Professional studies curriculum

Professional Studies Major for the Degree Completion Program - 36 credit hours

Program Objective:  To offer adult learners an understanding of organizations, human behavior and themselves. To provide adult learners the skills needed to excel in a professional environment and a variety of work settings.

The students will be required to fulfill Concordia’s general education requirements (passed in 2010), including the religion requirements.

Core Courses: 24 credit hours

MATH 122 Statistics*

ECON 104 Macroeconomics*

HHP/PSY 290 Health Psychology*

CTA 333 Intercultural Communication*

BUS 342 Organizational Behavior

CTA 309 Small Group Theory for Teams and Leadership

BUS 401 Business Ethics

400 level Senior Capstone Course

Capstone Course for each student is based upon the emphasis(s) that a student has chosen.  This can be an Internship, Practicum or scheduled capstone course decided by the academic department. This course can be a P/F course if the course is designed as such by the academic department.

The starred courses would also fulfill general education requirements  

Emphasis Area: 12 credit hours 

• Business Administration

• BUS 120 Financial Accounting
• BUS 260 Marketing
• BUS 350 Human Resource Management
• One choice from the B.A. in Business Administration that is not already in the Professional Studies Core

• Behavioral Science

• PSY 101 Introduction to Psychology
• PSY 221 Lifespan Development
• SOC 345 Social Problems (Prerequisite: SOC 101 or PSY 101)
• SOC 101 Introduction to Sociology

• Communication (select 12 hours)

• BUS 280 Business Communication
• BUS 261 Marketing
• BUS 351 Human Resources Management
• CTA 203 Communication Theory
• CTA 306 Interpersonal Communication
• CTA 413 Aging and Communication
• GERO 422 Intergenerational Programming and Activities

• Family Life

• FL 221 Lifespan Development or GERO 205 Adult Development and Aging and 9 hours of family life electives chosen from:

On-line

• FL 446  Family Dysfunctions: Assessment and Intervention
• FL 443  Theory and Dynamics of Family Relations
• FL 447  Family Law and Public Policy
• FL 440  Family Resource Management  

Hybrid

• FL 428  Parent Education
• FL 444  Lifespan Family Education
• FL 445  Foundations of Christian Marriage and Family
• FL 433  Aging and the Family
• FL 483  Sexuality and the Family
• FL 485  Family Life Ministry

• Gerontology: 

• PSY 221 or GERO 205 and 9 hours of upper level gerontology electives

• Self-Directed Study  (The student selects and provides a rationale for their course selections; 9 hours must be 300 or 400 level classes; the SDS must be pre-approved by the student’s advisor, the Program Director, and the Dean; the SDS must be filed with the Registrar’s office)

Core Course Descriptions for Degree Completion

Math 122 Introduction to Statistics (3)

The fundamentals of elementary statistics, data collection and analysis, probability, distributions, sampling, hypothesis testing, correlation and regression. This course fulfills general education Math requirement.

Econ 104 Principles of Macroeconomics (3)

A study of the performance of the American economy. Includes an introduction to national income, employment, fiscal policy, money and monetary policy. In addition, topics of economic stability and analysis of economic growth are covered. This course fulfills 3.0 hours general education social science requirement.

HHP/PSY 290 Health Psychology (3)

Health Psychology is the study of how biology, behavior, and social context influence health and illness. The course will examine the contributions of psychological research to the understanding, prevention, and treatment of a variety of health concerns. The biopsychosocial–spiritual model will be emphasized, which entails the study of how social, emotional, behavioral, biological, and spiritual factors influence health. The specific topics may include injury, stress, pain management, addictions, patient–physician/practitioner relations, and chronic illnesses such as Alzheimer's, diabetes, and AIDS. Prerequisite: Psy 101. This course fulfills general education HHP requirement and assists in the interdisciplinary of courses.

CTA 333 Intercultural Communication (3)

The study of cultural practices that influence the exchange of meaning between individuals and groups of differing cultural/racial backgrounds. The course is designed to provide students with an understanding of the uniqueness of cultures, the resulting variations in communication styles and preferences, and to provide strategies and skills for successful communication across cultures. Students will have a 20-hour lab requirement (outside of class) attached to the course. Prerequisites: Eng 102 or Eng 231. This course fulfills general education multi-cultural requirements.

Bus 342 Organizational Behavior (3)

A study of human behavior in organizational settings, the interface between human behavior and the organization, and the organization itself. Topics include organizational culture, diversity, gender communication, rewards and punishment, work place design, work teams, conflict management, leadership, total quality management and organizational development.

Bus/CTA 309 Small Group Theory for Teams and Leadership (3)

Analysis and study of theories of small groups, including theories of leadership and the facilitation of groups and group dynamics. Areas of study may include goal setting, cohesion and norms, leadership, problem solving, conflict, and facilitating in groups. Prerequisite: Eng 102.

Bus 401 Professional Ethics (3)

A study of Christian ethics and practice in relationship to the conduct of business. Case studies are utilized to give skills in problem analysis and the application of the Christian vision.

400 level Capstone Course (3)

Capstone Course for each student is based upon the emphasis(s) that a student has chosen. This can be an Internship, Practicum or scheduled capstone course decided by the academic department. This course can be a P/F course if the course is designed as such by the academic department.