Associate of Science in Professional Studies
Description and Outcomes
The Associate of Science in Professional Studies (ASPr) degree is designed to create a foundation for future studies through pursuit of a higher degree. The ASPr is an interdisciplinary program that meets the needs of working professionals while addressing both academic rigor and flexibility.
The ASPr is a CustomTrack program designed to offer you the opportunity to create a customized degree plan to meet your unique professional goals, both through your choice of either an independent or term-based collegiate model for your program, and through your selection of electives with the guidance of your faculty advisor. (For more information on CustomTrack and its independent and traditional models, see Learning Paths in the Approach to Learning section of the catalog.)
Upon completion of this degree, you may find career options available in a variety of fields based on the individual design of your program.
Program Length
The Associate of Science in Professional Studies program consists of a minimum of 90 quarter credit hours. Upon successful completion of the program, you will be awarded an associate of science degree.
Program Outcomes
Discipline-Specific Outcomes
- Disciplinary Knowledge and Skills: Discuss issues and solutions to improve professional practice.
- Critical Thinking: Interpret information from multiple sources for an issue in a professional field of interest.
- Professionalism and Ethics: Apply ethical principles when making decisions as a leader.
- Communication: Prepare a communication of an issue and potential solution to a diverse group of stakeholders in the student’s professional field of interest.
- Analysis: Analyze a program-based solution to address an issue in a professional career field.
General Education Literacies and Professional Competencies
In addition to the discipline-specific outcomes, general education literacies and professional competencies are integrated throughout your academic program. You can review the general education literacies and professional competencies associated with your academic program in the General Education and Professional Competency Requirements section of this Catalog.
Program Availability
For program availability, please refer to the U.S. State and Other Approvals section and Program Availability Information.
Policies
During the first term of study (or first two months of study if enrolled in the independent model), you will develop an Individualized Learning Plan (ILP) under the guidance of a faculty advisor, including the sequencing of coursework. The ILP contains a career goal statement and outlines the coursework you will complete as part of your degree plan. With the assistance of your faculty advisor, you will choose up to two focus areas that align with your professional and personal goals. You will be required to write a one-paragraph goal statement explaining your rationale for choosing the area(s) of focus and submit it to your faculty advisor for approval.
You may fulfill any program requirement, with the exception of the capstone course, via any combination of prior learning. You must complete a traditional, for-credit capstone course as the final element of your coursework.
Independent Model Policies
While enrolled in a CustomTrack program on the independent model, you will be held to all of Purdue Global's policies as outlined in this Catalog, unless expressly stated otherwise in this section.
Admissions Requirements
You must meet the below admissions requirements in addition to Purdue Global's general requirements.
If you have completed prior collegiate-level coursework from an accredited institution, you must submit unofficial transcripts prior to enrollment. Prior to final approval of your Individualized Learning Plan, you must provide the University with an official copy of all unofficial transcripts presented to the University. The transcripts must show evidence of having at least two courses that you expect will transfer to the University from other institutions.
Progression Requirements
- You must complete four professional competency tutorials (PCTs). Upon completion of a PCT, the faculty member assesses your mastery of the associated Purdue Global professional competency and assigns a grade of pass or fail. You will be withdrawn from the program if unable to successfully complete the required PCTs.
- You may attempt an Assessment of Skills and Knowledge no more than two times. If you are unable to achieve a passing score on the second attempt, you may only receive credit for the course via transfer credit from an accredited institution or by taking the course at Purdue Global. Exceptions to this policy may be made only at the discretion of the Dean.
- You are not subject to the standard satisfactory academic progress standards. Instead, you must earn 10 quarter-hour credits every 12 months from your start date through any combination of Purdue Global courses, Assessments of Skills and Knowledge, experiential credit, or credits transferred in from an approved provider. You will be academically dismissed should you not meet this requirement. If you are academically dismissed, you may appeal directly to the Dean for readmission.
Academic Grades and Marks
Assessment credit (“AC”), transfer credit (“TC”), and experiential credit (“EC”) do not contribute to a grade point average (GPA). Therefore, as you progress through your academic program, you may not have a GPA. Only courses taught through Purdue Global will appear with letter grades and will contribute toward a GPA.
Leave of Absence
You may request a leave of absence if you have completed two full months of enrollment at the University and can demonstrate extenuating circumstances beyond your control. A leave of absence will begin on the last day of a month, and you will return to school on the first day of a month.
You may request up to five months of leave in a calendar year. Your request must be approved prior to the requested start date of the leave.
Certification, State Board, and National Board Exams
Certification and licensure boards have state-specific educational requirements for programs that lead to a license or certification that is a precondition for employment. Prospective and current students must review Purdue Global’s State Licensure and Certifications site to view program and state-specific licensure information.
Licensure-track programs may limit enrollment to students in certain states; please see Purdue Global’s Program Availability Information to determine enrollment eligibility.
You are responsible for understanding the requirements of optional certification exams. Such requirements may change during the course of your program. You are not automatically certified in any way upon program completion. Although certain programs are designed to prepare you to take various optional certification exams, Purdue Global cannot guarantee you will be eligible to take these exams or become certified. Your eligibility may depend on your work experience, completion of education and/or degree requirements, not having a criminal record, and meeting other certification requirements.