Master of Professional Studies

Professional Studies Degree

Tailor your graduate studies toward the career you want in this flexible, individualized program.


Tailor your graduate studies toward the career you want in this flexible, individualized program.

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Transfer up to 12 graduate credits & streamline your degree.

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Professional Studies Degree

Customize your graduate studies with an MPS degree to fit your professional goals.

This is not your average master's degree. In this unique master of professional studies program you can develop advanced skill sets spanning multiple subject areas. Customize your program with courses to fit your personal career goals and industry demands. On the way, develop a practical and relevant e-portfolio for your current or future employer. It’s a one-of-a-kind program for your one-of-a-kind goals.

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Transfer-friendly MPS degree: Up to 12 graduate transfer credit hours.

Take what you learned and put it to work in the master of professional studies program. Bellevue University has one of the most generous transfer policies in the nation. You can transfer up to 12 hours of graduate credit into the 30-hour MPS degree program, cutting down on time you would spend earning your degree.

A master's flexible for your life. Adaptable to your professional future.

Become highly adaptable to lead in dynamic environments and flex to emerging industries with the Master of Professional Studies degree (MPS degree).
For example, you might:

  • Select business courses from the MBA and complement those with Professional Communication and Human Services master’s courses to prepare for leading nonprofits and human service organizations.
  • or
  • Choose Data Science courses balanced with Healthcare Administration to answer the need for understanding vast amounts of health data in insurance and risk management sectors.

You can consider the right combination of skills, experience, and courses needed for the unique career you’re headed for.

Accelerate your path to your master’s.

The professional studies degree allows you to simplify your study experience with a course load that’s manageable for busy students. Custom tailor your program with courses that meet your individual goals and fit your schedule. This program can be completed affordably online or on campus – whatever fits your life.

Take the next step with a master’s in professional studies. We’re ready to help you get there.

Courses

What You’ll Learn

Throughout the MPS degree program, you will develop a professional e-portfolio to demonstrate successful learning, experiential application, and goal accomplishments.

Upon completion of the MPS degree, you will be prepared to:

  • Demonstrate specialized expertise to support declared goals.
  • Apply broad knowledge and experiential techniques to address a practical challenge or opportunity.
  • Demonstrate mastery of advanced professional skills to meet declared goals.
  • Evaluate civic and global learning concepts to contribute to the global workplace.

Professional Studies Degree Courses

Current students please login to BRUIN and select “Academic Progress” for your curriculum requirements.

Requirements (30 credit hours)

(30 credit hours includes all eligible transfer credits up to 12 credit hours, the 3 1-credit hr. portfolio courses below, and individually selected and approved courses.)

The MPS curriculum contains three academic components.

A three-hour individualized learning portfolio course which extends throughout a student’s entire enrollment period. The portfolio will include submissions which:

  • Support evidence of applied learning in declared occupational, personal, and/or learning goals (documented in the IP),
  • Demonstrate application of broad knowledge and experiential learning experiences such as action research projects or problem-based learning projects,
  • Summative reflection on what the program meant to them, what they learned, and whether they met their declared goals.

(Click a course name below to view course details)

Portfolio: Master of Professional Studies provides successful learning strategies, a learning community, and an employer-facing portfolio throughout the Master of Professional Studies degree program. This course section will address: successful online learning strategies, artifact selection to provide evidence demonstrating declared goal accomplishment within the course portfolio, and portfolio development to demonstrate broad knowledge and experiential technique application addressing relevant practical challenges or opportunities. Prerequisite: Enrollment in MPSD.

Portfolio: Master of Professional Studies provides successful learning strategies, a learning community, and an employer-facing portfolio throughout the Master of Professional Studies degree program. This course section will address: utilization of reflective practices to inform continuing professional and personal growth and portfolio development to demonstrate broad knowledge and experiential technique application addressing relevant practical challenges or opportunities. Prerequisite: Enrollment into MPSD; MPSD 500A

Portfolio: Master of Professional Studies provides successful learning strategies, a learning community, and an employer-facing portfolio throughout the Master of Professional Studies degree program. This course section will address: application of successful online learning strategies, utilization of reflective practices to inform continuing professional and personal growth, artifact selection to provide evidence demonstrating declared goal accomplishment within the course portfolio, and portfolio development to demonstrate broad knowledge and experiential technique application addressing relevant practical challenges or opportunities. Prerequisite: Enrollment into MPSD; MPSD 500A; MPSD 500B

Up to 27 graduate credit hours of individually selected course credits which meet student declared goals documented in the student’s Individualized Plan of Study (IP) . Course selection may include certificate of completions. All pre-requisites for any course selected within an MPS student IP must be met.

