The Bachelor of Professional Studies (B.P.S.) is designed for undergraduate students with a strong interest in practical training in professional management career pathways. The B.P.S. degree is a professional track baccalaureate completion degree for students transferring to KU with an associate degree or equivalent hours and who are looking to complete the last two years necessary for a bachelor’s degree. The B.P.S. is unique because it draws upon coursework from multiple programs and disciplines.
The flexible curriculum of this degree program allows students to transfer in credit from a community college or other accredited institution and create a baccalaureate degree pathway to demonstrate their ability to succeed in courses with content relevant to their anticipated profession. Students in the B.P.S. program choose a concentration that aligns with their professional goals in the areas of Applied Data Analytics, Health Policy and Management, or Project Management.
Concentration Option #1: Applied Data Analytics
The concentration in Applied Data Analytics is designed for undergraduate students with a strong interest in information technology to build entry-level practical and applied training in data analytics, operational analytics, research analysis, big data, and data management-related career pathways. The concentration provides students interested in information technology seeking to specialize in applied data and visual management systems and applications with program curriculum content relevant to technology applications of applied data science.
Concentration Option #2: Health Policy and Management
The Health Policy and Management concentration is ideal for students seeking to pursue careers in health management and policy in any of a variety of health care organizations and public settings, working in the legal, management, or policy making aspects of the health care sector. The concentration will provide the student with an understanding of the organizational, management, economic, and financial structures of health care organizations, as well as the legal, ethical, and governmental policies of the health care industry. Students will learn about the societal context of various health care delivery systems and the major issues and challenges affecting the health care industry.
Concentration Option #3: Project Management
The concentration in Project Management provides undergraduate students seeking to enter project management professions the opportunity to learn how theory and practice work together to solve real-world problems in a variety of fields. The flexibility built into the B.P.S. degree allows students to pair the project management foundation provided through the Project Management concentration with additional areas of interest to tailor your education to your desired career path such as:
- Information technology management
- Construction management
- Health care management
- Advertising and marketing
- Public administration
Courses in the B.P.S. are offered online with some courses being offered in the synchronous format and some courses being offered in the asynchronous format.
The Bachelor of Professional Studies follows university admission requirements for transfer students. First-year students apply for admission through the College of Liberal Arts & Sciences.
This program offers flexible pathways for students to complete their degree. Students can take foundational courses at community colleges or the KU Lawrence Campus, and complete upper-level coursework through the School of Professional Studies.
Upper-level course requirements for the major are offered online with a select few offered in-person at the Edwards Campus in Overland Park, KS.
The School of Professional Studies strongly encourages students to contact an academic advisor prior to applying for admission to develop a personalized degree completion plan. To schedule an appointment, please call 913-897-8539.
Transfer students with an associate’s degree or equivalent:
- Students with an associate's degree or equivalent, after meeting with an advisor and developing a degree completion plan, can typically begin taking junior and senior-level courses in their major.
Transfer students with 24-59 credit hours:
- Students with 24-59 credits, after meeting with an advisor and developing their plan, may still need to complete prerequisite and lower-level courses.
- Please note that online lower-level courses are limited, and no lower-level courses are offered at the Edwards Campus.
- Students may find more lower-level course availability in-person at the Lawrence campus or at a community college.
- Schedule an appointment with an advisor and create a personalized plan, contact 913-897-8539.
First-year students:
Incoming first-year students wanting to pursue this major apply through the College of Liberal Arts & Sciences. An academic advisor will guide you through lower-level course selections and help you declare the B.P.S. as your academic major when you are ready to begin junior and senior level courses.
First-year students should select the following options on the KU admission application:
Program: College of Liberal Arts & Sciences
Plan: Deciding
Subplan: Communication and Leadership
Course List | Code | Title | Hours |
| PFS 301 | Communication in the Workplace | 3 |
| PFS 302 | Leadership in Practice | 3 |
| PFS 303 | Professionalism and the Workplace | 3 |
| MATH 365 | Elementary Statistics | 3 |
| or MATH 107 | Introductory Statistics |
| PFS 599 | Professional Studies Capstone | 3 |
| |
| Total Hours | 120 |
While completing all required courses, students must also meet each of the following hour and grade-point average minimum standards:
Total Hours: Satisfied by a minimum of 120 total hours.
Junior/Senior Hours: Satisfied by a minimum of 45 junior/senior (300+) hours.
Graduation GPA: Satisfied with a minimum 2.0 KU GPA and a minimum of a "C" in all Professional Studies Core, Concentration, and Capstone courses.
