Online Master of Science in Professional Studies

Application Fee Waived!



Don't have time to fill out
the application now?

We'll email you a link to the application
so you can still have the application fee
waived when you are ready.


Questions?

Have a program specialist contact you
Learn more about the MS in Professional Studies
Print | Email To A Friend | Share Share

Curriculum

Total 45 Credits


Core Courses - 18 credits
PROJ 501Intro to Project Management3.00 credits
PRST 501Communication for Professionals3.00 credits
PRST 503Ethics for Professionals3.00 credits
PRST 504Research Methods & Statistics3.00 credits
PRST 512Computing for Professionals3.00 credits
PRST 515Program Evaluation3.00 credits

Creativity Concentration - 18 credits
CRTV 501Foundations in Creativity3.00 credits
CRTV 502Tools & Techniq in Creativity3.00 credits
CRTV 503Creativity in the Workplace3.00 credits
CRTV 610Creativity & Change Leadership3.00 credits
CRTV 620Research & Assess Creativity3.00 credits
CRTV 630Global Perspectv on Creativity3.00 credits

E-learning Leadership Concentration - 18 credits
ELL 501Purpose/Business of E-Learning3.00 credits
ELL 502E-Learning Technologies3.00 credits
ELL 503Teaching/Learning Issues ELrng3.00 credits
ELL 504Lrng Technologies & Disabilities3.00 credits
ELL 604Design & Delivery of E-Lrning I3.00 credits
ELL 605Design & Delivery of E-Lrning II3.00 credits

Homeland Security Mgmt Concentration - 18 credits
CST 604Technology for Homeland Security3.00 credits
CST 609National Security Intelligence3.00 credits
CST 614Counterintelligence3.00 credits
HSM 544Intro to Homeland Security3.00 credits
HSM 549Terrorism & Homeland Security3.00 credits
HSM 554Critical Infrastructure Protection3.00 credits

Educational Policy Concentration - 15 credits
EDPO 620Education Policy: Concepts, Issues, and Applications3.00 credits
EDPO 624Shaping of American Education Policy: Global Forces3.00 credits
EDPO 628American Educational Policy and U.S. Competitiveness3.00 credits
EDPO 632Ethics in Educational Policy Making3.00 credits
EDPO 636Access & Equity in Educational Policy Making3.00 credits

Electives - 3 credits
HSM 644Public Management in Crisis3.00 credits
HSM 645Emergency Incident Risk Mgmt3.00 credits
PRST 640Policy Analysis3.00 credits
PRST 644Communicating in Virtual Teams3.00 credits

Capstone Project - 6 credits
Students select one of the following Sequences:
CRTV 695Applied Project in CRTV I3.00 credits
CRTV 696Applied Project in CRTV II3.00 credits
ELL 695Applied Project E-Learning I3.00 credits
ELL 696Applied Project E-Learning II3.00 credits
HSM 695Applied Project in HSM I3.00 credits
HSM 696Applied Project in HSM II3.00 credits

Course Descriptions

PROJ 501 Intro to Project Management - 3.00 credits

This course will prepare students to manage scheduling, supply management, project team recruiting, resource allocation, time/cost tradeoffs, risk assessment, task coordination, team-building, progress monitoring, and post-project assessment through a comprehensive overview of project management. Case studies are used to illustrate the principles and tools of project management as a process.

Back to course list

PRST 501 Communication for Professionals - 3.00 credits

This course covers applications of the communication discipline in professional settings. Students explore and assess the role of organizational, interpersonal, non-verbal, group, and employment communications in today's professional world. The main goal is to provide students with the tools necessary to become effective communicators in the workplace.

Back to course list

PRST 503 Ethics for Professionals - 3.00 credits

This course will focus on the application of ethical principles to organizational systems and decision-making. Emphasis will be placed on how ethical principles affect and are applied to policy-making, leadership behavior, systems of communication, technology use, and systems of organization.

Back to course list

PRST 504 Research Methods & Statistics - 3.00 credits

This course presents a systematic approach to managerial methods of conducting organizational research and analysis. Students will undergo the managerial research process of specifying the problem; translating the problem into specific research questions; designing the data collection and methodology; collecting, analyzing, and interpreting data; and reporting research results and recommendations.

Back to course list

PRST 512 Computing for Professionals - 3.00 credits

Uses Microsoft Office business application software and Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (SPSS) to challenge and support students in their efforts to sharpen and integrate their computer, critical-thinking, problem-solving, data analysis, and reporting skills to achieve competency that addresses the demand for information technology proficiency in the new economy.

Back to course list

PRST 515 Program Evaluation - 3.00 credits

Measuring results in business is fairly straightforward. Measuring results in government and other non-profit organizations is not so precise. This course provides knowledge and skill required to apply the scientific method to the assessment of social programs (organized, goal-directed activities designed to address a social, humanistic, or other human-related problem).

Back to course list

CRTV 501 Foundations in Creativity - 3.00 credits

Provides a foundation in creativity including leading theorists and their ideas. Questions investigated include who is creative and why? What does it mean to be creative? Is creativity a general attribute or is it discipline specific? Students will complete and score a creativity assessment.

