Professional Studies Program
Ivy Bridge College’s Bachelor of Arts in Professional Studies is a flexible degree program designed for students who have already earned an associate degree in a specialized professional discipline and would like to complete their core general education courses to earn a bachelor’s.
This is a career-oriented degree program built upon the concept of the “inverted degree” or “reverse transfer” where students take their vocational classes first, then complete their general education.
If you have questions or would like to talk to someone over the phone who can guide you through the application, call 855-300-7107 to talk to a friendly admissions advisor.
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Professional Studies Program Requirements or Course Descriptions
| Course No. | Course Title | Credit Hours |
|---|---|---|
| PSY 301 | Adult Development and Life Assessment | 3 |
| ENG 365 | Issues in Literature | 3 |
| SOC 350 | Social Psychology | 3 |
| ART 310 | American Art | 3 |
| HIS 312 | Middle East History | 3 |
| POL 320 | Public Administration | 3 |
| COM 441 | Organizational Communication | 3 |
| MGT 301 | Organizational Behavior | 3 |
| MAT 376 | Statistics | 3 |
| LAW 302 | Business Law | 3 |
| CUL 443 | Comparative Mythology | 3 |
| CIT 312 | Information Systems for Managers | 3 |
| NAT 320 | Survey of Health | 3 |
| SOC 360 | Multicultural Issues | 3 |
| MGT 317 | Human Resource Management | 3 |
| PSY 320 | Motivational Psychology | 3 |
| MGT 359 | Small Business Management | 3 |
| PHI 305 | Applied Ethics | 3 |
PSY 301 — Adult Development and Life Assessment
This course closely examines the nature of transitions in adult life and explores the skills needed to successfully navigate those transitions by “mastering the art of self-renewal.” Through a process of self-discovery, adult learners come to a new understanding of themselves and others.
ENG 365 — Issues in Literature
This course is conducted as a forum where students read, analyze, and discuss different works of fiction and poetry. Special attention is given to those literary works that focus on the challenges of being responsible adults. Students are asked to make a personal connection with the material, using their own lives and work experiences as a means to focus on literary techniques in the established literary canon. Students are challenged to make the transition from superficial reading of a text to a deeper interpretation and appreciation for literary theories and concepts. This is a writing intensive course.
Prerequisite: Six hours of writing or composition.
SOC 350 — Social Psychology
This course focuses on how people think about, influence, and relate to others as well as how others influence our perception of ourselves. It also covers the study of how people act in groups and how groups affect their members. Some of the topics in this course include: social perception, attitudes and persuasion, prejudice and discrimination, different sources of social influence, helping behavior, and aggression. Emphasis is on how concepts and research in social psychology can be applied to various aspects of the criminal justice system.
ART 310 — American Art
This course addresses the material culture of what is now the continental United States. Material culture in this context emphasizes painting, sculpture, and architecture, but also explores the development of the visual arts and the historical references associated with the arts in the United States. Emphasis is on learning to identify and interpret artists, styles, and international influences.
Prerequisite: ENG 142 or equivalent
HIS 312 — Middle East History
This course is a survey of the history of the Middle East from the time of Muhammad (500 AD) through the beginning of the 21st Century. Specific emphasis is placed on the 20th Century and the decisions that have influenced the current world situation. The countries covered include Turkey, Syria, Lebanon, Jordan, Israel, Egypt, Saudi Arabia, Iraq, Iran, and Afghanistan. This is a writing intensive course.
Prerequisite: ENG 142 or equivalent
POL 320 — Public Administration
This course examines the government management at local, state, and federal levels. Emphasis is on the function and control of government agencies; the nature of bureaucracy; and planning, budgeting, and decision making in the public sector.
Prerequisite: MGT 201 or equivalent
COM 441 — Organizational Communication
This is an advanced course designed to examine interpersonal relationships and patterns of managerial communication within the organizational structure. The focus is on organizational channels of communication, examinations of problems encountered in various leadership styles, coping with complementary relationships in the organization, and effective use of intervention.
MGT 301 — Organizational Behavior
This course is a study of the interface between the individual, the formal, and the informal groups in organizational settings. The focus is on individual growth, developing interpersonal skills, and understanding group dynamics.
Prerequisite: MGT 201 or equivalent
MAT 376 — Statistics
This course is a study in descriptive and inferential statistical methods that aid decision-making. Topics covered include: variable and descriptive statistics, normal distribution, probability distribution, statistical inferences, sampling distribution, levels of confidence, and hypothesis testing. The focus is on the various statistical methods and formulas for analyzing and interpreting data.
Prerequisite: CIT 111 and MAT 174 or equivalent
LAW 302 — Business Law
This course studies the history, background, sources and influences of our modern day law as it pertains to the business activities of individuals, corporations, and other legal entities, with particular emphasis upon business litigation, legal liabilities, and the laws governing contracts, creditors’ rights, secured transactions, bankruptcy, agency, partnerships, and corporations.
CUL 443 — Comparative Mythology
This course is a study of the great epics and myths of the world, both ancient and modern. It also focuses on the themes, archetypes, and folklore commonly found in mythology and their roles in defining archetypes and influencing the contemporary world. Students also discuss creation myths, fertility myths, and hero/heroine myths and epics. This is a writing intensive course.
Prerequisite: ENG 142 or equivalent
CIT 312 — Information Systems for Managers
This course introduces the foundations of information systems and their expanding role in business environments. The technology of information systems is discussed as it relates to supporting the day-to-day operations of an organization, with a strong emphasis on the use of technology in managerial decision-making.
Prerequisite: One CIT course and MGT 201 or equivalent
NAT 320 — Survey of Health
This course provides students with an understanding of personal wellness in order to increase their knowledge of common health problems, the promotion of personal health, and the prevention of illness. Students learn strategies to maintain and/or improve well-being.
SOC 360 — Multicultural Issues
This course is an analysis of the problems and economic and social positions of minority groups in the United States. Interactions among historical and current social forces and institutions that influence group and individual behaviors are examined. New trends in inter-group relations, emergence of new minorities, and the contesting for program funding and services will be explored. The struggles over income, property, and power on the interpersonal, community, national, and international levels will be presented. This is a writing intensive course.
MGT 317 — Human Resource Management
This course is a study of the human resource functions in business. Major areas of study include staffing, recruitment, training and development, wage and salary administration, job analysis and evaluation, and labor relations.
PSY 320 — Motivational Psychology
This course is an exploration from the perspective of scientific psychology of historical and current conceptions of motivation, the force that determines activity preference, selection, and persistence. This course provides both a broad overview of motivational theories and practical applications of these theories to real-world problems.
MGT 359 — Small Business Management
This course is a study and analysis of the problems of operating a small business. Additionally, it is a discussion of the how’s, what’s, and why’s an individual considers while developing his or her own business. All areas of managing an entrepreneurial operation will be covered such as marketing, finance and financial controls, government regulations, and strategic planning.
Prerequisite: MGT 201 or equivalent and junior standing
PHI 305 — Applied Ethics
This course is a critical examination of various moral problems present in contemporary society and involved in various professions from the perspectives of different ethical theories. The emphasis is given to those moral problems that arise in daily life, especially those that involve rational decisions between conflicting values, each of which represent something good in itself in order to do what is right.
Prerequisite: ENG 142 or equivalent