Frequently Asked Questions

Competency-based education allows for a more flexible and affordable path to finishing your degree, while still maintaining the high-quality education you receive from a more traditional route. Your degree plan is designed with you in mind because competency-based education is built for and focused on the individual student, rather than a course. Additionally, we value your previous education and experience and allowing you to show mastery in competencies ensures that your previous knowledge is being used.

The fully online program allows you to earn a Bachelor of Applied Studies in Organizational Leadership. This degree plan focuses on preparing adults with the professional and leadership skills needed to be competitive in today’s market and is applicable to a wide variety of career choices. This is a full-time degree plan, and no part-time degree plans are available, due to the competency-based nature of the program.

Competency is proven by completing all the assessments related to a competency at a mastery level of 80%. Assessments come in varied forms-- papers, proposals, presentations, reports, and other formats. The assessments are designed to fit the material you have learned and are individually evaluated by your instructors. Additionally, re-dos are permitted-- if you submit a competency assessment to the faculty evaluator, and the assessment does not meet Mastery level, the assessment may be submitted up to two more times. Further re-dos must be cleared by your coach.

To use the UMHB online systems, a student must have access to a minimum of the following:

1. A reliable Internet connection (minimum download speed of 2Mbps and upload speed of 1Mbps)
2. A desktop or laptop computer manufactured within the last five years with an operating system (Windows, Mac or Linux) capable of running the required software listed below
3. One or more of the following modern web browsers:
   • Mozilla Firefox
   • Google Chrome (Recommended)
   • Apple Safari (Mac OS only)
   • Windows Edge
4. A modern office productivity suite (e.g. Microsoft Office, Apache OpenOffice, LibreOffice...)
5. Sound card with speakers and microphone (external or built-in)
6. Webcam (external or built-in)
7. We recommend you have an up-to-date anti-virus program.

Yes! Federal aid, like Pell Grants and some student loans, are made available to students in accordance with demonstrated need for assistance, as determined by use of the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). Additionally, we are also able to certify VA benefits for students. Check out our Financial Aid page for more details.

The University of Mary Hardin-Baylor is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges to award baccalaureate, masters, and doctorate degrees. Questions about the accreditation of the University of Mary Hardin-Baylor may be directed in writing to the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges at 1866 Southern Lane, Decatur, Georgia 30033-4097, by calling (404)-679-4500, or by using information available on SACSCOC's website https://www.sacscoc.org.

We believe that the work you’ve completed prior to coming to UMHB is valuable. Therefore, we do not have an expiration date on previous credits, and we work hard to give you credit for the classes and trainings you have completed. We accept prior college credit, examination credits, and professional/corporate training courses that have been evaluated by ACE or National College Credit Recommendation Service. Once you are accepted, you will meet with your Admissions Counselor to review your personal Degree Audit. This document will show you exactly how many credits will transfer and how many competencies you will need to complete in order to finish your degree.

New students must submit an official transcript from ALL previously attended colleges and universities. UMHB’s MyWay program accepts transfer college-level course work with a grade of “C” or higher from regionally accredited United States institutions of higher education. Military training will be evaluated using the American Council on Education (ACE) guidelines upon submission of a Joint Services Transcript.

Transfer credit may be applied to degree as deemed appropriate by course age, level, and content. Transfer course equivalencies are determined through the collaborative efforts of the Registrar’s Office, the competency subject matter experts, the Program Director, and the Provost’s Office on the basis of the applicability of the nature, content, and level of the learning experiences to Program degree requirements.

All students will have access to tutoring through an online service that is available 24/7. Additionally, students can request personal tutoring with a faculty subject matter expert through their success coaches.

This degree will prepare you to be successful. We certainly encourage you to do research for prospective graduate programs early on, and to keep in mind the specifics of MyWay. Instead of the traditional grading system, you demonstrate mastery. Mastery, for the purpose of your transcript, is the equivalent of an “80” or a “B.” So if you complete the program successfully, your GPA would be a 3.0. Additionally, there are not elective options available within this program, so if you need specific prerequisites, you might need to take those elsewhere after graduation.

Your education and your time are extremely valuable. Competency-based education is unlike any other educational format out there, so making sure that it is a good fit for your learning style is important. To help you with that process, we have created a Readiness Assessment that will be sent to you after submitting an application. This does not affect your admission, but rather is meant as a tool to help you self-assess whether or not this program is right for you.

Coaches and mentors both serve important purposes during your education. Coaches are assigned to students and are there to help you refine your objectives, set goals, place resources in your path, and help you be successful. Mentors are chosen by students and primarily play a support role. Mentors can be a spouse, an older student, or someone in your desired field. Mentors can come and go with regards to your needs during your degree, while your coach remains consistent with you until graduation.