College of Professional Studies and Community Outreach
The College of Professional Studies and Community Outreach offers a broad range
of credit, non-credit, special interest, professional development, management,
leadership, and leisure-learning courses. The College is responsive to the needs of
the area and strives to offer programs and services which support a diverse target
audience including business and industry, educational and government agencies,
professional groups and associations, and the general community.
Dr. Mary Ann Rollans, Dean
61 Lake Point
Conference Center
(479) 968-0318
mrollans@atu.edu
Fax: (479) 968-0205
Mission Statement
The mission of the College of Professional Studies and Community Outreach is to provide participating students with a
theoretical and practical educational foundation to enhance their current professional capabilities as well as prepare them
for new career opportunities in highly specialized technical and service industry positions.
Programs of Study
The Department of Professional Studies offers programs of study leading to baccalaureate and associate degrees as
listed below:
Bachelor of Professional Studies
Professional Studies
(Areas of Concentration)
Agriculture Business
Criminal Justice
Early Childhood Education
Industrial/Organizational Psychology
Information Technology
Interdisciplinary Studies
Public Relations
Associate of Science
Early Childhood Education
Bachelor of Professional Studies
The Bachelor of Professional Studies (BPS) is an online Accelerated Degree
Program (ADP) which offers a flexible degree completion path addressing the
unique needs of particular target groups. The accelerated delivery format is
designed to ease the financial, time, and geographic constraints adults face in
completing a baccalaureate program. Students complete the necessary hours for
the degree within a convenient yet directed scheduling format under the guidance
of advisors who understand the unique needs of the adult learner. The primary
target groups include:
•
•
•
•
Students graduating from community colleges
Adults pursuing full-time careers or raising their families
Degree “stop-outs” who began but never completed a bachelor’s degree
Individuals who have accumulated hours that cannot be applied toward a
specific major
• Entering freshmen seeking maximum diversity for career decisions.
Mr. Jeff Aulgur, Head
61 Lake Point
Conference Center
(479) 968-0318
jaulgur@atu.edu
Fax (479) 968-0205
Assistant Professors:
Aulgur, Giroir, Schwehm, Stuckey
Instructor:
Saxton
The degree’s focus is to successfully prepare graduates for entry or advancement in government, nonprofit, corporate, or
industrial careers. The curriculum is designed to enhance workplace skills such as planning, organizational behavior,
ethics, needs assessment, problem solving, communications, human resources, and technology applications.
Students may select one of the following concentration areas: agriculture business, early childhood education, information
technology, industrial/organizational psychology, criminal justice, interdisciplinary studies, or public relations. The degree
will follow the same guidelines as all other bachelor’s degrees in requiring 35 hours of general education coursework and
a minimum of 40 hours of upper division courses.
Program of Study (BPS)
General Education coursework or enrollment in courses as needed:35 hours
Required Professional Core: 24 hours
BUAD 2003 Business Information Systems (OR)
COMS 1003 Introduction to Computer Based Systems
ENGL 2053 Technical Writing
SPH 2173 Business and Professional Speaking (dual credit in General Education)
PS 3023 Professional Communications
PS 3133 Applied Principles of Personnel Management
PS 3143 Applied Professional Research
PS 3003 Special Problems
PS 4003 Capstone Project
Courses recommended in the Individual Plan of Study: 18 hours
Agriculture Business
Criminal Justice
Early Childhood Education
Industrial/Organizational Psychology
Information Technology
Interdisciplinary Studies
Public Relations
PS 3001 Prior Learning Assessment: Up to 12 hours
Balance of electives: Varies
Hours needed to meet 40-hour upper division requirement
or balance of 120 hours
Total : 120 hours
Prior Learning Assessment (PLA)
A Prior Learning Assessment (PLA) process is available which will award up to 12 hours of upper-division credit for
relevant work experience, professional development, or military training through a portfolio course which provides the
required documentation for determining the number of hours of credit which can be awarded.
Learning Objectives for Professional Studies Degree
• Communication: Student will demonstrate competency in public presentation and written communication skills.
• Research: Student will apply empirical research to recommend relevant strategies for solving problems.
• Leadership/Critical Thinking: Student will assume a leadership role in identifying and addressing issues in a realworld environment.
• Project Management: Student will create, plan, and implement relevant strategies needed to develop a business
proposal.
