Catalog Announcements - 2010-2011

Metropolitan School of Professional Studies

Administration

Adjunct Faculty

History, Mission, and Undergraduate Offerings

History and Mission

CUA's Metropolitan School of Professional Studies (MSPS) was established as University College in 1979 by the Board of Trustees to extend the educational resources and programs of the university to adult students wanting to pursue academic and professional credentials. MSPS has a long history of serving adults with programs that integrate a values-based, liberal arts foundation with majors that are applied and focused on professional career tracks. The school offers master's degrees, bachelor's degrees, certificates, and noncredit preparation for professional certification in high-demand career tracks.

MSPS regards its service to nontraditional students as a special part of The Catholic University of America's overall educational mission. Reflecting the tradition and educational values of the university, the bachelor's degree is based on a strong core component of study in the humanities and social sciences. Individual programs are designed with a maximum of flexibility to accommodate the various schedules of adult students. Courses adhere to the academic standards of the university while being offered in evening, accelerated, and online formats.

Undergraduate Offerings

MSPS offers the following undergraduate degrees and certificates:

Bachelor's degree programs:

• Bachelor of Arts in General Studies, B.A.G.S. (This degree has been discontinued and is offered only to students admitted prior to August 1, 2006.)
• Bachelor of Arts in Interdisciplinary Studies, B.A.I.S.
• Bachelor of Arts in Information Technology, B.A.I.T.
• Bachelor of Arts in Management, B.A.Mgt.

Associate's degree programs:

• Associate of Science in International Health Studies, A.S. (This program is offered solely for the Brothers of Charity, in cooperation with CUA's School of Nursing.)
• Associate of Science in Special Education Studies, A.S. (This program is offered solely for the Brothers of Charity, in cooperation with CUA's Department of Education.)
• Associate of Science in Human Services, A.S. (This program is offered solely to a select group of students as determined by a special arrangement with Catholic Charities.)

Certificate programs:

• Advanced Certificate in Information Technology
• Business Management Certificate
• Human Resource Management Certificate
• Human Services Administration Certificate
• Special Education Studies Certificate for Paraeducators

For more detailed information about the A.S. and certificate programs, please visit the MSPS web site at: http://metro.cua.edu.

Admission 

General Admission

Students must be 21 years of age or older to be admitted into MSPS. Students may be admitted into a baccalaureate degree or certificate program or may enroll in classes as special, non-degree-seeking students. Application to the undergraduate program includes the following:

• MSPS Application for Undergraduate Admission;
• $55 non-refundable application fee;
• Official transcript(s) from high school(s) attended or official GED completion report;
• Official transcript(s) from previous college(s) attended (if applicable);
• Statement of educational and career goals; and
• A pre-admission interview with an academic counselor.

The submission of College Level Examination Program (CLEP) scores, Dantes Subject Standardized Test (DSST) scores, Scholastic Aptitude Test (SAT) scores, and a résumé is encouraged and may be helpful when discussing educational history and objectives. The Admissions Committee may also request candidates to submit letters of reference. For additional information about MSPS Admissions, please visit http://metro.cua.edu/admissions.

Admission to HR3/MSM3 Scholars Program

In addition to applying for general undergraduate admission to MSPS, qualified students may opt to apply to the HR3/MSM3 Scholars Program. HR3 or MSM3 students may take up to three (3) graduate, 500-level classes during their senior year. Not only will the graduate classes count toward the 120 credits needed to earn a CUA bachelor’s degree, but they will also give the graduating student a nine-credit head start on a Master of Science in Management (M.S.M.) or a Master of Arts in Human Resource Management (M.A. in HRM). HR3/MSM3 Scholars must commit to full-time (i.e., 12 or more credits) of undergraduate study, must maintain a minimum cumulative GPA of 3.0 or better, and must earn a "B" or better in the graduate level courses taken at CUA’s MSPS. In turn, Scholars receive a significant tuition discount and special consideration for the M.S.M. or M.A. in HRM program when they apply.

