A GREATER PURSUIT
School of Professional Studies
YOUR BEST NEXT STEP
You are ready to take the next step in your education and your career. We are here to make sure you take the right one. With our compassionate faculty, adaptable programs, and focus on experiential learning, North Park’s School of Professional Studies (SPS) will empower you to complete your bachelor’s degree and change the course of your life. This is more than a degree.
IT’S A GREATER PURSUIT. EMPOWERING
COMPASSIONATE
The School of Professional Studies offers you meaningful opportunities for personal and professional growth. Our expert faculty will be your bridge to life-changing professional experiences and supportive networks, while personal development and leadership courses will set you up for success in every aspect of life.
You are a real person with a real life. You need a college that treats you like one. In SPS, we strive to understand and support every one of our students. Our staff and faculty will learn your individual story, address your practical questions and concerns, and help you find a path that works regardless of the barriers you may face.
EXPERIENTIAL
RESPONSIVE
Your path to a better career starts on day one of your first SPS class. Your assignments are designed to help you build practical, applicable professional skills. Your professors have real-world experience that they will pass on to you. And we will get you hands-on as much as possible—because applied learning today will become greater job prospects tomorrow.
In a competitive and demanding job market, you need a degree that sets you apart. We continually adapt our programs to stay ahead of the curve and set you up for success. Our advisors will work with you to meet your individual needs and turn your passions into marketable skills.
ADAPTIVE This education is not one-size-fits-all. North Park’s accelerated seven-week courses offer an innovative and agile approach to preparing you for whatever is next. From in-person to online, every class is tailored to your schedule, your goals, and your learning style, while giving you exactly what you need to advance in your career.
THE RIGHT PLACE FOR YOU
North Park’s welcoming community and supportive learning environment are shaped by our Christian identity and city-centered location. From our dedicated faculty to our flexible schedules, everything we do is designed to equip you with what you need to complete your degree and open doors for the rest of your life.
The personal support you want. “I firmly believe in the mission and vision of North Park and the School of Professional Studies. We truly care about our students, and we celebrate their accomplishments and help them in their struggles. I try to not just teach the material but make it applicable for the students. That way they are able to use what they learned in the classroom the next day at work or in their daily lives.”
— DR. TREVOR JAMES
Professor of Business Administration
Our caring, experienced faculty and committed advisors will provide personal guidance from your first class through graduation day—because we are just as invested in your success as you are.
The practical experience you need. Real career growth happens through real experience. We will give you hands-on experience at every turn, ensuring that your classroom learning doesn’t just stay in the classroom.
The perfect program for your future. With seven innovative programs to choose from, SPS offers the degree you need to excel in the career you want. Every one of our majors will equip you with practical skills and help you to achieve more and advance faster in any professional field.
BACHELOR’S DEGREES Business Administration
Whatever your passion, SPS has the degree to help you advance in your career— or start a new one.
Develop comprehensive skills and prepare for management positions in corporate, nonprofit, and government organizations. Learn key concepts and strategies in leadership, strategic thinking, problem solving, financial management, and communication with diverse audiences. 40 hours of major coursework 44 hours of general education 28 hours of elective coursework 8 hours of professional studies core coursework
Counseling Psychology
Grow the right skills and knowledge base to advance your career or prepare for graduate work in counseling, social work, or a related field. Build a foundation of psychological principles to apply to personal, social, and organizational problems—all while emphasizing meaningful client-focused care. 36 hours of major coursework 44 hours of general education 32 hours of elective coursework 8 hours of professional studies core coursework
Digital Marketing
Become a thought-leader in the digital revolution. From social media management to digital strategy to SEO optimization, gain the advanced skills, techniques, and best practices you’ll need to keep any organization on the cutting edge of the new media landscape. 38 hours of major coursework 44 hours of general education 30 hours of elective coursework 8 hours of professional studies core coursework
Nonprofit Management
Get equipped with the practical skills to excel in nonprofit management. Learn to manage resources, solve complex organizational challenges, analyze and develop effective budget strategies, and inspire the volunteers and stakeholders who will help your organization thrive. 40 hours of major coursework 44 hours of general education 28 hours of elective coursework 8 hours of professional studies core coursework
Organizational Management and Leadership Gain knowledge and skills to effectively lead people, departments, and organizations as you build a strong foundation in management with a focus on leadership development and effectiveness. Explore contrasts between management and leadership theory, and develop practical skills for employee development, conflict management, and change management. 40 hours of major coursework 44 hours of general education 28 hours of elective coursework 8 hours of professional studies core coursework
TAILORED TO FIT YOUR LIFE Flexibility is built into everything we do. All our programs are designed to let you balance the demands of work, family, and school. With new classes starting every two months, and seven-week accelerated courses that meet just one night per week—or online—we’ll fit right in to your life.
