Professional Studies Major, B.S.P.S. (Organizational Leadership Concentration)

General Program Information

Box 70659
Phone: (423) 439-4223
916 W. Maple St.

The web-based Bachelor of Science in Professional Studies (B.S.P.S.) is especially designed to meet the needs of those with limited access to higher education; typically, adult students whose work, place of residence, family obligations, or other confinements have made attendance difficult in traditional on-campus courses. The B.S.P.S. program is most suitable for adults who have completed an associate degree, or, at minimum, some college credit. Students must complete a concentration in either information technology or organizational leadership. The information technology concentration provides students with knowledge of the management information systems field and prepares them to work in most information systems departments in business, industry, or government. The organizational leadership concentration provides students with the opportunity to learn and develop management and communication skills applicable to work in management areas. Students may obtain the degree entirely through online courses or through a combination of traditional classroom and online courses. Students who have previously earned a four-year degree are not eligible to enroll in the B.S.P.S. program. Due to the unique nature of the B.S.P.S. degree, students may not double major.

Admission Requirements

1. Students apply to ETSU and must meet ETSU general admission requirements.
2. Upon acceptance to ETSU, students complete an admissions interview with a B.S.P.S. advisor. The interview may be completed over the telephone or through some other electronic means. The purpose of the interview is to determine whether the B.S.P.S. is the best program for the student, or if the student would be better served by another degree program.
3. Students must complete the Cross-Disciplinary Studies application.
4. The B.S.P.S. advisor recommends admission or denial to the department chair, Division of Cross-Disciplinary Studies.
5. The department chair accepts or denies admission.

Organizational Leadership Concentration

Curriculum Requirements

TBR General Education Requirements: 41-42 Credit Hours

• ENGL 1010 - Critical Reading and Expository Writing (3 credits)
• ENGL 1020 - Critical Thinking and Argumentation (3 credits)
• Communication: Oral Communication (3 credits) *
• Mathematics (3-4 credits) *
• Natural Sciences (8 credits) *
• HIST 2010 - The United States to 1877 (3 credits)
• HIST 2020 - The United States since 1877 (3 credits)
• Literature (3 credits) *
• Fine Arts (3 credits) *
• Humanities (3 credits) *
• Social/Behavioral Sciences (6 credits) *

Organizational Leadership Concentration: 21 Credit Hours

• BMGT 3630 - Human Resources Management (RODP) (3 credits)
• SWRK 2020 - Cultural Diversity (RODP) (3 credits)
• JOUR 3400 - Introduction to Public Relations (RODP) (3 credits)
• MGMT 4547 - Corporate Etiquette (RODP) (3 credits)
• PSYC 3590 - Psychology of Personality (RODP) (3 credits)
• PSYC 3210 - Abnormal Psychology (RODP) (3 credits)
• BSPS 4210 - Professional Field Experience (3 credits)

Additional graduation requirements:

Proficiency intensives

Guided Electives: 37 Credit Hours

The maximum total of electives is 37 hours.

Total Credit Hours: 120 Credit Hours

A total of 120 credit hours are required.

Note:

All other graduation requirements of the university must be met. See listing of these requirements in the Degree and Graduation Requirements  section of the catalog.

The Prior Learning/Experiential Learning Portfolio

The prior learning portfolio is an option available only to B.G.S., B.S.I.S., and B.S.P.S. students that allows them the opportunity to earn credit for their college-level learning that has taken place outside the traditional college classroom. In consultation with the advisor, students prepare a prior learning portfolio. The finished portfolio is submitted to the advisor to appraise form and content. Final approval is made by the appropriate departmental faculty. Credit may only be awarded for prior learning that directly equates to specific ETSU courses.

If a student transfers from the B.G.S., B.S.I.S., and B.S.P.S. to another major, hours earned through the prior-learning portfolio cannot be applied to the new major. No more than 25 percent of the degree may be earned through the prior learning portfolio process. In a 120-semester-hour program, this limit is 30 credit hours. Credit earned through the prior learning portfolio is ungraded and does not affect the student’s grade point average. Portfolio credit does count as ETSU residence credit.