Undergraduate admissions requirements for Scholars include:

• MSPS Application for Undergraduate Admission;
• $55 non-refundable application fee;
• Official transcript(s) from high school(s) attended or official GED completion report;
• Official transcript(s) from previous college(s) attended;
• Sixty or more qualifying transfer credits from previous college study. Candidates with fewer transfer credits may still be eligible for admission to MSPS and are encouraged to apply. Admission to the HR3/MSM3 Program may be deferred until 60 credits are earned at CUA; 
• Personal statement about intention to continue on to Master's program and relation of HR3/MSM3 Scholars Program to professional/educational goals;
• Letter of recommendation - professional or academic; and
• A pre-admission interview with an academic counselor.

For more information about the HR3/MSM3 Scholars Program, please visit: http://metro.cua.edu/bachelor/2plus1.

Transfer Student Admission

Admission evaluations for transfer students are made based on a composite of work experience, professional references, a written statement of purpose, and performance in previous post-secondary academics that exhibits commitment and the ability to do quality college-level work. A program plan will be created after an evaluation of coursework from other postsecondary, regionally-accredited institutions has been completed. Course syllabi and/or course descriptions may be requested. Students applying for transfer from other schools within The Catholic University of America will be considered according to the above guidelines.

The Catholic University of American maintains a general policy on the transfer of academic credit, which is designed to articulate when courses at comparable accredited colleges or universities can be substituted for Catholic University courses. This policy applies both to students transferring to Catholic University from another institution and to Catholic University students taking courses off campus. The specific policy is available at http://policies.cua.edu/academicundergrad/transferofcredit.cfm.

In addition to this overarching Catholic University policy, each School has policies and procedures specific to their disciplines which may be different than the general rules set forth. Information on transfer of credit for MSPS can be found at http://metro.cua.edu/res/docs/bachelor/transfer-credit-policy.pdf.

Financial Information and Costs

Financial Aid

The Catholic University of America offers reduced tuition for students in the Metropolitan School of Professional Studies who are taking courses provided by MSPS. The university also maintains a federal financial aid program for students with a demonstrated need. For information on federal financial aid, please contact the Office of Financial Aid at (202) 319-5307 or visit http://financialaid.cua.edu. Scholarships and tuition discounts are also available for qualified students; for additional information on scholarships and tuition discounts, please contact the MSPS office at (202) 319-5256.

Student Accounts

Students are considered officially enrolled and responsible for any associated financial obligations once they have completed course registration via Cardinal Station (https://cardinalstation.cua.edu). Billing statements are issued online through the CardinalPAY e-commerce system; no paper bills are issued. For more information on CardinalPAY, please visit http://enrollmentservices.cua.edu/Student-Financial-Information/CardinalPAY.cfm. Satisfactory payment includes paying the total charges, being current with payments on the tuition payment plan, and/or completing all financial aid forms and waiting for accepted financial aid to be credited. Incomplete financial aid awards are considered to be late payments. Additional charges will be assessed to the student's account for checks returned by the bank for insufficient funds or stop payments. All charges due to the university must be paid in full by the payment due date published each semester. For more information on payment due dates, please visit http://enrollmentservices.cua.edu/Student-Financial-Information/BillingandDueDates.cfm. Students who do not honor the financial arrangements agreed upon will not be permitted to register the following semester unless payment is made or new arrangements are negotiated.

Costs

A general accounting of university tuition, fees, and other expenses may be found on the Office of Enrollment Services' web site: http://enrollmentservices.cua.edu/Student-Financial-Information/Costs.cfm.

Bachelor's Degrees: Aims, Program Requirements, and Policies

Bachelor's Degrees Objectives

The MSPS bachelor's degree programs place special emphasis on interdisciplinary learning that links theory and professional practice. The curriculum is designed to develop competencies in the following six areas:

1. Oral and written communication;
2. Critical thinking and reasoned analysis;
3. Social responsibility;
4. Multicultural and international perspectives;
5. Technology use; and
6. Self-directed learning.

The bachelor's degree programs consist of a core curriculum of 19 courses (57 semester credits), a major area of at least 12 courses (36 credits), and free electives, so that the total number of courses is at least 40 (120 credits). A minimum of 36 credits must be taken at The Catholic University of America.

