Writing, BA (Professional Studies)

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Degree Completion Programs

The St. Clare Professional Studies Program is directed principally to meet the educational needs of non-traditional students. PS gives students the flexibility to design their degree work to achieve personal, career and life goals. Academically, PS focuses on the depth of the student’s educational experience, as well as on the rigor of the classroom attained through innovative learning activities, relevant curricula and challenging instructional outcomes.

Delivery of Instruction for PS:

The St. Clare Professional Studies Program at Quincy University offer students the opportunity to complete courses as well as complete degree programs in a timely fashion without compromising other responsibilities or obligations in their lives. Using a variety of different delivery strategies, instruction is offered with the needs of the working adult in mind.

The subject matter in PS courses is the same as in their traditional equivalents. The uniqueness of PS is in the delivery of the course content. Although accelerated learning is one of the primary delivery strategies used in PS courses, it is not the only delivery strategy employed. Online and other forms of technology-enhanced courses are also incorporated into the curriculum as are weekend and short-term courses.

The University offers support courses for PS programs to allow a student to complete the first two years of college work during the evenings and on weekends on the Quincy University campus. These courses will ordinarily be PS versions of courses listed elsewhere in the catalog. These courses arepublished in the course schedule for each PS session.

PS Admissions Process:

Individuals wishing to enroll in the St. Clare Professional Studies Program must:

be out of high school at least seven years or be twenty-four years of age
provide official transcripts for all prior collegiate work;
have completed an applicable Associate degree program or 60 transferable credits with a cumulative grade point average (GPA) of 2.0 or better; and
complete a Quincy University Application for Admissions and submit it to the Office of Nontraditional and Adult Studies.

Applicants not meeting all admissions requirements for PS may request, in writing, provisional admission. For further information on protocols for provisional admissions, consult with the Coordinator of Adult Studies.

The University’s Office of Non-traditional and Adult Studies will process the Application for Admission, with the student being notified in writing upon completion of the process. Upon admission to PS, each student will be assigned an advisor who will subsequently be available to assist with developing degree completion strategies.

PS Tuition and Fees (see Financial Policies):

Tuition is per semester hour. (NOTE: PS students may qualify for financial aid assistance. Contact the University’s Office of Student Financial Services, 1-800-688-4295, ext. 3750, for more information.)
A graduation application fee (non-refundable). Late or reapplication fees may also apply.

Program Requirements:

General requirements for a baccalaureate degree and writing requirements . Students who have earned the Associate in Arts or Associate in Science degree in a baccalaureate transfer program will have satisfied all freshman and sophomore Bonaventure Program requirements with the exception of Theology. Students enrolled in the PS are not required to complete the Service Learning requirement.
Applicable degree requirements specified in the curriculum of the respective disciplines.
120 semester hours of approved academic coursework, including 6 semester hours of Theology.

It is possible to demonstrate competence in certain areas of study by means of the College Level Examination Program (CLEP). The PS will accept such credit providing the student scores in the 50th percentile or better in each of the examinations presented.

Quincy University will also grant credit in certain cases for professional or life experiences which can be related to specific courses at the University. Such credit is called Credit for Academically Related Experiences (CARE) and must be approved by the CARE Credit Committee and the Vice President for Academic Affairs (limited to 12 credit hours).

Students enrolled in the PS must adhere to University provisions regarding Academic Standing as well as those regarding Graduation.

The Writing major is intended to advance the writing skills of students through a cross-disciplinary approach giving a varied experience with practice in multiple types of writing. The goal of the Professional Degree in Writing (PDW) program is to promote fluency and versatility in writing through critical, creative, and strategic thinking. This degree completion program prepares students for a variety of careers that value high levels of writing proficiency.

Sixty hours of approved coursework are required with forty-eight hours in writing, six hours of theology, and six hours of electives. Courses will be offered online in a rotating schedule over fall, spring, and summer sessions. Students will work closely with their academic advisor on an individual degree plan for completion of the program.

A grade of “C-” or higher is required for all courses in the major.