Applied Professional Studies, B.P.S.
Mission
The B.P.S. in Applied Professional Studies reflects Niagara University’s Vincentian mission by preparing graduates to serve others with integrity, compassion, and professional competence. The program meets our educational mission by supporting adult learners and transfer students in completing a bachelor’s degree while emphasizing applied skills, ethical decision-making, and leadership.
Goals
The Bachelor of Professional Studies (B.P.S.) in Applied Professional Studies, is a flexible, career-focused degree designed for adult learners, working professionals, and transfer students with prior college or life experience who have completed at least 60 credits of college-level equivalent work. This program provides a streamlined path to a bachelor’s degree by combining professional coursework with a liberal arts foundation, preparing graduates for advancement in the workforce or further study.
Students choose from one of the following concentrations: Criminal Justice/Protective Services, Advanced Business Practice, or Hospitality Services. Each concentration integrates applied learning, professional skills, and a capstone experience to ensure graduates are ready to meet the demands of today’s professional environments. This coursework is drawn from Niagara University’s established bachelor’s-level programs in Criminology, Management, Hospitality and Tourism, and the liberal arts and general education curriculums.
Adult learners: 60 credits of college equivalent coursework can be transferred into the program. These equivalencies can include several different combinations of credit-bearing and non-traditional coursework over an applicant’s lifetime. Nontraditional coursework must be ACE* or institution approved. (*American Council on Education)
Students will, post evaluation, have to complete 30 additional hours in their major through individualized faculty advisement and 30 hours of electives which must be used to first satisfy the NYS liberal arts requirement, but can also be used to enhance their major interests or select a minor of interest. A minimum of 30 credits must be upper level coursework.
The General Education requirements follow the traditional transfer policy. For applicants with 48 or more transfer credits: VSJ 100 and three of the following competencies or Gen Ed electives may be replaced with free electives: AE, GE, NSI, QR, SJ, SSI, REL Elective, PHI Elective. Additionally, 2 courses and an EXP from the major can be used to fulfill GE requirements.