CONVENIENT Take evening and weekend classes at two North Park campuses—Chicago or Grayslake—or take courses online any time.
FAST SPS courses are accelerated, meeting during one session for just four hours per week. Classes are offered in several formats including evenings, weekends, or online for seven weeks.
PRIOR LEARNING ASSESSMENT We value the knowledge and skills you have already acquired, inside and outside the classroom. We will work with you to determine whether you are able to earn credit hours for your life experience through our unique Prior Learning Assessment (PLA) process.
Up to 20 semester hours can be earned through PLA, potentially accelerating completion of your degree. Students who complete the PLA process earn an average of 8 semester hours of credit.
AFFORDABLE
• Use relevant work experience to earn credits
We charge a flat rate per credit. Financial aid and scholarships are available to those who qualify.
• Standardized exams (such as CLEP) can be used • Language testing opportunities for over 50 languages • Build on a license or certificate you already hold
FIND YOUR SUCCESS
Completing your degree at North Park’s School of Professional studies will empower you to achieve personal, academic, and career success. Our supportive environment, flexible coursework, personalized advising, and innovative programs will take you from wherever you are to where you want to be. “SPS has taught me that we can no longer just do as we have always done in the past, we must learn to adapt and change as quickly as the environment around us is changing,” says Melissa Feltner. The School or Professional Studies provides a positive, adaptive, learning environment, with a shared goal to develop students personally and professionally, this fosters close relationships between faculty and peers for an all-around valuable experience. Feltner continues to say “Being part of such a supportive environment has allowed me to truly absorb the content of my courses and use that information in my everyday life.”
—MELISSA FELTNER
Organizational Management & Leadership
OUR MISSION Our mission is to prepare diverse students for lives of significance and service through theoretical, practical, and professional learning experiences. We create a caring, inclusive community of learners, welcoming students from any faith tradition seeking personalized, flexible approaches to higher education and professional development.
START HERE
Are you ready to take the next step? It’s easy (and free) to get started—and we will walk you through it. Here is what you will need:
APPLICATION CHECKLIST Completed online application at applysps.northpark.edu Include transcripts from all colleges and universities attended, and records of any Advanced Placement or military credit you have earned.
DETERMINE YOUR COST
ENROLL That’s all there is to it. Once your application file is complete, we will let you know if you are accepted within one week. Then, we will build a tailored plan to help you complete your degree and take your best next step at North Park University.
• Visit northpark.edu/sps/financialaid to see up-to-date tuition and scholarship information. • Meet with our admissions team to discuss financial aid and scholarship options. • File your FAFSA at fafsa.gov, if necessary.
www.northpark.edu/sps/apply
COME SEE FOR YOURSELF
One of the best ways to learn about North Park University is to attend an information session where you will have an opportunity to learn more about admission requirements, experiential learning opportunities, and financial aid. We look forward to meeting with you soon! • Attend an informational sessionn online, at our Chicago or Grayslake campuses • Schedule a personal appointment with an admissions representative.
School of Professional Studies Office of Graduate Admissions 3225 West Foster Ave. Box 40 Chicago, IL 60625 (773) 244-4880 www.northpark.edu
• Sit in on a class. Plan your visit at northpark.edu/sps
John Smith 555 North Park Chicago, IL 12345