Applied Data Analytics
Applied Data Analytics Concentration Requirement: 18 credit hours
Course List | Code | Title | Hours |
| ITEC 302 | Python, Algorithms, and Data Structures | 3 |
| ITEC 314 | Fundamentals of Applied Data Analytics | 3 |
| ITEC 316 | Database Applications | 3 |
| ITEC 404 | Fundamentals of Data Visualization | 3 |
| ITEC 406 | Data Mining and Intelligence | 3 |
| ITEC 412 | Predictive Analytics and Forecasting | 3 |
Health Policy and Management
Health Policy and Management Concentration Requirement: 18 credit hours of the following:
Course List | Code | Title | Hours |
| HMGT 300 | Introduction to Healthcare Management | 3 |
| HMGT 305 | Health Policy and Healthcare Systems | 3 |
| HMGT 310 | Health Communication | 3 |
| HMGT 320 | Applied Healthcare Law and Ethics | 3 |
| HSCI 340 | Introduction to Public Health | 3 |
| HSCI 421 | Public Health Nutrition | 3 |
| HSCI 440 | Introduction to Epidemiology | 3 |
| HSCI 441 | Population Health | 3 |
| HSCI 445 | Introduction to Environmental Health | 3 |
| HSCI 499 | Topics in Health Sciences: _____ | 1-3 |
Project Management
Project Management Concentration Requirement: 18 Credit Hours
Course List | Code | Title | Hours |
| PMGT 305 | Foundations of Project Management | 3 |
| PMGT 310 | Project Communications | 3 |
| PMGT 315 | Project Scheduling and Control | 3 |
| PMGT 320 | Introduction to Microsoft Project | 3 |
| PMGT 325 | Effective Project Team Leadership | 3 |
| PMGT 330 | Organizational Strategy and Project Initiation | 3 |
| PMGT 335 | Project Stakeholder Engagement | 3 |
| PMGT 405 | Organizational and Project Risk Management | 3 |
| PMGT 410 | Managing Project Success | 3 |
| PMGT 415 | Project Procurement and Supply Chain Management | 3 |
| PMGT 420 | Emerging Trends in Project Management | 3 |
| PMGT 425 | Global Project Management | 3 |
| PMGT 430 | Managing Virtual Project Teams | 3 |
| PMGT 510 | Advanced Agile Approaches to Project Management | 3 |
| PMGT 520 | Advanced Microsoft Project | 3 |
Degree Plan
Example Plan of Study: Please consult with an academic success coach for a personalized plan.
Junior and senior courses are offered face-to-face or online at the KU Edwards Campus.
| Freshman |
|---|
| Fall | Hours | Spring | Hours |
|---|
| Core 34: English (SGE)010 | 3 | Core 34: English (SGE)010 | 3 |
| Core 34: Math and Statistics (SGE)030 | 3 | Core 34: Communications (SGE)020 | 3 |
| Core 34: Natural and Physical Sciences (SGE)040 | 4 | Core 34: Arts and Humanities (SGE)060 | 3 |
| Elective | 3 | Elective | 3 |
| Elective | 2 | Elective | 3 |
| | 15 | | 15 |
| Sophomore |
|---|
| Fall | Hours | Spring | Hours |
|---|
| Core 34: Social and Behavioral Sciences (SGE)050 | 3 | Core 34: Global Culture (SGE)070 | 3 |
| Core 34: Arts and Humanities (SGE)060 | 3 | Core 34: Social and Behavioral Sciences (SGE)050 | 3 |
| Core 34: US Culture (SGE)070 | 3 | Elective | 3 |
| Elective | 3 | Elective | 3 |
| Elective | 3 | Elective | 3 |
| | 15 | | 15 |
| Junior |
|---|
| Fall | Hours | Spring | Hours |
|---|
| PFS 301 | 3 | PFS 303 | 3 |
| MATH 365 | 3 | Concentration Course 3 | 3 |
| Concentration Course 1 | 3 | Elective | 3 |
| Concentration Course 2 | 3 | Elective | 3 |
| Elective | 3 | Elective | 3 |
| | 15 | | 15 |
| Senior |
|---|
| Fall | Hours | Spring | Hours |
|---|
| PFS 302 | 3 | PFS 599 (Capstone) | 3 |
| Concentration Course 4 | 3 | Concentration Course 6 | 3 |
| Concentration Course 5 | 3 | JR/SR Elective | 3 |
| JR/SR Elective | 3 | JR/SR Elective | 3 |
| JR/SR Elective | 3 | Elective | 3 |
| | 15 | | 15 |
| Total Hours 120 |
At the completion of this program, students will be able to:
- Analyze and synthesize the relationship among multiple disciplines of study.
- Identify and recognize cultural differences and the impact of an educated citizen and responsible member in global society.
- Demonstrate the ability to effectively communicate ideas using a variety of different media (oral, written, visual).
- Develop an understanding of ethical behavior and decision-making in the workplace.
- Develop knowledge of a specific area of professional emphasis of activity.
