Applied Professional Studies (MA)

The Master of Arts Program in Applied Professional Studies (MAAPS) from the School of Continuing and Professional Studies (SCPS) serves adults who wish to design and execute their graduate study in a personally-relevant area that is otherwise not served by typical course-based, already-structured programs. These “entrepreneurial learners” come with a personal/professional area of study they want to pursue, a desire to build and manage their own learning processes, and a goal to both learn and shape their learning into contributions that make a difference.

Key Features

1. You design your own area of study (an area of professional contribution in a particular setting) guided by a graduate framework. Your idea; your design. 
2. You learn to think in terms of learning for both intentional outcomes and timely applications. 
3. You build a plan for learning that incorporates an array of learning strategies (not just classes!)—strategies that fit your sought outcomes and learning preferences and result in products you can use. 
4. You manage the pace, place and process of implementing your plan. 
5. You receive assistance from a team of advisors from the University as well as your own particular professional community. 
6. You engage in a brief/intensive series of “liberal learning” seminars designed to rekindle and/or deepen your practice in key domains of applied effectiveness (personal, interpersonal, organizational, values and inquiry).
7. You accomplish your goal of graduate study—focusing on an area of importance to you and earning an accredited graduate degree with competencies endorsed by the University.

Alumni qualify for the Double Demon scholarship. 

Learning Outcomes

Students who complete the MAAPS common curriculum plus their Focus Area demonstrate the following learning outcomes:

• Demonstrate advanced knowledge in their areas of professional study.
• Cultivate a regular practice of reflection on their professional practice.
• Engage methods of inquiry to improve practice in their areas of study.
• Take initiative to broaden professional networks and continually develop and refresh key skills.
• Anticipate, adapt and engage with emerging issues in their areas of study and practice.
• Exercise personal agency and collaborative skill to attain personal and professional goals.

Degree Requirements

Course Requirements

Students are required to complete a minimum of 52 graduate credit hours with a cumulative GPA of not less than 3.0. 

Planning & Integration (8 credit hours)

Students, with the assistance of an academic committee, design individualized graduate learning plans. Once plans are approved, students pursue their plans and work to ensure that all parts link together.

Liberal Learning (18 credit hours)

The liberal learning seminars offer opportunities for unique and rich discussions with fellow professionals from diverse professional backgrounds. They are designed to challenge students’ thinking around topics relevant to working professionals as they enhance core skills in critical thinking, communication, collaboration, and problem solving.

Areas of Focus (18 credit hours): Individualized, Educating Adults, Organizational Leadership, or Social Action

Students design and implement learning strategies for enhancing their understanding and competence development in each of the following aspects of their individualized areas of focus.

Program Culmination (8 credit hours)

Students culminate their graduate study through either four supplemental competencies or an integrating project (proposal and final artifact).