Five Reasons Why You Should Get A Bachelor of Professional Studies

A Guide for AAS Graduates

Do you have an Associate in Applied Science (AAS) degree or credits? If so, congratulations on investing in your future!

You may now be wondering what to do next. There are different paths you can take — including advancing your career with the AAS alone — but if you’re considering a bachelor’s there’s one that seamlessly connects with your degree and technical expertise: the Bachelor of Professional Studies (BPS).

Many people may not have heard of this relatively new degree. Sometimes referred to as the “applied baccalaureate” or “workforce baccalaureate,” the BPS was originally developed in the 1970s to incorporate applied associate courses and degrees with higher-order thinking skills and advanced technical knowledge.

Not sure if this degree is right for you? Here are five reasons why all students and graduates of AAS degree programs should consider getting a BPS:

1. You’ll Get a Customized Education

With its emphasis on practical and technical training, the BPS degree is designed to expand upon the skills and knowledge you gained from your applied associate degree and professional experiences. As a result, you’ll find the program is geared directly to you and your needs. That means that not only will the coursework and classes build upon what you learned in your AAS degree, you’ll also get customized attention and support from your school’s faculty and staff who understand what you’re hoping to get out of your education.

At the CUNY School of Professional Studies (CUNY SPS), our BPS in Applied Management and Entrepreneurship is offered only to students with an AAS degree or credits. Because of this requirement, we developed our BPS curriculum with AAS graduates in mind. This way, we ensure that our students will graduate with the business acumen to complement their existing technical skills and expertise.

2. You Can Easily Transfer Your Credits

BPS programs, because they serve as a direct pipeline from AAS programs, are generally willing to accept most of the credits earned in community college. And given the difficulty many students encounter when transferring to colleges and university systems, this comes as a welcome surprise. It’s a simple equation: the more credits you can transfer now from your AAS, the more time and money you can save while completing your bachelor’s degree.

For example, the CUNY SPS BPS program accepts up to 45 credits of professional / technical courses taken during your AAS studies. This includes students who have AAS credits but may have discontinued their studies and still would like to make use of the work done in their respective field. As an added bonus, CUNY SPS also offers other credit transfer opportunities for experiences and skills gained outside the classroom, allowing all our students to pay less tuition and graduate quicker.

3. You’ll Learn on Your Own Schedule

BPS degree programs, since they are geared toward professionals who are working while in school, are often designed to be flexible. You’ll find a number of them are offered in an online or hybrid format, allowing you to take classes on your time and schedule.

Here at CUNY SPS, our own BPS program is fully asynchronous online, so our students can choose when and where they attend class and complete their coursework. It’s a great boost for working adults, many of whom are also juggling family and other life responsibilities alongside their job and education.

4. You’ll Move Up in Your Current Job or Field

All undergraduate programs seek to help students in their future careers, but the BPS’s focus on technical and professional skills geared for the workplace means that you’ll graduate prepared specifically for higher level managerial and supervisory positions in your field.

If you already have more than 3 years of working experience, you may find that a bachelor’s is even more necessary to move up the career ladder. The BPS degree is a great way to earn that diploma while honing the professional expertise that you’ll use throughout your entire career.

For example, here’s are just some of the fields that you’ll be able to move forward in with your CUNY SPS BPS degree:

• Accounting
• Graphic Design
• Marketing
• Computer Information Systems and Network Technologies
• Hospitality Management
• Engineering
• Tourism
• Healthcare
• Human Services

5. You’ll Be Ready to Start Your Own Business

If you’re an entrepreneur, the BPS is the best undergraduate degree that you can get. Not only will you earn the diploma that will open doors, you’ll graduate with the specific skills and expertise that will help you launch your own business or company. Not to mention that you’ll also attend school with a like-minded community of other entrepreneurs, providing a built-in support network that will be there for you before — and after — you graduate.

Curious? You can learn more about the BPS degree here. For more information about the CUNY SPS BPS in Applied Management and Entrepreneurship, visit here.