Division of Continuing Studies

Division of Continuing Studies

For over 70 years, the Division of Continuing Studies (DCS) has been dedicated exclusively to the needs of adult and contemporary learners by meeting students where they are. DCS works to elevate the adult student voice across the institution to foster a culture of inclusion. Although the higher education landscape has changed, our core beliefs and guiding principles have not. Since our beginning, we’ve worked to raise awareness of the characteristics and circumstances of adult learners, illustrate the value that our multigenerational students bring to UNO, and provide opportunities for undergraduate degree attainment that honors their unique and diverse needs.

DCS was founded with an entrepreneurial spirit and has sustained a culture of resilience, adaptability, and innovation. The nontraditional design of our unit and degree program is what has allowed us, and in turn, our students, to thrive. Our expertise is in serving the needs of adult and contemporary learners. Our commitment is to help our students realize their academic goals by honoring their unique needs and circumstances. Our passion is in advocating for a diverse population of learners who do not fit the first-time, full-time mold for whom much of higher education has been designed.

Our Program

We offer one degree with multiple Concentrations. The Bachelor of Multidisciplinary Studies (BMS) degree program is available online, on-campus, or through a combination of online and on-campus classes. Awarded to over 27,000 students since 1950, it is one of the nation’s oldest multidisciplinary degrees and is part of UNO’s longstanding, rich tradition of serving military and veteran students.

Campus Locations/Services

UNO Campus Location

DCS is on the second floor of the College of Public Affairs and Community Service building (CPACS 207) on UNO’s Dodge Street campus. This location serves as the headquarters of our operations. To provide high touch services to our students and to accommodate their busy lives, students are able to meet with staff over the phone, online, and in person. In addition to the normal 8-5 weekday business hours, students can meet with our professional advisors in the evening.

Offutt Air Force Base

A branch of DCS is located at Offutt AFB in Building C, Room 222. UNO/DCS at Offutt, in partnership with the Offutt AFB Education Office, offers a wide array of services to increase educational opportunities for active-duty military, as well as the larger Offutt AFB community. DCS also oversees the testing center at Offutt, offering CLEP, DSST, and Pearson Vue proctoring services. The testing center is located in Building C, Room 204.

Student-Centered Service

Through a holistic approach to student success, DCS works to support, empower, and advocate for the needs of adult and contemporary learners. DCS practices an assigned advising model to build relationships and offer personalized guidance to students from pre-admission exploration through graduation celebration. Our students take varied pathways and thus require individualized attention to create a smooth transition through their university experience. 

DCS Course No Activity Drop Policy 

DCS offers a variety of courses online each semester to support our learners’ needs. This policy pertains to student activity in registered online courses offered through our division. 

Students are considered to have “no activity” if they do not log in to Canvas and initiate active participation in an “academically related activity” during the designated drop period for the course as outlined below:  

  • Non-Accelerated Courses: At the end of the fifth day of the course. 

  • 6-Week Accelerated Courses: At the end of the second day of the course.  

Note: Merely logging in to the Canvas course does not constitute engaging in an academically related activity.  

Academic Related Activities in an online course include but are not limited to: 

  • Student submission of an academic assignment.  

  • Student submission of an exam.  

  • Documented student participation in an interactive tutorial or computer-assisted instruction.  

  • A posting by the student showing their participation in an online study group assigned by the institution.  

  • A posting by the student in a discussion forum showing the student’s participation in an online discussion about academic matters.  

  • An email from the student or other documentation showing that the student-initiated contact with a faculty member to ask a question about the academic subject studied in the course.  

If a student fails to meet these requirements, they are considered as having “no activity” and will be notified of administrative removal from the course.  

If students are Financial Aid recipients and dropped for having “no activity” they will have their aid adjusted to reflect the actual number of credits for the courses they are attending.

Only students dropped in error will be enrolled back in the class. If the situation arises and a student is reenrolled in the course, they must contact the Financial Aid Office requesting that aid be reevaluated for reinstatement. If reinstated, aid will again be adjusted based on enrollment status and eligibility.  