Core and Major Requirements

At MSPS, a minimum grade of "C-" is required for all courses in the academic major. (For certificate-seeking students, "major" courses equate to all courses in the certificate.) A minimum grade of "C-" is also required for the following core courses: MHU 151 Rhetoric and Composition, MHU 152 Composition and Research, MHU 131 Presiding, Presenting, and Speaking, MIS 105 Microcomputer Applications I, and MID 495 Senior Seminar.

Students earning less than a "C-" in any one of the core courses identified above or any major course must repeat the course. Any course taken to fulfill requirements for the core and/or major may only be repeated once. When a course with a grade of D or F is repeated, the following rules shall apply:

1. The course must be identical in listing and cannot be taken at another institution;
2. The second time, the course may not be taken for pass/fail;
3. Both courses and grades will be recorded in the student's file and transcript; and
4. For calculation of the grade point average and for fulfillment of curriculum requirements, the credit and the grade of the repeated course will apply and the credit and grade of the original course will no longer count.

In addition to fulfilling the minimum grade requirements noted above for core and major courses, undergraduate students enrolled in the HR3/MSM3 Scholars Program must earn a minimum grade of "B" in their graduate-level MSPS courses. Per the HR3/MSM3 program guidelines, up to three graduate-level courses with qualifying grades may be transferred into one of MSPS Master's degree programs.

Transfer of Credit Post-Matriculation Guidelines

Catholic University allows undergraduates who wish to take a course at another college or university to apply those courses toward their Catholic University degree provided the following conditions are met:

• The course is completed at a regionally accredited institution;
• The course is substantially similar to a CUA course;
• The course is completed with a grade of C- (C minus) or better;
• The course does not duplicate, overlap or regress previous work; and 
• The college or university offering the course allows the course to be used for credit toward its own undergraduate degree

National standards for online education will be used to determine if an on-line course is comparable to a CUA course. Individual Schools have established limits on the numbers of on-line courses which are transferrable. General undergraduate degree requirement policies are available on-line at http://policies.cua.edu/academicundergrad/acregsfull.cfm#XI.

With approval from the dean of MSPS, matriculated MSPS students may take courses at other regionally-accredited institutions of higher learning on a limited basis. However, students may transfer in no more than a total of 84 credits - this includes all transfer credits pre- and post-matriculation. Students must also complete at least 12 credits at CUA within 12 months of the end of their final semester.

Students planning to take courses at another regionally-accredited institution (during any academic semester or summer session) must obtain approval from the dean of MSPS before the end of the semester prior to the semester in which they plan to take the transfer course(s). Approval is granted on a case-by-case basis depending on the student's need for the course(s), degree requirements, etc. Without prior approval, transfer of credit is not guaranteed. Students hoping to take courses at another institution should also contact the Office of Financial Aid at (202) 319-5307 to determine how funding will be impacted.

Pre-approved transfer credit will be awarded in accordance with the overarching Catholic University transfer credit policy (http://policies.cua.edu/academicundergrad/transferofcredit.cfm) and the MSPS transfer credit policy (http://metro.cua.edu/res/docs/bachelor/transfer-credit-policy.pdf).

Probation and Dismissal Policies

Probation

Any MSPS undergraduate student who falls below a 2.0 cumulative grade point average (GPA) is on academic probation for the following regular semester (i.e., a student whose cumulative GPA is below 2.0 at the end of the spring semester is on probation through the end of the following fall semester, even if the student takes summer courses to raise his/her cumulative GPA. Also, a student whose cumulative GPA is below 2.0 at the end of the fall semester is on probation through the end of the following spring semester.). A student placed on academic probation by the academic dean may be required to take a reduced course load during the time of probation.

Students enrolled in the HR3/MSM3 Scholars Programs are subject to special GPA requirements. Specifically, Scholars must maintain a minimum 3.0 cumulative GPA. Any Scholar who falls below the 3.0 cumulative GPA is on Scholars probation for the following regular semester (i.e., a Scholar whose cumulative GPA is below 3.0 at the end of the spring semester is on probation through the end of the following fall semester, even if the Scholar takes summer courses to raise his/her cumulative GPA. Also, a Scholar whose cumulative GPA is below 3.0 at the end of the fall semester is on probation through the end of the following spring semester.). HR3/MSM3 tuition discounts for students placed on Scholars probation may be reconsidered.

