General Professional Studies - Benedictine University

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General
Professional
Studies

COLLEGE OF LIBERAL ARTS

General Professional Studies (GPS) is an adult undergraduate degree completion program designed for working adults who wish to enrich their lives and advance their careers through a flexible, competency-oriented program aimed at self-discovery and personal growth.

Coursework is conducted fully online in a collegial and collaborative environment using learning management technologies optimized for diverse learners and learning styles, and is completed in less than two years with transfer credit. Students complete unique workplace-related projects tailored to their current jobs, special interests, and career aspirations. The focus is on building the cognitive and interpersonal skills that characterize the most successful professionals, not on memorizing information. Students graduate with a portfolio of artifacts ready to show employers the knowledge and skills gained throughout the program.

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Students in the General Professional Studies program have the opportunities to:

Build professional proficiencies in a unique way by honing their critical thinking, interpersonal, and communication skills.

Focus on one or more key professional competencies that employers look for when hiring or promoting the right candidate.

Benefit from professional mentorship from the program's full-time faculty.

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View Course Information

BA Requirements - Lisle

General Professional Studies Online program

Online, 8-Week Semester Courses

Admissions Requirements

Cumulative GPA 2.0/ 4.0 from any college level coursework, high school graduate or GED completion, at least two years of full time work experience. Students who do not meet the above admissions requirements are encouraged to contact the Enrollment office to set up an appointment with one of our admission counselors to discuss the Admission Committee review process.

21st-Century Skills

The GPS major studies business and professional success through the lens of the liberal arts. Students engage subjects such as art, literature, history, philosophy, and psychology, rather than management, marketing, and accounting.

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Building Professional Competencies

Each GPS course focuses on one or more key professional competencies that employers look for when hiring or promoting the right candidate. These include problem solving, communication, critical thinking, cultural literacy, teamwork, emotional intelligence, ethical reasoning, and social responsibility.

Competency-Oriented Learning for Career Growth

Benedictine’s General Professional Studies program not only helps students master professional competencies that are key in today’s workforce but also helps them demonstrate those skills to potential employers. The program encourages personal growth and self-discovery as students work to develop professional building blocks that are highly coveted in any industry. Students graduate with a portfolio of their work that demonstrates their competencies as thinkers, readers, writers, analysts, designers, and leaders.