Bachelor of Professional Studies

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.