Master of Science in Professional Studies
About the Program
Master of Science: 45.0 quarter credits
The Master of Science in professional Studies is designed for individuals and practitioners with established career paths who are interested in developing marketable skills to meet evolving workforce demands; seeking professional development; and expanding promotional opportunities.
The degree contains a common core of knowledge and skills relevant for 21st century professionals in nearly every field. The degree also will provide knowledge and skills for immediate application in three important professional fields of study:
- Creativity and Innovation Concentration
Students will form an in depth understanding of creativity, enhanced communication, and creative problem solving, while learning how these may be applied to practical situations that further workplace culture of creativity. - Educational Policy Concentration
Students will learn the factors involved in educational policy-making and how to apply educational policy-making skills in their professional roles where applicable. The concentration is designed to prepare educators of all types in the decision-making process of educational policy development. - E-Learning Leadership Concentration
Students will acquire knowledge of online and distance learning leadership theory and practice in emerging information and communication technologies, multimedia pedagogical strategies, and e-learning design and delivery. - Homeland Security Management Concentration
Students will develop competencies relating to homeland security strategy and policy development, national security issues in terrorism, critical infrastructure protection, intelligence, land and maritime border and port protection, and developing technologies in homeland security. - Human Resource Development Concentration
Students will develop the skills they need to strategically lead human resource development and align organizational learning with organizational goals. This concentration program addresses specific topics in human resource development, such as coaching and mentoring, implementing and evaluating change, performance competencies, and designing and developing multimedia applications for learning.
Courses will be offered in the fall, winter, spring, and summer, allowing students an opportunity to complete all degree requirements within two years.
For additional information, visit the Master of Science in Professional Studies web page.
Admission Requirements
- Completed application form
- Bachelor's degree from a regionally accredited institution
- Undergraduate cumulative GPA of 3.0 or higher (graduate degree GPAs will be considered along with the undergraduate GPA). Applicants with a cumulative GPA below 3.0 may be considered.
- Official transcripts from all universities or colleges and other post-secondary educational institutions (including trade schools) attended. Instead of hard copy transcripts, you may supply official electronic transcripts issued by a post-secondary institution directly to Drexel University Online (use our email address, customerservice@drexel.com). You must supply transcripts regardless of the number of credits earned or the type of school you attended. If you do not list all post-secondary institutions on your application and these are listed on transcripts received from other institutions, processing of your application will be delayed until you have submitted the remaining transcripts. Click here to use the Transcript Lookup Tool to assist you in contacting your previous institutions.
- Two letters of recommendation. Drexel University Online now accepts electronic letters of recommendation. Please access the following webpage for instructions regarding their submission: http://www.drexel.edu/apply/recommend. If a recommender prefers to submit an original, hard copy letter of recommendation, please remind the recommender that it must be signed and submitted in a sealed envelope signed across the flap by the recommender.
- Personal essay, between 500-750 words, describing your interest in the program. Specifically, please discuss the following:
- How the program relates to your previous educational activities
- If changing course, why are you moving in a new direction with your educational goals
- How the program relates to your current line of work
- How you plan to apply the program to your future goals
- Resume
- International Students must submit a TOEFL score of 550 or higher. For more information regarding international applicant requirements, view the International Students Admissions Information page. V
- An interview may be requested.
Visit the MS in Professional Studies Online Application page for more information about requirements and deadlines, as well as instructions for applying online.
Degree Requirements
The Master of Science in Professional Studies requires completion of 45 credit hours of study. The curriculum includes a core of 6 required courses (18.0 credits), 6 courses in an area of concentration (18.0 credits), a culminating capstone integrating the knowledge and skills acquired during the program (6.0 credits) and 3.0 credits of electives.
