Within the BPS program, students will complete 30 core credits, and 30 credits related to their respective major.

Core Courses

Introduction to Professional Studies.
This core BPS course introduces students to the professional environment, the skills and attributes that are required for success in that environment, and interpersonal, organizational, and professional framework that each leader must navigate (3 cr.)

Digital and Professional Communication.
This course provides the profession with knowledge of the importance of communication in the workplace; with skills in digital, written, oral, and interpersonal communication; and with the ability to apply those skills to successfully accomplish the work of the organization (3 cr.)

Critical Thinking, Research, & Presentation
The ability to analyze problems, to conduct and use research for decision-making, and to share those decisions with others in the organization are all important in the career success of the professional. This course emphasizes the process of collecting, analyzing, and using information to document and solve a problem or challenge in the workplace (3).

Technology for Information-Based Organizations
Technology is a critical component for any organization or business. This course focuses on network technology, common professional software programs, technology requirements and supports, and information management in the workplace (3 cr.).

Ethics in Professional Life
This course provides a broad overview of ethical behavior in professional life, and addresses corporate culture and expectations, workplace behavior and interpersonal interactions, and parameters for ethical decision-making (3 cr.).

The Legal Environment
Positive work environments, mutual respect, appropriate behavior, and compliance/regulations are all factors that influence life at work and within any organization. The Legal Environment is a survey course that addresses legal requirements for managers, workers, and clients; codes, regulations, and laws; and processes to maintain a safe and productive work culture that is safe and responsive for all staff and employees (3 cr.).

Leadership in the Workplace
This course explores the role of the leader at work, covers the different leadership styles, and encourages students to identify and actively use their own leadership style. Hands-on opportunities for leadership will be available throughout the course (3 cr).

Human Diversity in Social Contexts.
Diversity is one of the highlights of life in American society, and this course provides opportunities for students to read about, discuss, analyze, and write about the ways in which diversity enhances, but also challenges, the workplace. Application of theory to practice is a main focus for this course (3 cr.).

Public Advocacy and Negotiation.
This course addresses ways in which the professional in the workplace can advocate for key constituent groups, and negotiate a pathway to consensus even in the most challenging situations. Tools such as arbitration, mediation, facilitation, and presentation will be covered in this course as students learn the basic tenets and applications of these key skills (3 cr.).

The Professional Internship.
The BPS Internship is a capstone for the BPS degree, occurring at the end of the student’s course of study, and requiring hands on application of key theories and practices learned through the degree. May be completed in the student’s current place of employment, if appropriate (150 hours, 3 cr.).

We are no longer accepting new applications for the Bachelor of Professional Studies program.

Business Management Courses

Entrepreneurship and New Ventures.
This course explores the role of the entrepreneur in the business environment, and provides an overview of related activities include venture capitalism, funding and sourcing, and business plan development (3 cr.)

Small Business Management.
The role of the small business owner is a hallmark of the US economy. This course traces the history and evolution of small business, the challenges to launching and managing a small business, and the future of small business today (3 cr.)

Business Leadership.
There are many leadership styles evident in successful business and organizations. The student in this course will learn about the characteristics, traits, and benefits of each leadership style, with an emphasis on those traits inherent in the most successful business leaders (3 cr.).

Innovation and Design Thinking.
Innovation in business has the potential to generate new enterprise and new business models, but brings with its unique challenges as well as potential. This course reviews the history of innovation in American business, and the lessons learned that apply to the business world today (3 cr.).

Global Social Entrepreneurship.
Business and leadership in the globally economy are expanding daily, and the successful business leaders understands both the concepts of globalization in the business environment, as well as the social capital that accompanies that expansion. Both themes will be explored in this course (3 cr.).

Finance.
This course provides an overview of the financial models that shape US and global business and introduces the student to the tenets of the financial market (3 cr.).

Marketing in a Global Context.
Marketing on to a worldwide marketplace is an ever-expanding field. This course presents to the student the theories and practices of marketing that have proven to have the most success in the global market (3 cr.).

Human Resources in the Business Organization.
Understanding the workforce and labor are critical to the success of any business and the ability of the business manager and leader to successfully guide the organization. This course offers principles and best practice for human resource management (3 cr.).

Strategic Planning.
Any successful business must have a strategic business plan to guide growth, productivity, direction, and goals. The student will study and apply the models for developing, writing, disseminating and implementing an effective strategic plan (3 cr.).

Current Topics for the Business Manager.
This course explores current topics in business management in a seminar format that encourages the application of theory and principles of business to current events and real-world business scenarios (3 cr.).