The Bachelor’s of Professional Studies offers a diverse education of technical and practical training. This degree is primarily intended for adults who have earned college credit, or an associate’s degree, but have not completed a four-year undergraduate education. Many students can transfer credits for work and professional experience, in addition to earned college credits, to complete this degree. A student wanting to obtain this type of undergraduate education can choose among many academic disciplines, including health sciences, behavioral sciences, culinary arts, computer information systems, and business administration. Students who want to earn more advanced degrees can begin with a professional degree and then go to law or medical school.
In choosing a bachelor’s degree in professional studies, you will polish workplace skills and prepare for jobs or career advancement in technology, government, and nonprofit organizations. Graduates with this degree also work in the food, healthcare, and construction fields. Depending on the area of study, most students take core courses such as English, science, history, social sciences and liberal arts.
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What Schools Offer the Degree?
Fairfield University in Connecticut offers students an opportunity to compile a portfolio for academic credit consideration consisting of job experience, training, reading, and community involvement.
Seattle Pacific University (SPU), a technical or professional degree from a public, regionally accredited technical or community college counts toward a Bachelor of Arts or a Bachelor of Science in the University’s Professional Studies program.
Robert Morris University (RMU) in Illionois also offers this degree. In obtain your degree with a concentration in Applied Health Sciences program at RMU, undergraduates study global health, the early life cycle, diseases in adulthood, and ethical and legal issues related to healthcare.
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What is the Cost of this Degree?
General costs depend on factors such as the number of credits accepted and whether a student lives in or out of state. Tuition can range from a few hundred to several hundred dollars per credit hours, plus fees and textbooks. The average cost of earning a bachelor’s in professional studies at a public college or university adds up to over $30,000.
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What is the Employment Outlook Associated with this Degree?
Since students can specialize in many different areas of study, graduates have many career options. A graduate who specializes in hospitality management, for instance, will work in the largest industry in the world, overseeing the daily operations of hotels, restaurants, and casinos. Those with a concentration in Applied Health Sciences will join the ever-expanding healthcare field and work in management positions in hospitals, nursing homes, rehabilitation facilities, doctors' offices, and clinics. Others who studied computer information systems or business administration can choose to work for the government or in the private sector.
A bachelor’s in professional studies may be the educational answer for adults going back to school. This degree can lead to a change in professions, advancement in the workplace, and personal satisfaction of earning a college education.