Professional Studies, M.P.S., R.O.D.P. (Training and Development Concentration)

General Program Information

Graduate School Contact:

Mary Duncan; duncanm@etsu.edu; 423-439-4302

Julie Fox-Horton, Ph.D., Graduate Coordinator

916 West Maple Street
Box 70659
(423) 439-4223
e-mail: foxhorton@etsu.edu

Faculty:

*The Master of Professional Studies Program draws graduate faculty from throughout East Tennessee State University and Tennessee Board of Regents universities.

The Master of Professional Studies (MPS) is an online interdisciplinary graduate degree program in the social sciences and the professions. The 33-hour MPS program is designed for working adults who wish to pursue graduate professional studies that combine two or more disciplines. Because the MPS students’ academic needs and interests are multidisciplinary, they generally are not served by traditional professional programs. The MPS allows for the development of professionally oriented programs that respond to the dynamic needs of students working in or preparing for rapidly changing professional environments and expectations. In this program of interdisciplinary graduate studies, students make connections between various professional fields and traditional social science disciplines. For the purposes of the MPS program, profession is defined broadly, not limiting profession to traditional areas such as law and medicine. Professionals who might be served by the MPS program include individuals working in commerce, information technology, mass media, government, social services, health care, and education. The MPS is a Regents Online Degree Program (RODP) offered cooperatively by all Tennessee Board of Regents universities.

Program Admission Requirements

Requirements for unconditional admission:

1. An undergraduate grade point average of at least 2.75 on a 4.0 scale from an accredited college or university.

2. An acceptable score on the GRE, generally at least 400 verbal, 500 quantitative, and a 4.0 on analytical writing or the equivalent scores on the revised GRE (after August 1, 2011).

3. Applicants with five or more years of professional work experience may submit a portfolio in lieu of the GRE. The portfolio is to include (a) a resume; (b) a 500- to 600-word essay detailing the reasons for wanting to enter the MPS program and discussing how the program will help the applicant achieve personal and professional goals; and (c) two sealed letters of professional reference. Other items that an applicant may include in the portfolio are a description of professional responsibilities, professional achievements and professional awards and recognitions. The admission decision will be based on the entire academic and professional record. All portfolio materials should be submitted in one package to the School of Graduate Studies, Box 70720, Johnson City, TN 37614.

Requirements for conditional admission:

Applicants who do not meet the requirements for unconditional admission might be admitted conditionally if their entire academic and professional records indicate potential for success in the program. Conditions may include, but are not limited to, taking prerequisite undergraduate courses, enrolling in specified graduate-level courses, and achieving a specified grade point average.

Degree Requirements

A minimum of 33 credit hours is required. Students must complete nine hours of a common core, complete a concentration of 21 hours which must include a second research class, and complete the Culminating Professional Project for three hours. The MPS core consists of the following courses:

• PRST 5100 - Professional Environment: Issues and Ethics (3 credits)
• PRST 5200 - Globalization and the Professions (3 credits)
• PRST 5300 - Research Methods (3 credits)

Training and Development Concentration