STEPHENVILLE, Texas — Amber Taylor doesn’t have time to spare. As a single parent of a busy teenager and a full-time worker looking to advance in her field, she was drawn to Tarleton State University Online’s flexible route to a bachelor’s degree. Now, just over two years later, Taylor is graduating with a Bachelor of Applied Arts and Sciences degree in information technology with an undergraduate certificate in cybersecurity.

“Having a degree from Tarleton State will open so many doors for my future,” said Taylor. “I know this is what I want to do, and as a non-traditional student turning 37 the week before graduation, I have life experience on top of proving that I can be knowledgeable and dedicated.”

Taylor had attended Tarleton State after high school, but life challenges caused her to drop out to work full time. She eventually earned an associate degree elsewhere and worked in banking and then information technology jobs. She currently works for an IT support company.

“I knew I wanted to stay in this field, and to do so I would need to have a degree to advance or obtain other jobs,” Taylor said. “Since I have always loved Tarleton State, I started researching and found online degree plans.” Her adviser reviewed her transcripts and suggested the BAAS program, in which she could apply previous course credits as well as work experience to complete her degree faster and more efficiently.

The Bachelor of Applied Arts and Sciences (BAAS) degree from the Dr. Sam Pack College of Business utilizes prior business-related technical or vocational coursework, documented employer training records, continuing education credits or certifications as sources of credit. The program is intended to allow students seeking a bachelor’s degree to complete coursework quickly.

“This was a huge help financially and timewise,” said Taylor. “I had such amazing help and advising from start to finish that ensured I was able to utilize my previous credits and what degree plan would work best for me. It was hard at times, managing working full time, having an active high schooler and managing being a full-time student. But I did it!”

Her daughter was a major influence in her decision to move forward with her degree, Taylor said.

“She was in middle school when I decided to go back to college. That age is so impressionable, and I wanted her to know that no matter what happens, if you really want something and are willing to work hard, you can achieve your goals.

“I am a single mom, and to give her what she deserves I have to put in the work. I try to go to as many of her events, games, etc. as possible,” Taylor added. “Online learning was the only option for me, and discovering that Tarleton State could help me with that, it was not a hard decision to make.”

She said the experience also helped her learn to trust herself to self-manage and prioritize her classes on top of her job and parenting roles.

“It has helped me learn my strengths and weaknesses and shown me that I can handle stressful times with a lot going on.” It can be difficult to “teach yourself,” she said, but her professors were helpful and she experienced good communication. She would recommend Tarleton State Online to anyone wanting to continue their education.

“There is such a wide variety of degree plans to explore and find what is right for you. It is never too late to go back to school.”

Tarleton State University’s online option offers more than 20 undergraduate completion programs and 22 graduate degrees, all designed for ultimate flexibility and affordability to empower busy adults, working professionals and lifelong learners to unlock their potential.

In addition, 10 unique professional completion degrees allow students to convert experience into credit by recognizing the value of existing knowledge gained through professional training, certifications and technical coursework, accelerating their degree path.

To learn more about Tarleton State Online, visit https://www.tarleton.edu/online/.

To learn more about the BAAS options at Tarleton State, visit https://www.tarleton.edu/degrees/business-baas/

A founding member of The Texas A&M System, Tarleton State University is breaking records — in enrollment, research, scholarship, athletics, philanthropy and engagement — while transforming the lives of approximately 18,000 students in Stephenville, Fort Worth, Waco, Bryan and online. For 125 years, Tarleton State has been committed to accessible higher education opportunities for all while helping students grow academically, socially and professionally through programs that emphasize real world learning and address regional, state and national needs.