UAH offers interdisciplinary degree program for working adults

Michael Mercier | UAH

The College of Professional Studies at The University of Alabama in Huntsville (UAH) is pleased to announce that it has received approval for a new interdisciplinary degree program to address the needs and career goals of working adults.

Students who have some prior college credit, an associate’s degree, and/or on-the-job experience will be able to earn either a Bachelor of Arts or a Bachelor of Science degree in Professional Studies (BPS) from UAH, an accredited university with a strong reputation both regionally and nationally. The program offers three areas of concentration:

• Leadership Strategies and Dynamics
• Organizational Studies
• Technology, Science, and Society

Those accepted into the program are eligible to transfer up to 75 percent of previously earned college credits.

BPS students will be given the opportunity to design a personalized degree plan that balances academic rigor with flexibility and value. The BPS is structured to meet the unique needs of adult learners, taking into consideration busy adult lives. Students can attend part time, online, and in the evenings – all at a pace that supports their ongoing commitments. Graduates of the program will have the expertise and versatility to adapt to multiple career fields in the business, government, and non-profit sectors.

The BPS will also play a significant role in supporting the ever-changing workforce needs of companies located in Huntsville and the surrounding area. Graduates of this interdisciplinary program will have a knowledge base that transcends the education gained from a specific, focused major. A recent survey conducted by Hart Research Associates found that “employers recognize capacities that cut across majors as critical to a candidate’s potential for career success, and they view these skills as more important than a student’s choice of undergraduate major. Nearly all those surveyed (93 percent) agree that ‘a candidate’s demonstrated capacity to think critically, communicate clearly, and solve complex problems is more important than their undergraduate major.’”

The classes offered by the BPS program will stress abilities and aptitudes sought by employers. Students will learn to think critically, analyze and synthesize new information, work collaboratively to build diverse teams, and provide well-thought-out solutions to an array of problems and issues – all while honing both their oral and written communication skills. BPS graduates will leave the university prepared with the pertinent skills and attributes that will allow them to reach their career goals.