a college or university before?
If you have never attended college, you must hold a high school diploma from an accredited high school and must meet the following requirements:
  • Five years must have elapsed since your high school graduation date. AND
  • A cumulative grade point average of 2.50 on a 4.0 scale OR
  • An ACT/SAT composite score of 20/920, respectively.
Can I be admitted if I don't have a high school diploma?
If you do not have a high school diploma, you may apply for admission if you are at least five years beyond the normally accepted high school graduation date had you remained in high school and you must have passed the General Educational Development Test and received a high school equivalency certificate. Request that official transcripts from any college or university previously attended, the official high school transcript or the high school equivalency certificate be sent direct to Non-Traditional Programs, Horrabin Hall 6, Western Illinois University, 1 University Circle, Macomb, IL 61455-1390. If you do not meet the admissions requirements, you may appeal to the BOT/BA Advisory Committee for admission. Download Appeal Form (PDF).
Can I be admitted even if I have a bachelor's degree?
Answer: Although people with bachelor's degrees from regionally accredited institutions cannot be admitted to the BOT/BA degree program, firefighters are the one exception. Firefighters who hold a bachelor's degree who would like to complete additional coursework through the Degrees at a Distance Program and attain a second bachelor's degree should the Non-Traditional Programs office by calling 309/298-1929 or by e-mailing NP-BOT@wiu.edu for more information.
Can I transfer to a different degree program once I'm admitted?
Admission to the BOT/BA degree program does not admit you to any other WIU degree program.
Do I have to fill out the entire application?
Withholding information requested in the application for admission or giving incorrect statements may render a student ineligible for admission or result in dismissal.
How do I apply (for undergraduate, non-degree seeking students only)
Prospective non-degree seeking undergraduate students must first submit an application to the Non-Traditional Programs office as a non-degree seeking student at the following link: https://www.student.services.wiu.edu/admissions/bot/ application/index.asp?appType=NON. Once accepted, you are considered 'current student. To register for course work through the School of Extended Studies, current students may download the Request to Register for Courses form, complete it, and mail or fax it to the Office of the Registrar. Current students are also able to register online through STARS. Completing the Request to Register for Courses does NOT automatically admit a student into any degree program or the university. It does NOT guarantee a space in the course. Notification regarding your request to register for courses will be mailed to you.
What if I was a WIU Student Before?
Any former WIU student admitted to the degree program will continue under the last transcripted academic standing status (e.g. academic probation, academic warning). Note: Students who have been academically suspended or dismissed from Western Illinois University must be readmitted to the University before seeking admission to the BOT/BA Degree program.
Who is my advisor?