| Core Courses | ||
| PRST 501 | Communication for Professionals | 3.0 |
| PRST 503 | Ethics for Professionals | 3.0 |
| PRST 504 | Research Methods & Statistics | 3.0 |
| PRST 612 | Data Analysis and Interpretation | 3.0 |
| PRST 615 | Program Evaluation | 3.0 |
| PROJ 501 | Introduction to Project Management | 3.0 |
| Concentration | 15.0-18.0 | |
| Select one of the following concentrations: | ||
| Creativity & Innovation Concentration | ||
| Foundations in Creativity | ||
| Tools and Techniques in Creativity | ||
| Creativity in the Workplace | ||
| Creativity and Change Leadership | ||
| Research Methods and Assessment of Creative and Innovative Thinking | ||
| Global Perspectives on Creativity | ||
| Educational Policy Concentration | ||
| Education Policy: Concepts, Issues, and Applications | ||
| Shaping of American Education Policy: Global Forces | ||
| American Educational Policy and U.S. Competitiveness | ||
| Ethics in Educational Policy Making | ||
| Access & Equity in Educational Policy Making | ||
| E-Learning Leadership Concentration | ||
| The Purpose and Business of E-Learning | ||
| E-Learning Technologies | ||
| Teaching and Learning Issues in E-Learning | ||
| Learning Technologies & Disabilities | ||
| Design & Delivery of E-Learning I | ||
| Design & Delivery of E-Learning II | ||
| Homeland Security Management Concentration | ||
| Introduction to Homeland Security | ||
| Terrorism and Homeland Security | ||
| Critical Infrastructure Protection | ||
| Technology for Homeland Security | ||
| National Security Intelligence | ||
| Counterintelligence | ||
| Human Resource Development | ||
| Designing and Developing Multimedia Applications For Learning | ||
| Foundations of Human Resources Development * | ||
| Leading and Evaluating Change | ||
| Coaching and Mentoring for Sustainable Learning | ||
| Performance Competencies | ||
| Organizational Learning & Strategy | ||
| Electives | 3.0 | |
| Select one of the following: | ||
| Public Management in Crisis | ||
| Emergency Incident Risk Management | ||
| Policy Analysis | ||
| Communicating in Virtual Teams | ||
| Special Topics in Professional Studies | ||
| Capstone Requirements | 6.0 | |
| Students complete one of the following capstone course sequences in their chosen area of concentration: | ||
| Creativity | ||
| Applied Project in Creativity Studies I | ||
| Applied Project in Creativity Studies II | ||
| E-Learning Leadership | ||
| Applied Project in E-Learning Leadership I | ||
| Applied Project in E-Learning Leadership II | ||
| Educational Policy | ||
| Special Topics in Professional Studies ** | ||
| Special Topics in Professional Studies ** | ||
| Homeland Security Management | ||
| Applied Project in Homeland Security Management I | ||
| Applied Project in Homeland Security Management II | ||
| Human Resource Development | ||
| Special Topics in Professional Studies ** | ||
| Special Topics in Professional Studies ** | ||
| Total Credits | 42.0-45.0 | |
| * | Students with an MS in Human Resource Development are not required to take EHRD 500. Students wishing to complete the Certificate in Human Resource Development must take an additional course, EHRD 604 Developing Human Resources. |
| ** | The special topics courses are placeholders while the capstone courses in these fields are undergoing approval. |
Courses
PRST 501 Communication for Professionals 3.0 Credits
This course covers applications of the communication discipline in professional settings. Students explore and assess the role of organizational, interpersonal, non-verbal, group, and employment communications in today's professional world. The main goal is to provide students with the tools necessary to become effective communicators in the workplace.
Repeat Status: Not repeatable for credit
PRST 503 Ethics for Professionals 3.0 Credits
This course will focus on the application of ethical principles to organizational systems and decision-making. Emphasis will be placed on how ethical principles affect and are applied to policy-making, leadership behavior, systems of communication, technology use, and systems of organization.
Repeat Status: Not repeatable for credit
PRST 504 Research Methods & Statistics 3.0 Credits
This course presents a systematic approach to managerial methods of conducting organizational research and analysis. Students will undergo the managerial research process of specifying the problem; translating the problem into specific research questions; designing the data collection and methodology; collecting, analyzing, and interpreting data; and reporting research results and recommendations.
Repeat Status: Not repeatable for credit
PRST 512 Computing for Professionals 3.0 Credits
Uses Microsoft Office business application software and Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (SPSS) to challenge and support students in their efforts to sharpen and integrate their computer, critical-thinking, problem-solving, data analysis, and reporting skills to achieve competency that addresses the demand for information technology proficiency in the new economy.
Repeat Status: Not repeatable for credit
PRST 515 Program Evaluation 3.0 Credits
Measuring results in business is fairly straightforward. Measuring results in government and other non-profit organizations is not so precise. This course provides knowledge and skill required to apply the scientific method to the assessment of social programs (organized, goal-directed activities designed to address a social, humanistic, or other human-related problem).
Repeat Status: Not repeatable for credit
PRST 603 Communicating in Virtual Teams 3.0 Credits
This course explores the roles of virtual teams and allows students to experience the opportunities and challenges associated with communicating in a virtual environment.
Repeat Status: Not repeatable for credit
PRST 612 Data Analysis and Interpretation 3.0 Credits
This course covers the use of a computerized statistical analysis tool to calculate parametric and non-parametric statistics. Students will use creative and critical thinking skills to interpret, communicate, and defend results.
Repeat Status: Not repeatable for credit
Prerequisites: PRST 504 [Min Grade: C]
PRST 615 Program Evaluation 3.0 Credits
This course provides knowledge and skill required to apply the scientific method to the assessment of social programs (organized, goal-directed activities designed to address a social, humanistic, or other human-related problem).
Repeat Status: Not repeatable for credit
Prerequisites: PRST 612 [Min Grade: C]
PRST 640 Policy Analysis 3.0 Credits
The course analyzes the entire process of policy agenda-setting, initiation, decision-making, implementation, evaluation and assessment. Students will be equipped with tools to analyze and understand the entire process of policy formation in any public or private enterprise. The skills developed in the course can be used in many professional fields.
Repeat Status: Not repeatable for credit
PRST 690 Special Topics in Professional Studies 1.0-12.0 Credit
Covers special topics of interest in professional studies. This course may be repeated for credit.
Repeat Status: Can be repeated 18 times for 18 credits
PRST 699 Independent Study in Professional Studies 0.5-6.0 Credits
Provides individual study or research in professional studies under faculty supervision. This course may be repeated for credit.
Repeat Status: Can be repeated 12 times for 6 credits
