Bachelor of Professional Studies

Thank you for your interest in the Bachelor of Professional Studies (BPS) degree at Rhode Island College. The BPS 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 BPS program, we know adult students may be juggling work and family commitments.

APPLY NOW for 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 BPS general education program.

The BPS 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 BPS program.

See below for information on the discounted tuition for the BPS 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 BPS should complete this form.

For additional information:
Contact us via email at bps@ric.edu
BPS Program
Professional Studies & Continuing Education
Rhode Island College
600 Mt. Pleasant Ave.
Providence, RI 02908

For financial aid information:
Contact Nancy Bessette, Senior Associate Director of Financial Aid, at financialaid@ric.edu 
Office of Financial Aid
Rhode Island College
600 Mt. Pleasant Ave.
Providence, RI 02908