Bachelor of Professional Studies

Adult student with Social Work professor

The Bachelor of Professional Studies (B.P.S.) is the college’s first fully online adult degree completion program. Earning a bachelor’s degree supports personal and professional growth along with opportunities for career advancement. In designing the B.P.S. program, we know adult students may be juggling work and family commitments.

APPLY NOW for Spring or Fall 2023 BPS Program

Two concentrations are offered:  Social Services and Organizational Leadership. Each concentration is designed to provide knowledge and skills required for career advancement, delivered in an efficient way to support working adults. There is an emphasis on diversity and ethics in both concentrations and a foundation in the arts and sciences through the B.P.S. general education program.

The B.P.S. is structured as a cohort model, so you will be part of group of adults who have work experience along with some college credit. You may also have prior learning outside the classroom which can be part of a portfolio review in your first class. This can result in the award of a block of credit for what you know. 

The program will have a split semester format of two 8-week sessions in a semester, enabling students to be enrolled full time, but to focus on just two courses at a time. Courses will be a combination of synchronous and asynchronous with no more than 50% (or 4) of classes meeting synchronously. Synchronous meetings will be scheduled for a single evening.

Each concentration includes a Certificate of Undergraduate Studies (CUS):  Nonprofit Studies in the Social Services concentration and Workplace Diversity in Organizational Leadership. This stackable credential will be completed halfway through the B.P.S. program.

See below for information on the discounted tuition for the B.P.S. program.

ADMISSION REQUIREMENTS:

  • 25 years or older at time of application
  • 5 years of documented comprehensive work experience and/or military training
  • A minimum of 24 earned college credits from a regionally accredited college or university 
  • Cumulative college GPA of 2.0 or higher
  • Available as a first bachelor’s degree only

TUITION + FEES/SEMESTER (2022-2023)    

  • $347/credit
  • $100 Technology Fee
  • $50 Library Fee
  • $275 BPS Program Fee

Current RIC students (still active as degree students) who wish to change their major to the B.P.S. should complete this form.

MEET OUR BPS STUDENTS

Jason Melise

Jason Melise

Already a Department Manager at Citizens, He Aims for a Top Spot in Banking

Melise is thankful to be a member of the second cohort in RIC's new Bachelor of Professional Studies Program.

Kieshana Dawkins

CNA Aims to Advance Her Career by Finishing Degree

Kieshana Dawkins is a member of the Bachelor of Professional Studies' "alpha cohort".

Ruth Soares

Her Path to a Bachelor's Degree Came Unexpectedly

The next chapter in Ruth Soares’ story has yet to be written but she believes the BPS program is a link to her future.

Nicole Hass-Rodriguez

Adult Learner Strives to Shake Off Imposter Syndrome by Finishing Her Degree

Earning a degree will help to ease her transition into becoming an advocate at a local healthcare agency.

BPS Course Details

Required Courses

BPS 100 Prior Learning Assessment (PLA) Portfolio Development
FYW 100 Introduction to Academic Writing
ONE COURSE FROM  
  ENGL 230W Workplace Writing
  ENGL 231W Multimodal Writing
  ENGL 232W Public and Community Writing
MATH 139 Contemporary Mathematics or any math course numbered 177 or higher
PHIL 206 Ethics
Arts & Humanities One 100-level or higher course in art, dance, film, English (literature), history, modern languages, theatre
PSCI 250 Science as a Way of Knowing (or any college level science course
SOC 208 The Sociology of Race & Ethnicity
SOC 306 Work & Organization

Required Courses

BPS 461 Seminar in Social Services
COMM 333 Intercultural Communication
HPE 410 Managing Stress and Mental/Emotional Health
NPST 300 Institute in Nonprofit Studies
NPST 301 Financial Management for Nonprofits
NPST 402 Staff and Volunteer Management for Nonprofits
NPST 404 Communications and Resource Development for Nonprofits
SWRK 325 Diversity & Oppression II
SWRK 326W Generalist Social Work Practice
SPED 461 Understanding Autism Spectrum Disorders

TOTAL CREDITS:  35

Required Courses

BPS 460 Seminar in Organizational Leadership
COMM 333  Intercultural Communication
COMM 454 Organizational Communication
ECON 200  Introduction to Economics
MGT 201W Foundations of Management
MGT 306 Management of a Diverse Workforce
MGT 320 Human Resource Management
MGT 322 Organizational Behavior
MGT 341W Business, Government & Society

TOTAL CREDITS:  36

Rhode Island College entrance

For additional program information:

Office of Professional Studies and Continuing Education

Professional Studies and Continuing Education (PSCE) extends the educational offerings and resources of Rhode Island College (RIC) and provides administrative programming support and assistance to affiliated agencies and organizations on and off campus.

Holly Shadoian

Dr. Holly L. Shadoian

Vice Provost of Undergraduate Affairs

Rhode Island College entrance

For financial aid information contact:

Office of Financial Aid

The mission of the Office of Student Financial Aid is to assist students and their families in funding educational costs at Rhode Island College.

Mrs. Nancy A. Bessette

Interim Director

Student Financial Aid