Professional Studies, M.P.S.

This program is designed for career-focused students who are seeking to embrace interdisciplinary learning and also refine and develop skills in key areas related to organizational success. With three primary components consisting of skills-based concentration courses, an interdisciplinary set of core courses, and choice electives, M.P.S. graduates will demonstrate proficiency in the professional skills needed to participate and lead within their organizations. This is an online program.

Program Mission

The mission of the applied Masters in Professional Studies degree is to prepare students for further workforce development, organizational leadership, and personal development in pursuit of their professional goals. Students will gain professional competencies and develop the knowledge, skills and dispositions critical to understanding and contributing to their respective individual areas of practice.

Program Learning Objectives

1. Communication - Students will enhance oral and written communication skills to effectively relate to, collaborate with, and lead others in the workplace. [Assessed in year 1 and every other year thereafter]
2. Leadership - Students will gain the necessary tools to lead people and organizations through the act of thinking and acting strategically to achieve results. [Assessed in year 1 every other year thereafter]
3. Critical Inquiry - Students will learn to conduct research and collect data using proven scientific methods, and then evaluate and analyze that data to make profitable and ethical decisions in the workplace. [Assessed in year 2 and and every other year thereafter]
4. Ethics - Students will develop a moral and ethical framework from which organizational decisions can be made [Assessed in year 2 and every other year thereafter]

Admission

Master of Professional Studies Admission Criteria:

• Complete the M.P.S. Graduate application as found on the college’s web page.
• A bachelor’s degree from an accredited four-year college or university with an undergraduate cumulative grade point average of 3.00 on a 4.0 scale. Admissions exceptions to the Lake Erie College Professional Studies. program may be made based on the applicant’s professional work experience and/or acceptable GMAT/GRE scores. A personal interview may be requested at the discretion of the College.
• Submission of official undergraduate transcripts and any graduate work completed (sent directly to the Admission Office from degree-granting institution at admissions@lec.edu).
• Current or previous professional work experience or experiential learning is expected.
• A resume outlining the work experience and education that has prepared the student to begin graduate study is sent to admissions@lec.edu.

Although generally not required, applicants may supplement their undergraduate record with official scores on the GMAT (Graduate Management Admissions Test) or GRE (Graduate Admission Exam).

Transfer Credits

At the time of application as a degree-seeking student to the M.P.S. program, a student may request approval to transfer up to six (6) semester credits from an accredited institution of higher education toward the interdisciplinary concentration. A student wishing to obtain credit for a core or other concentration requirement must have approval for course equivalencies.

Only credits that have been earned within seven (7) years of degree completion will be considered for transfer.

Only credits in which a grade of “B” or better has been earned will be considered for transfer.

Master of Business Administration (M.B.A.) coursework completed at Lake Erie College may be used to fulfill equivalent core M.P.S. requirements.