Professional Studies, B.P.S.

HEGIS Number: 0506

Curriculum Code: U0200

The B.P.S. in Profesional Studies

Professionals and professionalism have come to be the hallmarks of the modern middle class. The BPS in Professional Studies prepares students to operate in this milieu through a set of skills-based classes that cultivate the knowledge and abilities needed to succeed in the white-collar world. (Note that the BPS in Professional Studies is separate from the School of Business. Its courses do not count toward School of Business requirements. The BPS includes 4 required courses (16 credits) that relate to traditional business subjects (Accounting for Professionals, Professional Supervision, Marketing for Professionals, and Financial Systems), and students in the program can take up to 8 additional credits, as electives, that are considered traditional business subjects.)

The BPS in Professional Studies requires a total of 120 credits, at least 30 of which must be in the Liberal Arts, 40 taken at Old Westbury, and 45 at the upper-division level. These are divided into three sets of courses.

Liberal Education Curriculum

Refer to the Liberal Education Curriculum Bulletin for specific requirements.

Major Requirements: 40 Credits

1. The Major Core: 36 Credits

MA 2000 - Applied Statistics Credits: 4
PS 2330 - Fundamentals of Economics Credits: 4
PS 3130 - Accounting for Professionals Credits: 4
PS 3230 - Professional Communications Credits: 4
PS 3260 - Information Technology for Professionals Credits: 4
PS 3330 - Professional Supervision Credits: 4
PS 3430 - Marketing for Professionals Credits: 4
PS 4225 - The Law for Professionals Credits: 4
PS 4325 - The Financial System Credits: 4

2. Elective Course: 4 Credits

Students will take one additional upper division course consistent with their interests and career plans as part of the major. The course may be within or outside the BPS in Professional Studies program, but if outside it must be approved by the student’s advisor.

Elective courses within the BPS in Professional Studies program include:

PS 3625 - Nonprofit Stewardship and Development Credits: 4
PS 3675 - Introduction to Social Entrepreneurship Credits: 4
PS 3730 - Foundations of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Credits: 4
PS 4420 - Entertainment & Sports Management Credits: 4
PS 4430 - Entertainment and Sports Marketing Credits: 4
PS 4440 - Entertainment, Sports and Media Credits: 4
PS 4630 - Financial Administration of Nonprofits Credits: 4
PS 4660 - Business Leadership and Ethics Credits: 4
PS 4725 - Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion in the Workplace Credits: 4
PS 5425 - Entertainment and Sports Law Credits: 4
PS 5435 - Entertainment and Sports Finance Credits: 4

College Electives

Students will take additional courses to bring their total credits to 120.

Grades of D

A maximum of 2 courses with a grade of D, D+, or D- can be counted toward the major.

Learning Outcomes of the BPS in Professional Studies.

Students will demonstrate:

a knowledge of professional communication, supervision, marketing, information technology, accounting, and statistics;
an understanding of the economic, legal, and financial structures that form the context of professional activity;
knowledge of a specific area of professional activity;
an understanding of professionalism in terms of personal presentation and ethical behavior; and
an ability to engage in critical thinking.