University Accreditation

Bellevue University is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission (hlcommission.org).

Whether a college, university, or program is accredited is important to students with financial aid, employers who provide tuition assistance, donors, and the federal government.

This program is considered a non-licensure degree/certificate program and is not intended for those seeking licensure or the practice of licensed profession. This program may be relevant to multiple occupations that do not require licensure and was not designed to meet educational requirements for any specific professional license or certification.

*Consult with an admissions counselor to determine your eligible credits, as well as to verify minimum graduation requirements for this degree. Transfer credits must be from a regionally accredited college or university. Bellevue University makes no promises to prospective students regarding the acceptance of credit awarded by examination, credit for prior learning, or credit for transfer until an evaluation has been conducted.

We work with the experience you bring to the table for your master of professional studies.

Format

100% Online learning that works for your life and your goals.

Our flexible online courses are designed to bring quality learning into a format that fits your schedule, without sacrificing meaningful faculty feedback and collaboration with peers across the country. Stay on track with the help of your Student Coach — with you from day one to graduation.

Find out more about the online experience >

On-campus classes offered on a convenient schedule.

If you prefer an in-person learning experience, our Omaha-area campus offers classes that accommodate the working professional’s schedule.

Graduate with a stronger professional network.

Get to know a consistent group of peers as you earn your master of professional studies degree. In the master’s cohort program, you’ll move through MPSD courses one at a time on the same schedule as your classmates—making it possible to develop a stronger network and enjoy a more collaborative learning experience along the way.

Learn about the cohort experience >

See how online learning or on campus can make earning a master of professional studies possible for you.

Tuition & Financial Aid

Graduate degrees can be more affordable than you think.

Earning a degree is an investment in yourself. We want to help you make sure it’s a wise one.

2024 / 2025 Academic Year

Master's Degree

$660 In-Class or Online Cost Per Credit

(Additional fees may apply to individual courses within your major requirements)

Curious about financial aid? We’ve got the answers.

As a graduate student, you may be eligible for up to $20,500 per year in unsubsidized Direct Student Loans.

And, students often apply for graduate program scholarships through Bellevue University or tuition reimbursement through their employers. Talk to us and we’ll help you explore your options.

Learn more about financial aid >

Move forward with a more affordable MPS degree.

Admissions

Start on the path to your master’s. No GRE or GMAT required.

We believe in reducing roadblocks to education. That’s why our admissions requirements focus only on what matters—helping hardworking students access the education they deserve.

For admission to Bellevue University, applicants must:

  • Possess a bachelor’s or master’s degree from a regionally accredited college or university, or a U.S. equivalent degree from a nationally or internationally accredited college or university.
  • Have maintained a GPA of 2.5 or better from the most recent 60 credits of coursework earned toward the bachelor’s degree or have maintained a GPA of 3.0 or better in previous graduate level coursework earned toward the graduate degree.

If you haven’t already, take a moment to request information about your masters program and get in touch with our admissions team. We’ll help make sure you have what you need and answer your questions.

When you’re ready to apply, start your application online. You’ll then:

  • Submit your deposit to Bellevue University. (You can do this at any point in the process.)
  • Submit your transcripts from past institutions and any other required documentation.
  • Complete the FAFSA and see what grants and loans you’re eligible for.

If you are an international student, please see the following specific information: International Student Master Admissions

You'll just need to create an account and complete a pre-application to Bellevue University through Guild. Once you receive confirmation that your pre-application to Bellevue University has been approved, you'll need to complete the required steps to get fully accepted and registered. These include:

  • Submitting transcripts from past institutions
  • Submitting related documentation

MPS Admission Process

Application - Degree-specific admission requirements follow the normal graduate application process. All applications for the MPS, require official transcripts indicating the conferral of an undergraduate degree and any previously enrolled graduate work. International applications must meet Graduate School requirements for international student admissions. Enrollment Counselor will work with the student to:

  • Create the MPS Individualized Degree Plan (IP) which includes the student’s declared goals (statement of purpose).
    • The IP will ensure the student’s learning is applied and will document the form, from their employment to problem-based learning courses or action-based research courses.
  • The IP will be complete with the selection of graduate courses that address the students declared goals and could include BU graduate Certificates of Completion or individual courses which support the student’s declared outcomes.
  • Final admission’s step requires IP approval by the MPS Program Director and/or CPE Dean.

Ready to get started?
Reach out to admissions.

  • Get your questions answered about the Professional Studies Degree
  • Understand your financial aid and scholarship options
  • Map out a schedule that fits with your priorities

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