Did you start college, but life’s demands meant not being able to finish? Or do you know someone who’s always wanted to complete their degree? There’s a new program at Maharishi University of Management (MUM) for students who have completed 60 or more credits toward their bachelor’s degree, and it’s available online.
The Online B.A. in Liberal Arts (BALA) is a degree-completion program that allows you to finish your college degree in as little as one year, without having to relocate. It’s a program that combines profound personal development with the practical skills that will help you succeed in any profession—skills that employers are looking for.
“We’ve always wanted to add online options for students to earn a Consciousness-Based degree—a way to take MUM courses from the comfort of their own home,” says Dr. Chris Jones, dean of undergraduate studies at MUM.
The Online B.A. in Liberal Arts (BALA) is a degree-completion program that allows you to finish your college degree in as little as one year, without having to relocate.
Gain the Benefits of a College Degree
“Having a bachelor’s degree can make a significant difference in your career advancement,” Dr. Jones explains. The BALA program helps students develop key skills that employers cite as the most important when considering a new hire: problem solving, critical thinking, communication, and leadership. Those skills are equally essential for graduates who pursue an entrepreneurial path rather than traditional employment.
Recent studies have found that college graduates, on average, earn 56 percent more than high school grads. They’re also more likely to own their own homes, have successful marriages, and contribute to 401(k)-style retirement plans.
“Earning this credential is also an important milestone of personal growth, adding depth and meaning to the life experience you already have,” Dr. Jones says.
The BALA program helps students develop key skills that employers cite as the most important when considering a new hire: problem solving, critical thinking, communication, and leadership.
A Unique Online Program that Addresses the Whole Self
In an academic market inundated with online programs, what sets MUM apart?
For one thing, all students and faculty members practice the Transcendental Meditation® (TM®) technique. Regular practice of TM “has been shown to develop practical intelligence, increase brain coherence, improve creative thinking, and enhance health, as well as other outcomes central to learning,” says Dr. Jones. “The BALA program is a real boon for people already in the workplace who want to sharpen their skills. The TM technique is part of that sharpening.”
So how does Consciousness-Based Education—a holistic style of learning, unique to MUM, that’s based on daily practice of the TM technique—fit into the curriculum when a student isn’t on campus?
The BALA online courses are similar to those offered on the MUM campus, and are based on nine essential learning outcomes. “The courses are designed to develop personal health, clarity of purpose, and the skills of writing, critical thinking, systems thinking, and quantitative reasoning, with a broad focus on the holistic development of consciousness,” notes Dr. Jones.
Among the courses BALA students will take during their first two semesters are Cross-Cultural Communications, Global Sustainability, and Writing for Professional Development.
“The BALA program is a real boon for people already in the workplace who want to sharpen their skills. The TM technique is part of that sharpening.” —Dr. Chris Jones, MUM dean of undergraduate studies
One-on-One Attention while Learning in a Global Community
An integral part of the BALA program is the active online community it offers, allowing students to connect with their professors and other students from around the world.
Once a week, students take part in a live webinar led by their course professor, giving them the opportunity to ask questions and engage with the professor and fellow classmates. These webinars can also be recorded for later viewing.
The course material is delivered as a mix of videos and readings. Students submit their assignments to an online forum where they can get feedback, participate in online discussions, and exchange experiences and points of view.
Dr. Jones emphasizes that MUM’s professors provide BALA students with the one-on-one attention they need to absorb new and challenging concepts and to succeed in their studies.
Interested in learning more about the online B.A. in Liberal Arts offered by MUM? Visit this page for information on entrance requirements, course descriptions, and more.
An integral part of the BALA program is the active online community it offers, allowing students to connect with their professors and other students from around the world.
Cost?
Thanks for your question, Judith. MUM is a nonprofit university, and for more info on its tuition fees and financial aid visit https://www.mum.edu/online-ba-in-liberal-arts Best wishes!
Interested, please send me more info.
Hi Cherry, Info is on the way! In the meantime, check out the BALA webpage at MUM https://www.mum.edu/online-ba-in-liberal-arts
It’s a great program. Good luck!
Hi I am interested in this program for my son. Please send me complete information.
Thanks for your interest, Michelle. This MUM webpage on the BALA program https://www.mum.edu/online-ba-in-liberal-arts has all the information you and your son will need, as well as a link to apply. I’ll also forward your contact info to the program. Best wishes to your and your son.