PROFESSIONAL STUDIES | Undergraduate Degrees

INTRODUCTION

The Professional Studies Program offers working professionals an opportunity to complete a baccalaureate degree in various fields of study. Programs and services have been developed to meet the needs of adult learners.

Programs offered through the SGPS differ from the university’s traditional day programs in several ways:

• Classes are offered online and in person. If in-person they are held in the evenings
• Each in-person class is held for four hours each week, during the week from 6 to 10 p.m.
• Both online and in-person classes are offered in two eight-week accelerated sessions each semester allowing adult learners to complete a degree in considerably less time than traditional scheduling allows.
• Undergraduate students may earn credit for college-level learning gained through life and work experience. A portfolio assessment program operates primarily for adult students who apply for college credits for collegiate learning obtained through nontraditional methods. For fees and policy, see CREDIT FOR EXPERIENTIAL LEARNING  
• Students may also obtain College Level Examination Program (CLEP) credit. For more information, see COLLEGE LEVEL EXAMINATION PROGRAM (CLEP)  

Students in the School of Graduate and Professional Studies have full access to all university facilities.

ADMISSION REQUIREMENTS

Acceptance to the accelerated baccalaureate degree programs is based upon receipt of an application, official transcripts from an accredited degree-granting college or equivalent, and a cumulative grade-point average of 2.0 on all previous college credits and an official high school transcript. In addition, the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) or its equivalent may be required if English is not the applicant’s primary language.

All applications and official transcripts must be sent directly to the Office of Admissions.

For more information regarding acceptance of transfer credit, see TRANSFER CREDIT AND ARTICULATION AGREEMENT/MEMORANDUM OF UNDERSTANDING POLICIES  .

DEGREE REQUIREMENTS

The Bachelor of Science and Bachelor of Arts degree programs offered through the School of Graduate and Professional Studies require the completion of three components:

1. A required core curriculum of 34 to 36 hours.
2. A General Education component.
3. A sufficient number of electives to complete a minimum of 120 semester hours, including 36 upper-division credits.

Students may apply for credit for experiential learning by submitting a portfolio showing evidence of learning gained over a reasonable period of time through approved, structured and supervised activity (available to SGPS students only). Students may also receive academic credit through the College Level Examination Program (CLEP).

The core curriculum of 10 to 12 courses (34 to 36 semester hours) must be completed at Washington Adventist University. Students are normally expected to meet the requirements as published in the Academic Catalog (formerly the Academic Bulletin) for the school year in which they originally matriculated. However, students may be required to follow a current or newer Catalog.

For a list of circumstances that would result in a Catalog year change please see SELECTION OF ACADEMIC CATALOG FOR GRADUATION .

GRADE-POINT AVERAGE REQUIREMENTS

Students must complete each course of the core curriculum with a grade of “C” or better and must attain a grade-point average of 2.50 or above in the core courses. In addition, a cumulative grade-point average of 2.0 must be attained for all courses taken at WAU and for all college courses taken, including those taken at WAU. Students who receive less than a “C” in two major courses may be subject to dismissal from the Professional Studies Program.

BACHELOR OF ARTS | Professional Studies

WAU’s School of Graduate and Professional Studies (SGPS) offers a Bachelor of Arts degree with a major in Early Childhood Care and Education (birth through age 8).

This program focuses on professional education preparation, providing a balance of coursework that reflects educational theory with real experiences applied in the child care setting. It culminates with a mentored internship in the childcare setting.

This education program prepares educators and childcare providers to meet the diverse needs of young children in inclusive settings.

BACHELOR OF SCIENCE | Professional Studies

The SGPS offers Bachelor of Science degrees in the following disciplines: Business Administration, Health Care Administration, and Nursing (R.N.-B.S. in Nursing)

Each of these degrees has the following General Education requirements in addition to their major requirements:

General Education Requirements (32-41 Hours)

Major courses meet 12 to 15 hours of General Education requirements.

• ENGL 101 Composition  Credits: 3
  Prerequisite for admission into the PSP majors.
  Grade of “C” or above required.
• ENGL 102 Research and Literature  Credits: 3
  Prerequisite for admission into the PSP majors.
  Grade of “C” or above required.
• COMM 105 Introduction to Human Communication  Credits: 3
• HIST History elective Credits: 3
   
• PSYC 105 Introduction to Psychology  Credits: 3
  - or -
• SOCI 105 General Sociology  Credits: 3
  ​
• MATH Mathematics elective Credits: 4
  Business majors must take MATH 110  Probability and Statisicts .
• BIOL/CHEM/PHYS Science elective Credits: 4
• LITR Literature elective Credits: 3
• RELB/RELT Religion electives - See “Requirements for Religion Electives” section below Credits: 0-6
• Humanities elective Credits: 3
  Choose from literature, philosophy, humanities, art appreciation, art history, music appreciation, music history or music theory.
• Social Science elective Credits: 3
  Information Systems major only
• INSY 110 Computer Concepts I  Credits: 0-3
  Or pass proficiency test. The computer proficiency requirement must be met by the end of the third course in the PSP major.

Requirements for Religion Electives

Programs

• BUSINESS ADMINISTRATION, B.S. (Professional Studies Program)
• EARLY CHILDHOOD CARE AND EDUCATION (Birth-Age 8), B.A. (Professional Studies Program)
• HEALTH CARE ADMINISTRATION, B.S. (Professional Studies Program)

• BUSINESS ADMINISTRATION MINOR (Professional Studies Program)
• HEALTH CARE ADMINISTRATION MINOR (Professional Studies Program)

• GENERAL STUDIES, A.S. (Professional Studies Program)
• NURSING (for RN’s), B.S. (Professional Studies Program)