General Program Information
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 ETSU and other public higher education institutions throughout Tennessee.
The Master of Professional Studies (MPS) is a 33 credit, online interdisciplinary graduate degree designed for working adults who wish to pursue graduate studies that combine two or more disciplines in the professions and the social sciences. Because MPS students’ academic needs and interests are varied, they often are not well served by traditional professional programs. For the purposes of the MPS program profession is defined broadly, rather than limited to traditional areas such as law, medicine, or business. The MPS degree allows students to develop individualized programs of study that make connections between various professional fields and traditional social science disciplines, and respond to the dynamic needs of rapidly changing professional environments. Professionals who might be served by the MPS program include those working in commerce, information technology, mass media, government, social services, health care, and/or education. The MPS is a TN eCampus degree program offered cooperatively by ETSU and other Tennessee higher education institutions.
Program Admission Requirements
Requirements for unconditional admission:
- An undergraduate grade point average of at least 2.75 on a 4.0 scale from a regionally accredited college or university.
- Recent GRE scores (2013 or later) of at least 146, or 30th percentile, on verbal reasoning; 144, or 17th percentile, on quantitative reasoning; and 4.0 on analytical writing.
- Applicants with five or more years of work experience may submit a professional portfolio in lieu of the GRE. The portfolio must include (a) a resume; (b) a 500- to 600-word essay detailing the applicant’s 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, achievements, and awards and recognition. 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 unconditional admission with provision(s):
Applicants who do not meet the requirements for unconditional admission might be admitted with provisions if their overall academic and professional records indicate potential for success in the program. Provision(s) may include, but are not limited to, taking prerequisite undergraduate courses, enrolling in specified graduate-level courses, and achieving a specified grade point average.
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