The following is the catalog description for this program. The curriculum is highly customizable.
You will need to work closely with your advisor as you plan curriculum that supports your educational and professional goals.
Catalog Description
Program description
The Master of Professional Studies (MPS) is a cross-disciplinary program which promotes the enhancement of practical skills in Applied Communication, Criminal Justice, Environmental Management, Homeland Security, Hospitality Administration, Producing and Screenwriting, Project Management, Sports Management or an Individualized Option. The program is designed to meet the needs of individuals who are seeking professional growth and advancement within their vocations. The 33-hour program allows participants to expand their knowledge base and refine skills necessary to keep up with the ever-changing marketplace.
A MPS may be taken online. All of the core and option area courses in Applied Communication, Criminal Justice, Homeland Security, Hospitality Administration, Project Management and Sports Management are available online. Currently, the Environmental Management option is only available on campus. Online access for the Individualized option depends on the selection of courses chosen.
Degree requirements (minimum of 33 credit hours)
For core courses, select 7 of the courses listed below. Note that some courses may have prerequisites and/or require "permission" from the instructor; not all courses are accessible in both online and seated formats and, thus not every class is available to all MPS students. Your advisor will help you navigate the available options to generate a program of study. When a program of study is generated, including core and option courses, students need to be aware that the following two limitations for the degree must be observed:
- No more than 9 credit hours (generally 3 courses) from the College of Business can be counted toward the degree.
- Eighteen (18) credits (generally 6 classes) must be taken at the 700-level
1. Core requirements (21 credit hours) - Select 7 of the following 8 areas of study.
| Program Objectives | Suggested Courses |
Approved Alternative Courses |
|---|---|---|
|
Finance/Budgeting/Economics. Students will be introduced to one or more of the following skills and concepts: 1. Budgeting and accounting. 2. Financial statements, economic statements, and investments. 3. Economic development for domestic and international organizations. |
ACC 600 | |
|
Law/Ethics/Regulatory Functions. Students will be introduced to one or more of the following skills and concepts: 1. Understanding legal and/or regulatory issues in the workplace. 2. Understanding ethical issues encountered by business managers in the work environment. 3. Gaining knowledge of the court system and legal dispute resolution mechanisms. |
PLS 651 | |
|
Personnel Selection/Leadership/Management. Students will be introduced to one or more of the following skills and concepts: 1. Developing the techniques in matching of individual needs, preferences, and skills with the needs of organizations. 2. Understanding the role of a leaders in the creation of corporate climates and building a workforce through selection, supervising and evaluating employees. 3. Reviewing ethical issues in regards to leadership roles in either public or private organizations. |
PSY 776 | |
|
Research Design/Project Development/Data Analysis. Students will be introduced to one or more of the following skills and concepts: 1. Understanding the nature of research/project development, design, evaluation, and analysis of data. 2. Exploring appropriate literature appropriate to the field. 3. Gaining practical experience in design, evaluation, and analysis. |
COM 718 | |
|
Communication/Relations/Environment. Students will be introduced to one or more of the following skills and concepts: 1. Learning methods of identifying and employing effective communication appropriate to the work environment. 2. Learning techniques of negotiation and mediation in the workplace. 3. Learning techniques of arbitration as an alternative to litigation. |
COM 736 | |
|
Technology/Networking/Security. Students will be introduced to one or more of the following skills and concepts: 1. Understanding the basics of software and hardware used in the workplace. 2. Understanding concepts, design, and implementation of management information systems for the workplace. 3. Learning principles and techniques of web-based security. |
EDT 770 | |
|
Structure/Diversity/Development. Students will be introduced to one or more of the following skills and concepts: 1. Understanding the organizational structure and policy in order to identify and resolve issues within the work place. 2. Understanding the cultural, behavioral, and diverse needs within organizations. 3. Developing managerial skills by way of strategic planning, implementation, and evaluation. |
PLS 759 | |
|
Professional/Grant/Technical Writing. Students will be introduced to one or more of the following skills and concepts: 1. Writing persuasive proposals that can impact existing organizations in their decision-making process. 2. Writing for the purpose of conveying information in the individuals selected option area. Can be a mixture of the following: to instruct, to persuade, to share goals, to encourage action. 3. Writing in a broad range of genres including producing informational materials for the web. |
ENG 771 |
2. Research or Capstone Experience (3 credit hours)
MPS students are expected to demonstrate competency in methods of inquiry, problem solving, and writing for their career path and program emphasis. Students will complete a research project, an internship, or a capstone experience representative of their option area. Successful completion of research or capstone experience will serve as the student's comprehensive examination.
Students in the Individualized option area will work with the Graduate Interdisciplinary Programs (GIP) program director to decide their capstone course and submit a 3-minute video presentation describing their capstone experience.