Back to course list

CRTV 502 Tools & Techniq in Creativity - 3.00 credits

Provides opportunities to enhance creative capacities and strengths. Through study and experiential learning, students work toward self-mastery of creative techniques, tools and strategies. Moreover, through a fieldwork experience, students learn to teach and motivate other individuals or groups to use these techniques in real life circumstances for their benefit.

Back to course list

CRTV 503 Creativity in the Workplace - 3.00 credits

This course focuses on applied creativity, how creative ideas happen, how they become innovations, and how creativity can be infused into every aspect of an organization. Examples from a wide range of industries and organizations demonstrate how to build systemic creativity in individuals, in teams, and at the leadership level.

Back to course list

CRTV 610 Creativity & Change Leadership - 3.00 credits

This course explores the relationship between change, leadership, and creativity, and how these three concepts mutually support one another. Distinction is made between a leader who is effective at introducing change, but who is not creative.

Back to course list

CRTV 620 Research & Assess Creativity - 3.00 credits

This course acquaints students with creativity research and applications. The goal is to help students employ creative problem solving to successfully complete their course of study in the context of other responsibilities and the program's standards and requirements. Using creativity as a vehicle, students will study various research paradigms.

Back to course list

CRTV 630 Global Perspectv on Creativity - 3.00 credits

The goal of this course is to explore theories, research, assessment, and programs for the development of creativity in a wide variety of countries around the world. Motives for the lack of global creativity research are suggested.

Back to course list

ELL 501 Purpose/Business of E-Learning - 3.00 credits

Examines the business side of e-learning. Explores historical, organizational and strategic issues associated with developing and delivering e-learning through a wide range of topics. Non-profit and profit models used for marketing and delivering e-learning products are examined and business practices, as they affect the success of e-learning enterprises, are examined.

Back to course list

ELL 502 E-Learning Technologies - 3.00 credits

This course provides a comprehensive introduction to the wide range of emerging e-learning technologies, a description of what is in store for the near future, and foundational elements for sound decision making regarding technological responses to well-defined learning problems.

Back to course list

ELL 503 Teaching/Learning Issues ELrng - 3.00 credits

This course prepares trainers, teachers, and administrators at all educational levels with the knowledge they will need to provide effective experiences in distance education. Provides a conceptual and theoretical foundation as well as practical skills and knowledge, along with numerous opportunities for hands-on experience.

Back to course list

ELL 504 Lrng Technologies & Disabilities - 3.00 credits

The course is designed to develop the knowledge and skills required to utilize adaptive and assistive technology (AT) and accommodation in the facilitation of learning design and delivery.

Back to course list

ELL 604 Design & Delivery of E-Lrning I - 3.00 credits

Extends fundamental knowledge of the world of E-learning by addressing the technical processes involved in the design and development of E-Learning products. Issues related to policy, values, technology, and economics are addressed to produce a practical understanding of their role in the creation of E-Learning products and strategies.

Back to course list

ELL 605 Design & Delivery of E-Lrning II - 3.00 credits

Builds on ELL 604 to extend knowledge of E-Learning design to the realities of managing the delivery and success of an E-Learning product within educational, training, or informal learning organizations. Project management techniques are addressed to provide students with the ability to control risk and maximize learning and consumer satisfaction.

Back to course list

CST 604 Technology for Homeland Security - 3.00 credits

Presents the theory and methodology necessary to obtain a working knowledge of the strategic use of network-centric software for data aggregation, integration, collaboration, categorization, and pattern-recognition by homeland security defense. Topics include technology process, data mining, network-centric software, pattern recognition, and technology sensors. Students will conduct research on select topics.

Back to course list

CST 609 National Security Intelligence - 3.00 credits

This course will present a broad overview of the intelligence community, objectives, methodology, organizational structure and role within the government. Topics include the intelligence process, organizational structure, collections, analysis, covert action, intelligence reform, foreign intelligence, and accountability. Students will conduct research on select topics.

Back to course list

CST 614 Counterintelligence - 3.00 credits

This course will present the theory, techniques and procedures within the counterintelligence community. Objectives, methodology, organizational structure and role within government will be stressed. Topics include the mission, investigations, techniques, collection, analysis, counter-human intelligence techniques, counter-signals intelligence techniques and counter-imagery intelligence techniques. Students will conduct research on select topics.

Back to course list

HSM 544 Intro to Homeland Security - 3.00 credits

This course will provide students with an overview of the concepts that will help them to understand Homeland Security issues at the strategic level. This course will also examine the conceptual framework of other courses that will be covered in the Homeland Security Management program.

Back to course list

HSM 549 Terrorism & Homeland Security - 3.00 credits

This course presents terrorism in a historical context, describes its causes and motivations, delineates its operational strategies, and shows how terrorist organizations rise and fall.

Back to course list

HSM 554 Critical Infrastructure Protection - 3.00 credits

Presents the theory necessary for students to obtain a working knowledge of the various threats posed to critical infrastructure by terrorism. Topics include types of terrorist attacks, WMD, terrorist¿s preparation for an attack, protecting critical infrastructure, protective security, and emergency response. Students will also conduct research on select topics.

