Bachelor of Professional Studies B.P.S.
Jenifer Giroux, Associate Vice President, Professional Studies and Continuing Education
BPS Degree Liaisons:
Jayashree Nimmagadda, Interim Dean, School of Social Work
Alema Karim, Interim Dean, School of Business
Program Director: TBD
Students must consult with their assigned academic advisor before they will be able to register for courses.
General Information
The Bachelor of Professional Studies (BPS) degree is an online adult degree completion program delivered primarily as a cohort-based model using a split semester plan (two seven-week sessions per semester). The program is limited to adults 25 years and older with a minimum of 24 earned college credits and a minimum of five years of documented comprehensive work experience and/or military training.
The BPS is offered in two concentrations: organizational leadership and social services, both of which share three required cognate courses. Each concentration is designed to provide knowledge and skills required for career advancement, delivered in an efficient way to support working adults with considerable workplace experience. There is also an emphasis on diversity and ethics. Students in the cohort model will be registered for their courses each semester.
Students in the Social Services concentration will also earn a Certificate in Nonprofit Studies as part of their BPS program.
The Bachelor of Professional Studies also includes a prior learning assessment (PLA) component, with the development of a PLA portfolio in BPS 100 Prior Learning Assessment (PLA) Portfolio Development, a first course in the program, which also includes an orientation to Rhode Island College.
Under the guidance of the faculty member, students will document and validate knowledge, skills and competencies earned outside the traditional classroom via workplace learning, employer or armed service-sponsored training, experiential learning, organization and industry certifications, on-the-job-training, professional development, microcredentials, digital badging, continuing education units, self-education, etc. Students will submit a completed portfolio at the end of the course. The portfolio will be evaluated by the instructor for the number of prior learning credits (PLA) to be awarded. The instructor may request an additional review by the BPS liaisons as needed. Students may earn up to 32 credits for prior learning documented in their portfolio.
Any student who decides to pursue a major other than the B.P.S. must complete all requirements of that degree including the college’s standard General Education program. The Bachelor of Professional Studies is intended to be a first bachelor’s degree and may not be taken as a second degree program.
Admission Requirements for the Bachelor of Professional Studies B.P.S. Program
- Program admission is restricted to adults 25 years and older at the time of application.
- Minimum of five years of documented comprehensive work experience and/or military training.
- 24 minimum earned college credits at the time of application (from a regionally accredited college or university).
- A minimum grade point average (GPA) of 2.00 on a 4.00 scale in undergraduate course work.
Retention Requirements
A minimum cumulative grade point average (GPA) of 2.00 on a 4.00 scale is required for the degree and graduation.