Online Bachelor of Science in Professional Studies

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Program at a Glance

Choose from two online pathways to your bachelor's in professional studies: a term-based program option and a self-paced, independent study option.
Build your own open degree with curriculum from Purdue Global and beyond.
Apply transfer credits from prior institutions or other experiential learning toward your degree requirements.*
Create a flexible Individualized Learning Plan (ILP) that meets your professional and personal interests.

Upcoming Start Dates

We offer multiple start dates to give you flexibility in your education, life, and work schedules.

Course Effort (Term Based)

15–18 Hours per Week

Course Length (Term Based)

10-Week Terms

Average Completion (Term Based)

4 years

Of Full-Time Study

Credits Required (Term Based)

180

(120 Semester Credits)

Cost per Credit (Term Based)

$371

Bachelor's Degree in Professional Studies Overview

Do you have prior college-level learning? Take your accomplishments and apply them toward an online bachelor’s degree in professional studies at Purdue Global. This customizable program is an excellent choice if you want to design your own curriculum. You could receive degree credit for prior coursework from an accredited institution, an experiential portfolio, open courses, examinations, military training, or other experiential learning.

We offer two online pathways to your bachelor’s in professional studies: a traditional term-based program and an independent study program.

Traditional Term-Based Model	Independent Self-Study Model
Progress through your bachelor's degree on scheduled terms at Purdue Global	Self-paced until the last course (capstone) of your bachelor's degree
Earn credit by passing Purdue Global courses	Earn credit by passing Assessments of Skills and Knowledge (ASKs)
Choose eligible instructor-led courses that align with your ILP	Choose from the list of ASKs that align with your ILP
Tuition based on per-credit-hour pricing	Monthly tuition fee, ASK fees, and tuition for the capstone course
Eligible for financial and military aid for those who qualify	Cash only
Outstanding loans may be deferred	Outstanding loans cannot be deferred

Begin by Creating an Individualized Learning Plan (ILP)

Work with a Purdue Global faculty advisor to custom design a degree pathway known as an Individualized Learning Plan (ILP).

Create your personal career-goal statement.
Review your previously earned college credits.
Evaluate your prior experience for college credit.
Learn what is required to meet the degree program.
Identify potential course assessments and options to fulfill degree requirements.

Choose an Optional Concentration

Select from three optional concentrations to focus your degree. Learn more about the program concentrations.

Program Outcomes

Knowledge and Skills: Investigate issues and solutions to improve professional practice.
Problem Solving: Analyze information from multiple sources to provide solutions to problems in diverse professional contexts.
Strategic Thinking: Develop long- and short-term plans for success in the workplace.
Continuous Improvement: Synthesize data-driven approaches to making decisions and improving professional practice.
Career Outcome: Recommend a program-based solution to address an issue in a professional career field.

Topics you’ll cover include project management, problem solving, and strategic planning. Complete your bachelor’s in professional studies with a capstone class that includes a portfolio project.

Earn undergraduate college credit for learning you acquired outside of the classroom through Purdue Global's credit for work and life experience online courses. Create a virtual portfolio of your accomplishments to earn credit that can be applied toward your degree at Purdue Global.

The HLC (HLCommission.org) is an institutional accreditation agency recognized by the U.S. Department of Education.

Career Opportunities

Earning your bachelor's in professional studies from Purdue Global can prepare you for a wide variety of career outcomes, depending on your interests, background, and previous work experience. Begin a new career or prepare to pursue opportunities in a number of rewarding fields.^†

Build Leadership and Management Skills

Turn Your Bachelor’s Degree Into a Master’s

When you’re ready to further your career or enter a new field, you may want to consider pursuing one of Purdue Global’s many online master’s degree programs.

Ways to Save

Transfer Credits

Earn credit for prior coursework completed at eligible institutions, including community colleges.

Save Time and Money on Your Degree
Prior Work Experience

You could earn undergraduate credit for your life and professional career experiences.

Your Experience Counts
Financial Aid

Title IV federal financial aid is available for many of our degree programs.

Financial Aid FAQ
Grants

Learn about federal financial grants and loan programs that may be available.

Federal and State Grants
Corporate Partner Benefits

Employees of Purdue Global partner organizations may be eligible for special tuition reductions.

Employee Savings and Benefits
Military Tuition Reduction

55% reduction per credit for current servicemembers, 38% per credit for veterans for undergraduate programs.

Tuition Savings for Military
Prior Military Experience

We offer credit for ACE-evaluated training and CLEP and DANTES examinations.

Credit for Military Training
International Tuition Reduction

International students living outside of the United States are eligible for a 25% tuition reduction.

International Tuition and Benefits

Calculate your estimated tuition and ways to save

Select a discount option

In the bachelor’s degree program, you’ll complete the core and major requirements and choose electives that support the goals developed in your ILP. Each course is taught by an experienced professional with extensive real-world knowledge.

See Professional Studies Degree Plan

Sample Courses

Bachelor's Capstone in Professional Studies
Communication and Conflict
Communicating Professionalism
Arts and Humanities—Modern Creative Expressions
Discovering Science—Current Issues in a Changing World
Engagement—Civic- and Citizen-Driven Public Policy

Program Requirements

Core Credits
33
Major Credits
88
Elective Credits
59
Total Credits
180

Focus your degree in one of three optional concentrations.

Leadership
Build foundational knowledge of leadership by learning the importance of communication, organizational behavior, and how to manage team dynamics as you learn how these skills fit into the big picture of an organization.
Industrial/organizational psychology
Learn how principles of psychology can improve the effectiveness of a business organization. You will develop an understanding of how to manage and motivate talent, develop your leadership potential, and how to accurately assess improvements needed for organizational behaviors.
Supply chain logistics
Gain an understanding of the planning and management activities in the complex world of supply chain logistics. You will learn the principles of source, conversion, and logistics while learning how to apply necessary qualitative and quantitative methodologies related to supply chain management.

98% Faculty members who have advanced degrees

51% Faculty members who hold a doctorate

395 Faculty publications in 2021–2022

More Than 38,000 Professional development hours logged by faculty in 2021–2022

Statistics include all Purdue Global faculty members and are not school or program-specific calculations. Source: Purdue Global Office of Reporting and Analysis, July 2022. 2021–2022 academic year.

NOTES AND CONDITIONS

^*Credit for Prior Learning: Purdue Global does not guarantee transferability of credit from any of these sources. See the University Catalog for the Prior Learning policy.

^†Employment and Career Advancement: Purdue Global does not guarantee employment placement or career advancement. Actual outcomes vary by geographic area, previous work experience and opportunities for employment.

^‡Financial Aid: Financial aid is available to those who qualify. Eligibility is based on U.S. Department of Education criteria and is determined from data submitted on the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). Students may also be required to submit supporting documentation as part of a verification process to determine eligibility for financial aid. Subscription-based program models are not eligible for Title IV federal financial aid.