Dismissal

For all students, the following are grounds for academic dismissal from MSPS:

• Failure to earn a 2.0 cumulative grade point average after two semesters on academic probation; or
• Receipt of a failing grade (F) in three of more credit-bearing courses undertaken in a semester. (Reversion of an incomplete grade (I) to an F shall be included in the total number of failures for the semester in which the I was given, with possible dismissal effective at the close of the current semester.); or
• At the end of any academic year, possession of a cumulative grade point average (for all semesters undertaken) below 1.5.

Students should consult the Catholic University policy website for additional details pertaining to academic standing: http://policies.cua.edu/academicundergrad/grades.cfm.

Requirements for Graduation

The bachelor's degree programs in MSPS consist of a minimum of 120 semester credits. Students must maintain at least a 2.0 cumulative grade point average in order to remain in good academic standing for graduation.

There are numerous academic policies that apply to students enrolled in MSPS . These policies may be found in various Catholic University and MSPS documents, including these Announcements and the university's web-based policies page (http://policies.cua.edu). Students are responsible for familiarizing themselves with these policies and will find the information very helpful in understanding academic regulations, responsibilities, and expectations. Students are also encouraged to contact their MSPS academic advisers at (202) 319-5256 for additional information.

Student Advising and Support 

Advising

Once admitted to MSPS , each undergraduate student is assigned an academic adviser. Generally, students remain with their assigned adviser for the duration of their degree program. However, given sufficient rationale, the student may be reassigned to another adviser at the discretion of the assistant dean.

All students are encouraged to meet with their advisers at least once a semester for pre-registration for the next semester's classes. However, students may see their adviser at any time during the academic year regarding their academic program and status. Students are responsible for knowing and understanding the requirements of their specific degree programs and for keeping track of their progress in working toward their degrees.

Student Services

MSPS strives to deliver an unparalleled level of service to adult students. In addition to the opportunities for involvement and support provided by the university, MSPS delivers a wide range of services to include personal, professional, and academic development seminars; a new student orientation, which is also accessible in an online format; student organizations; an online student services center; a weekly e-newsletter disseminated to the entire MSPS student community; and a host of other student development programs. Students wishing to learn more about student services are welcome to visit the online Student Development Resource Center:http://metro.cua.edu/studentservices.

Degree Program Curricula

Bachelor of Arts in General Studies (B.A.G.S.)

This degree has been discontinued and is offered only to students admitted prior to August 1, 2006.

Core Curriculum - All Bachelor's Degree Programs
(except the B.A.G.S. degree)

At the heart of MSPS's degree programs is a robust core curriculum designed to provide a strong "liberal arts" education. The liberal education core affords students a particularly broad and engaging educational experience. MSPS offers the following core curriculum:

Bachelor of Arts in Interdisciplinary Studies (B.A.I.S.)

Of the three bachelor's degree programs offered by MSPS, the Bachelor of Arts in Interdisciplinary Studies (B.A.I.S.) is the ideal choice for those wishing to gain exposure to a broad range of subject areas, to customize a degree program of particular interest, or to major in either Interdisciplinary Studies, Social Science, or Social Work. The program is distinguished by its particularly strong foundation in liberal education and curricular flexibility. Following are the requirements for the B.A.I.S. with a major in Interdisciplinary Studies. For information regarding majors in Social Science or Social Work, please contact a MSPS adviser at (202) 319-5256.

Bachelor of Arts in Information Technology (B.A.I.T.)

MSPS's Bachelor of Arts in Information Technology (B.A.I.T.) degree program provides an ideal education to those interested in developing a career in information technology. The program offers a strong liberal arts foundation, along with in-depth exposure to a wide range of information technology (IT) concepts, practices, and technologies.

Bachelor of Arts in Management (B.A.Mgt.)

The Bachelor of Arts in Management (B.A.Mgt.) is the ideal choice for those wishing to pursue a career in business or management. The program offers a strong liberal arts foundation, along with in-depth exposure to both the principles and practices of management and the various functional areas of business enterprises.

MSPS Courses Offered 

Business (MBU)

Education Studies (MEDU)

Humanities (MHU)

Interdisciplinary Studies (MID)

Management Information Systems (MIS)

Philosophy (MPH)

Social/Behavioral Sciences (MSO)

Footnotes