3. Comprehensive examination
Successful completion of research or capstone experience will serve as the student's comprehensive examinations.
4. Option areas (12 credit hours)
Eight formal options exist for the Master of Professional Studies. Students must complete a minimum of 12 credit hours in an option area. Option areas include Applied Communication, Criminal Justice, Environmental Management, Homeland Security, Hospitality Administration, Producing and Screenwriting, Project Management and Sports Management. Under close supervision of the Program Director, students may be allowed to develop an individualized course of study as an option area.
Applied Communication option
Choose any four of the following courses:
| Course Code | Course Title | Credit Hours |
|---|---|---|
| COM 611 | Conflict and Communication | 3 hrs |
| COM 617 | Communication and Diversity in the Workplace | 3 hrs |
| COM 619 | Ethical Issues in Communication | 3 hrs |
| COM 732 | Theories and Concepts of Small Group Communication | 3 hrs |
| COM 713 | Public Relations Campaigns | 3 hrs |
Criminal Justice option
Complete the following four courses:
| Course Code | Course Title | Credit Hours |
|---|---|---|
| CRM 701 | Criminal Justice Policy | 3 hrs |
| CRM 740 | Foundations of Homeland Defense and Security | 3 hrs |
| CRM 750 | Contemporary Issues in Policing | 3 hrs |
| CRM 770 | Correctional Theory and Practice | 3 hrs |
Environmental Management option
Required two courses:
| Course Code | Course Title | Credit Hours |
|---|---|---|
| GRY 731 | Environmental Assessment | 3 hrs |
| ECO 640 | Economics of the Environment | 3 hrs |
Elective 2 courses (chosen in consultation with advisor):
| Course Code | Course Title | Credit Hours |
|---|---|---|
| BIO 632 | Principles of Fisheries Management | 3 hrs |
| BIO 662 | Limnology | 3 hrs |
| BIO 689 | Game Management | 3 hrs |
| BIO 726 | Advanced Limnology Methods | 3 hrs |
| CHM 660 | Chemistry of Environmental Systems: Water & Land | 3 hrs |
| PLN 671 | Land Use Planning | 3 hrs |
| PLN 674 | Open Space Planning | 3 hrs |
| GRY 748 | Physiography and Resource Planning | 3 hrs |
| PLN 670 | Planning Law | 3 hrs |
Homeland Security option
Complete the following four courses:
| Course Code | Course Title | Credit Hours |
|---|---|---|
| CRM 740 | Foundations of Homeland Defense and Security | 3 hrs |
| CRM 745 | Topics in Homeland Defense and Security | 3 hrs |
| PLS 717 | Multidisciplinary Approaches to Homeland Security | 3 hrs |
| PLS 719 | Strategic Planning and Organizational Imperatives in Homeland Security | 3 hrs |
Producing and Screenwriting option
With the help of the advisor, select four (4) of the following courses (12 hours):
| Course Code | Course Title | Credit Hours |
|---|---|---|
| MED 660 | Beginning Screenwriting | 3 hrs |
| MED 667 | Intermediate Screenwriting | 3 hrs |
| MED 668 | Writing for Television | 3 hrs |
| MED 669 | Rewriting Film and Television Scripts | 3 hrs |
| MED 671 | Writing the Web Series | 3 hrs |
| MED 672 | Advanced Screenwriting | 3 hrs |
| MED 762 | TV/Film Producing and Marketing | 3 hrs |
| MED 792 | Independent Study (with permission of Director & Coordinator) | 3 hrs |
Project Management option
Required two courses:
| Course Code | Course Title | Credit Hours |
|---|---|---|
| TCM 701 | Project Management | 3 hrs |
| TCM 645 | Project Control Systems | 3 hrs |
Electives: Choose 2 courses:
| Course Code | Course Title | Credit Hours |
|---|---|---|
| TCM 611 | Project Design and Development | 3 hrs |
| TCM 651 | Cost Analysis for Project Management | 3 hrs |
| TCM 710 | Project Leadership | 3 hrs |
| TCM 740 | Management of Innovation and Technology Seminar | 3 hrs |
Sports Management option
The Sports Management Option is a 15 hour option that includes three 3 credit hour courses and one 6 hour field experience course. KIN 733 covers the research requirement for the MPS program.
Required Courses (15 hours):
| Course Code | Course Title | Credit Hours |
|---|---|---|
| KIN 739 | Principles of Sports Management | 3 hrs |
| KIN 780 | Legal Aspects in Sports, Physical Education, Recreation, and Wellness Programs | 3 hrs |
| KIN 733 | Current Problems in Sports Administration | 3 hrs |
| KIN 798 | Field Experience in Sports Management | 6 hrs |
Individualized option
Developed under the close supervision of the Program Director.