Professional studies

Professional studies is a term used to classify academic programs that are either applied and interdisciplinary, or training for a profession.

As an interdisciplinary program, professional studies leads to a Bachelor of Professional Studies (BPS), Master of Professional Studies (MPS), or Doctor of Professional Studies (DPS). A BPS is similar to a Bachelor of General Studies with a greater emphasis on practical and technical training (and a corresponding lower emphasis on liberal arts), and therefore of greater interest to mid-career students.Fact|date=April 2007 MPS degrees are usually course-based with a report or project component rather than a research thesis. [cite web| url=http://www.ed.gov/about/offices/list/ous/international/usnei/us/edlite-masters-degree.html| title=Master's Degrees Programs| accessdate=2007-04-25| author=US Department of Education] The US National Science Foundation considers a DPS to be equivalent to a PhD. [cite web| url=http://www.ed.gov/about/offices/list/ous/international/usnei/us/edlite-research-doctorate.html| title=Research Doctorate Programs| accessdate=2007-04-25| author=US Department of Education]

As professional training, professional studies is the activity practised in a first-professional degree or certification program. Professional studies usually combines theory and practice-based professional learning, focusing on a body of knowledge that is more strictly-delineated and canonical than non-professional studies. Students are trained to ensure expected standards and adequate service delivery in the practise of a profession. [cite web| url=http://www.ed.gov/about/offices/list/ous/international/usnei/us/edlite-professional-studies.html| title=First-Professional Studies| accessdate=2007-04-25| author=US Department of Education]

References