Students who wish to drop a class during the designated drop period should still follow the University policy to change their enrollment. A No Activity drop is different from a withdrawal. Please review the Withdrawal Policy for more details.

Civility Statement

Student learning is a priority in the Division of Continuing Studies (DCS). We value the inherent worth and dignity of every person, and work to foster a community of mutual respect. To achieve these ideals, all DCS students are expected, while in the role of student or representative of the University, to exhibit, and practice civil behaviors that exemplify:

  • Respecting faculty, staff, fellow students, guests, and all University property, policies, rules, and regulations;
  • Taking responsibility for one's choices and actions;
  • Accepting the consequences of one's inappropriate choices and actions;
  • Communicating in a professional and courteous manner in all forms, and all times, whether verbal, non-verbal, or written.

Behavior that is contradictory to the above and to the standards outlined in the UNO Student Code of Conduct will be taken seriously and appropriately reported.

Goals

DCS provides educational experiences, both curricular and co-curricular, for students to develop and enhance the skills, abilities, and perspectives to be self-directed, lifelong learners. DCS supports holistic growth and development; shaping the contribution our students and graduates make to their lives, their profession, and to society.

The following Program Goals & Graduate Expectations guide our programs and services:

  • To ACT Responsibly
  • To COMMUNICATE Effectively
  • To CONNECT Meaningfully
  • To LEARN Continuously
  • To THINK Independently

Student Groups

Alpha Sigma Lambda Honor Society

Contact Information

Admission Requirements

The minimum age for admission to the Division of Continuing Studies is normally 21. However, students under the age of 21 pursuing an undergraduate degree who do not meet the definition of a "traditional" college student may also be eligible for admission to the BMS degree program. Examples may include military-affiliated students; students who are on the path to an alternate UNO academic degree/department/college; and students pursuing an area of study not represented by another UNO degree program.

In order to be considered for admission to DCS, applicants must submit the following:

  • Completed UNO application for admission.
  • Official high school transcript or high school equivalency examination (GED). This requirement is waived for transfer students with 24 or more credit hours.
  • Official transcripts from post-secondary institutions (colleges and/or universities, including CCAF and DLI)

Although not required at the time of application, we recommend that students also submit documentation of credit for prior learning for a comprehensive credit evaluation. These documents may demonstrate college-level learning outside of the traditional classroom and may shorten the time to degree completion. Documents include:

  • Official standardized examination scores (e.g., CLEP, DSST)
  • Military training and education transcripts (Joint Services Transcript)
  • Official transcripts from nationally accredited institutions
  • Transcripts documenting evaluated non-college programs (e.g., American Council on Education, National College Credit Recommendation Service)

Degrees Offered

The diverse, multigenerational student population enrolled in the Bachelor of Multidisciplinary Studies (BMS) degree program have varied prior learning experiences, personal interests, and career goals. BMS graduates pursue a wide range of careers in many fields depending on their selected content areas, previous work and life experiences, as well as the selection of courses taken within their program of study. As part of the Bachelor of Multidisciplinary Studies degree, students choose the content they want to study and explain their unique expertise and learning to potential employers.

BMS graduates stand out to employers for their wide range of perspectives and viewpoints, real-world life and work experiences, and transferrable skills developed in the degree program that are beneficial in the workplace and changing world, including:

  • Critical thinking and problem solving
  • Collaboration and connection
  • Ethical judgement and decision making
  • Adaptability and flexibility

The more than 27,000 graduates of our program have:

  • Advanced in their current career
  • Transitioned to new career fields
  • Refreshed skills and knowledge
  • Pursued graduate degrees
  • Achieved personal fulfillment

Our academic advisors take a student-centered approach to advising. With a holistic and student-goal-oriented model of advising, we work with you to identify a degree program that best fits your reason for attending and completing your degree.

Note: Not all students pursue a Bachelors of Multidisciplinary Studies for career reasons.