Back to course list

EDPO 620 Education Policy: Concepts, Issues, and Applications - 3.00 credits

Examines concept of policy as it relates to education and educational institutions and their governance and practices. Related issues and applications that drive current national and global forces are explored with applications to education. Applied learning component of the course requires student to identify, research and apply understandings of both policy and current issues.

Back to course list

EDPO 624 Shaping of American Education Policy: Global Forces - 3.00 credits

This course develops and deepens understanding of impact of education policies and how in combination they hold the potential for transforming American education. Learning activities encourage investigation, analysis, and speculation about educational policies and the three forces that shape them: global forces, public interests, and politics.

Back to course list

EDPO 628 American Educational Policy and U.S. Competitiveness - 3.00 credits

Through the lens of educational policy, this course will explore the ties between K-12 education, higher education and lifelong learning on the one hand and economic and workforce development on the other hand. Linkages and policies will be examined in the contexts of what global competitiveness means at the national, state, and local levels.

Back to course list

EDPO 632 Ethics in Educational Policy Making - 3.00 credits

The critical nature of ethics in educational policy-making is closely examined through a series of intersecting elements. A foundation of understanding is created by study of the concept of ethics and by practicing ethical decision-making strategies. Critical literature from the fields of ethics and of policy-making frame an investigation of how educational policy-making is impacted by global, technological, and demographic forces.

Back to course list

EDPO 636 Access & Equity in Educational Policy Making - 3.00 credits

Researched and studied is the myriad of phenomenon that can deny individuals full access to education. Critical analysis of past and present educational policies and the attempts to implement them reveal how legislators and educators have attempted to insure access and equity. A chosen issue in access and equity is researched and projections are made about how policy-makers might address it.

Back to course list

HSM 644 Public Management in Crisis - 3.00 credits

Covers comprehensive disaster plans and training for the public manager. The course will include planning for natural disasters and accidents and planning for events related to terrorism. The benefits of this knowledge will be greater security and the protection of life and property.

Back to course list

HSM 645 Emergency Incident Risk Mgmt - 3.00 credits

This course will focus on risk management skills used by first responders to emergency incidents. Particular attention will be paid to the emergency operations systems of the Philadelphia police and fire departments in conjunction with the Managing Director¿s Office of Emergency Management.

Back to course list

PRST 640 Policy Analysis - 3.00 credits

The course analyzes the entire process of policy agenda-setting, initiation, decision-making, implementation, evaluation and assessment. Students will be equipped with tools to analyze and understand the entire process of policy formation in any public or private enterprise. The skills developed in the course can be used in many professional fields.

Back to course list

PRST 644 Communicating in Virtual Teams - 3.00 credits

Virtual teamwork, where members collaborate regardless of their actual location, has become an increasingly pervasive phenomenon in today’s corporate world. This graduate level course explores the role of virtual teams in the corporate world and will allow students to experience first-hand the opportunities and challenges associated with operating in a virtual environment. If you successfully complete the course you will have acquired the necessary group skills that will enable you to successfully function in a virtual team setting.

Back to course list

CRTV 695 Applied Project in CRTV I - 3.00 credits

First of a two-course capstone experience providing creativity studies students with an opportunity to demonstrate achievement in their concentration and to engage in self-reflection. Components include a statement of awareness of personal creative strengths, evidence of emergence as a creative thinker and doer, and synthesis of creative expansion to date.

Back to course list

CRTV 696 Applied Project in CRTV II - 3.00 credits

Students will complete the creative portfolio begun in CRTV 695. Components include creative expression, future directions, and reflection on the major, concentration, and experience of creating a portfolio.

Back to course list

ELL 695 Applied Project E-Learning I - 3.00 credits

The first of a two-course sequence in which students create a full-scale project in e-learning that demonstrates the knowledge and skills that they have acquired from the ELL concentration. Students complete five deliverables that form the foundation for ELL 696, which will result in a professional-level E-Learning project.

Back to course list

ELL 696 Applied Project E-Learning II - 3.00 credits

The second of a two-course sequence in which students create a full-scale project in E-Learning that demonstrates the knowledge and skills that they have acquired from the ELL concentration. Students complete three deliverables that, added to the work from ELL 695, result in professional-level E-Learning project.

Back to course list

HSM 695 Applied Project in HSM I - 3.00 credits

Provides the student with an opportunity to develop a substantive homeland security, or intelligence studies project of their own choosing, possibly continuing on research and development initiated in earlier courses. The project will include strategies and management of information security, legal issues, risk analysis, and response to Managing Director’s Office of Emergency Management.

Back to course list

HSM 696 Applied Project in HSM II - 3.00 credits

Provides the student with an opportunity to develop a substantive homeland security, or intelligence studies project of their own choosing, possibly continuing on research and development initiated in earlier courses. The project will include strategies and management of information security, legal issues, risk analysis, and response to compromise.

Back to course list