Curriculum in Professional Studies
Degree Completion Plan Beginning in Fall Semester
Sophomore
Spring
Fall
Spring
Freshman
Fall
ENGL 10131,T
3
ENGL 10231,T
3
Science with Lab1,T
4
Science with Lab1,T
4
Social Sciences1,T
Specialty Course
COMS 1003 or
BUAD 2003T
TECH 1001
Total Hours
3
2
Social Sciences1,T
Specialty Course
3
Mathematics1,T
1
16 Total Hours
ENGL 2053T
Fine Arts &
Humanities1,T
3
U.S. History/Government1,T
3
3
Fine Arts & Humanities1,T
3
3
3
SPH 2173T
Specialty Course
3
3
Technical Course2, T
Specialty Course
3
3
3
Elective
3
Elective (3000-4000 Level)
3
16
Total Hours
15 Total Hours
15
Junior
Fall
PS 3133
3
Specialty Course
Technical Courses
3
2,
T
Spring
PS 3023
3
PS 3143
Senior
Fall
PS 3003
3
Spring
PS 4003
3
2
3
Specialty Course
3
Technical Courses
6
Technical Courses2
6
Elective (3000-4000 Level)
6
Technical Courses
T
Elective (3000-4000
Elective (3000-4000
Elective (3000-4000
3
3
3
Level)
Level)
Level)
Total Hours
15 Total Hours
15
Total Hours
15 Total Hours
Degree Completion Plan Beginning in Spring Semester
Freshman
Sophomore
Spring
Fall
Spring
Fall
ENGL 10131,T
3
ENGL 10231,T
3
Science with Lab1,T
4
Science with Lab1,T
4
Social Sciences1,T
3
Social Sciences1,T
2
Specialty Courses
2
3
Mathematics1,T
Specialty Course
COMS 1003 or
BUAD 2003T
TECH 1001
Total Hours
Junior
Spring
PS 3023
PS 3133
Technical Courses2,
9
2,
1
16 Total Hours
3
3
Fall
PS 3143
Technical Courses2,
T
6
Specialty Course
3
Total Hours
15 Total Hours
13
ENGL 2053T
Fine Arts &
Humanities1,T
3
U.S. History/Government1,T
3
3
Fine Arts & Humanities1,T
3
3
SPH 2173T
3
Technical Courses2, T
3
3
Specialty Course
3
Specialty Course
3
3
Elective
3
Elective (3000-4000 Level)
3
16
15 Total Hours
15
3
Total Hours
Senior
Spring
PS 3003
3
Fall
PS 4003
3
6
Technical Courses2
6
Technical Courses2
9
Specialty Course
3
Elective (3000-4000 Level)
1
Elective (3000-4000
6
Level)
T
1
15
Elective (3000-4000
Level)
Total Hours
3
15 Total Hours
13
1
See appropriate alternatives or substitutions in "General Education Requirements".
Technical courses taken as part of an associate degree or from a community college may be transferred into the BPS
degree.
3
At least 40 of the total hours required for graduation must be 3000-4000 level courses: no more than 30 hours of
electives towards the degree may be taken from the College of Business.
T
Designates a block of courses that would provide for a seamless transfer into this program if equivalent courses are
taken at another college or university.
2
Specialty/Concentration Areas:
Early Childhood Education: 18 hours
Take: ECED 2001 and ECED 2002 (concurrent enrollment);
ECED 3023 and ECED 3033 (concurrent enrollment); EDMD
3013, MATH 2033, and BIOL 3213.
Industrial/Organizational Psychology: 19 hours
Take: PSY 2003, PSY 2053, PSY 2074 and 9 hours from the
following: PSY 2023, PSY 3093, PSY 4033, PSY 4043, PSY
4234.
Public Relations: 18 hours
Take: COMS 2003, SPH 3033, SPH 4153, JOUR 3173, JOUR
3273, and JOUR 4173.
Early Childhood Education
Information Technology: 19 hours
Take: COMS 1333, COMS 1403, COMS 1411,
COMS 2003, COMS 2233, COMS 2700, COMS
2703, and 3 hours COMS elective credit.
Criminal Justice: 18 hours
Take: CJ 2003, CJ 2043, CJ 3023, CJ 3103, CJ
3153 and 3 hours of CJ elective.
Agriculture Business: 18 hours
Take: AGBU 2063, AGBU 2073, AGBU 3133, AGBU
4003,AGBU 4013, and AGBU 4023.
Interdisciplinary Studies: 18 hours
(Courses selected with advisor approval)
Associate of Science
The Associate of Science in Early Childhood Education is an online degree
Assistant Professors:
structured to provide a seamless acquisition of academic requirements for various
Aulgur, Giroir
career levels in occupations related to child care and early childhood education in
the public and private sectors. The early childhood education courses provide the
academic requirements for meeting assessment guidelines for the Child Development Associate (CDA) credential. The
general education courses can be applied toward the Bachelor of Professional Studies degree in Early Childhood
Education.
Learning Objectives for Early Childhood Education Degree
• Demonstrate knowledge and understanding of child development and learning
• Know about, understand, and value the role of a child's family, culture, and community in children's lives
• Work cooperatively with parents, using an understanding of the family as a context for young children's
development
• Demonstrate knowledge, skills, and dispositions of a reflective early childhood practitioner
• Demonstrate knowledge of health, safety, nutrition, and administrative guidelines
• Develop a thorough understanding of child development and the value of play in children's learning
• Design developmentally-appropriate curriculum and classroom practices
• Adhere to ethical practices in the field of early childhood education
Program of Study (A.S. – Early Childhood Education)
General Education coursework or enrollment in courses as needed: 35 hours
Required Coursework: 25 hours
TECH 1001Orientation to the University
ECE 2113 Basic Child Growth and Development
ECE 2313 Foundations and Theories in Early Childhood Education
ECE 2513 Curriculum for Early Childhood Education
ECE 2613 Methods and Materials Using Developmentally Appropriate Practices and Activities for Young Children
ECE 2991-2999 Practicum in Early Childhood Education
NUR 2303 Nutrition
Curriculum in Early Childhood Education
Freshman
Fall
ENGL 1013
3
1,T
3
Mathematics
1,T
Science with Lab
1,T
Social Sciences
ECE 2113
TECH 1001
Total Hours
1
Spring
ENGL 1023
Suggested Sequence of Courses
Sophomore
Fall
3 Fine Arts & Humanities1,T 6
1,T
3
Speech
Science with Lab
1,T
4
Social Sciences
3 ECE 2313
1
17 Total Hours
1,T
3
4
3
ECE 2513
ECE 2613
3
3
Spring
U.S. History/Government1,T
3
ECE 2991-92
9
1
NUR 2303
3
3
16 Total Hours
12 Total Hours
See appropriate alternatives or substitutions in "General Education Requirements".
2
Enrollment must be approved by advisor.
T
Designates a block of courses that would provide for a seamless transfer into this program if equivalent courses are
taken at another college or university.
15