Professional studies
Encyclopedia
"Professional studies" is a term used to classify academic programs which are applied or interdisciplinary in focus. The term can also be used for non-academic training for a specific profession
Profession
A profession is a vocation founded upon specialized educational training, the purpose of which is to supply disinterested counsel and service to others, for a direct and definite compensation, wholly apart from expectation of other business gain....

.

Professional studies usually combine theory and practice-based professional learning
Practice-based professional learning
Practice-based professional learning is best understood in contrast to 'classroom-' or 'theory-based' learning. It is kindred to terms such as 'work-based', 'workplace' or 'work-centred' learning. Distinctive, though, are a concern for professional learning, and the preference for 'practice'...

, focusing on a body of knowledge
Body of Knowledge
Body of Knowledge is a term used to represent the complete set of concepts, terms and activities that make up a professional domain, as defined by the relevant professional association....

 that is more strictly delineated and canonical
Canonical
Canonical is an adjective derived from canon. Canon comes from the greek word κανών kanon, "rule" or "measuring stick" , and is used in various meanings....

 than non-professional studies. Students are trained to ensure expected standards
Standard of care
In tort law, the standard of care is the degree of prudence and caution required of an individual who is under a duty of care.The requirements of the standard are closely dependent on circumstances. Whether the standard of care has been breached is determined by the trier of fact, and is usually...

 and adequate service delivery in the best practice
Best practice
A best practice is a method or technique that has consistently shown results superior to those achieved with other means, and that is used as a benchmark...

 of a profession.

Professional studies may lead to academic degrees such as the Bachelor of Professional Studies (BPS), Master of Professional Studies
Master of Professional Studies
Master of Professional Studies is a recognized masters degree concentrated in an applied field of study. The MPS is usually a terminal degree and is often interdisciplinary, frequently offered in substantive areas that do not readily fit into any of the traditional fields in university curricula...

 (MPS), or Doctor of Professional Studies
Doctor of Professional Studies
The Doctor of Professional Studies is a work-based professional doctorate pioneered by Pace University.-Development:...

 (DPS). A BPS is similar to a Bachelor of General Studies
Bachelor of General Studies
A Bachelor of General Studies degree is an undergraduate degree, offered by many universities in the Western World. It is very similar to a Bachelor of Arts or Liberal Arts degree, although there are often fewer requirements for studies in humanities and social sciences...

 with a greater emphasis on practical and technical training (and a corresponding lower emphasis on liberal arts
Liberal arts
The term liberal arts refers to those subjects which in classical antiquity were considered essential for a free citizen to study. Grammar, Rhetoric and Logic were the core liberal arts. In medieval times these subjects were extended to include mathematics, geometry, music and astronomy...

), and therefore of greater interest to mid-career students. MPS degrees are usually course-based with a report or project component rather than a research thesis
Thesis
A dissertation or thesis is a document submitted in support of candidature for an academic degree or professional qualification presenting the author's research and findings...

. The US National Science Foundation considers a DPS to be equivalent to a PhD
PHD
PHD may refer to:*Ph.D., a doctorate of philosophy*Ph.D. , a 1980s British group*PHD finger, a protein sequence*PHD Mountain Software, an outdoor clothing and equipment company*PhD Docbook renderer, an XML renderer...

.
The source of this article is wikipedia, the free encyclopedia.  The text of this article is licensed under the GFDL.
 
x
OK