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Michael J. Frasciello, Dean
700 University Ave.
parttime.syr.edu

About the College

The College of Professional Studies is the home of part-time and professional studies at Syracuse University. The College offers market-sensitive and professionally focused online and residential undergraduate degrees, graduate degrees, credit certificates, and work-force ready alternative credentials, such as badges, micro-degrees, non-credit certificates, and executive education. The College also offers unique and innovative pre-college programs for high school students, and language and cultural development programs for matriculated and non-matriculated international students. Part-time residential undergraduate and graduate students attending Syracuse University schools and colleges are supported by the College of Professional Studies’ academic administrative services team.

Undergraduate Programs

Degrees

Part-time Syracuse University students earning an associate or bachelor’s degree may enroll for 11 or fewer credits each semester. Students have the option of taking day, evening, online, or flexible format classes.  Click here for a complete listing of all degree programs available to part-time students.

College of Professional Studies’ Bachelor of Professional Studies (BPS.). degrees are innovative, market-sensitive, career-focused programs available online or in a blended format. BPS degrees are designed specifically for part-time studies.

Certificates

College of Professional Studies undergraduate credit certificate programs are available online and or in a blended format. All undergraduate credit certificates are designed as an interim stackable credentials toward degree completion and as stand-alone certificates.

General Regulations 

For academic rules and regulations applying to all University students, see the Academic Rules section of this catalog, which also contains special regulations that apply to College of Professional Studies students. The regulations below apply to all students matriculated through the College of Professional Studies for the Bachelor of Professional Studies degrees, certificates and minors.

The College of Professional Studies participates in students’ knowledge and skill development through the Shared Competencies, Syracuse University’s institutional learning goals that highlight the knowledge and skills students can expect to gain through their major courses and liberal arts requirements.

Minimum Requirements for Degree, Certificates and Minors

At least 120 credits of coursework are required for the BPS degrees. To be eligible for graduation, BPS students must attain a minimum grade point average (GPA) of 2.0 in courses taken at Syracuse University. Students must earn a grade point average of at least 2.0 in courses counted toward completion of their program of study.

Minimum Requirements for Certificate

At least 15 credits of coursework are required for the certificates. To be eligible for graduation, certificate students must attain a minimum grade point average (GPA) of 2.0 in courses taken at Syracuse University. Students must earn a grade point average of at least 2.0 in courses counted toward completion of their certificate.

Minimum Requirements for Minors

College of Professional Studies minors are open to all Syracuse University undergraduate students in good standing. Minors require a minimum of 18 credit hours, 12 of which must be in 300- to 400-level coursework. No courses may be taken as pass/fail. Students must declare the minor no later than the first semester of junior year. At least 12 upper division credits must be uniquely counted toward the minor. The remaining 6 credits may be shared with the major.

Declaring a Program of Study

BPS students must declare a program of study by the time they have reached junior standing.

Prior Learning Assessment for Bachelor of Professional Studies

Under the guidelines of the Council for Adult and Experiential Learning (CAEL), The College of Professional Studies recognizes that adult students may bring with them transfer credits from accredited American colleges and universities, credits from approved institutions in other countries, performance in college-level or proficiency examinations and/or prior college-level learning gained from work and life experiences.

A maximum of 30 credits from the combination of advanced credit, prior learning assessment and/or credits earned through nontraditional programs may be applied toward the number of credits required for graduation. These credits may not be applied to the 30-credit residency requirement. A maximum of 12 transfer or other credits may be applied in the program of study.

Students must be matriculated in a BPS program to apply for prior learning assessment by developing a portfolio of prior college-level learning that identifies and documents the learning and how it applies to the individual’s degree program. Further information is available from Office of Online Student Success, 315-443-3256.

Transfer Credit Policy

Undergraduate students must complete a minimum of 60% of their Bachelor of Professional Studies major (concentration program of study; professional concentration) requirements at Syracuse University. No more than three credit hours earned in another college or university may be accepted to the credit certificate program requirements. A maximum of 90 transfer credits will be accepted, of which a maximum of 66 credits may come from a two-year college and any combination of other credit (e.g., AP exams, experiential learning).

Bachelor of Professional Studies

Associate dean: Ryan O. Williams, Associate Dean of Academic Affairs, Professor of Practice, College of Professional Studies, rywillia@syr.edu

Program Questions, contact the College of Professional Studies at 315-443-9378, or email parttime@syr.edu

The College of Professional Studies provides part-time students with personalized academic advising, financial aid, registration, and bursar services. To find out how you can earn an SU degree part-time or to begin by taking a course, attend an Information Session, call for an appointment with an academic advisor (315-443-3261), or e-mail parttime@syr.edu. 

Office of Pre-College Programs

High school students can explore college majors and potential careers in college-level courses at Syracuse University. In the Accelerated Semester Online program, high school students can take 3-credit 8-week online courses during the academic year. In the Summer College program, high school students are immersed in the full college experience and can choose from 70+ credit and noncredit courses in ten of Syracuse University’s schools and colleges. For more information, contact the Office of Pre-College Programs at 315-443-5000 or precollege@syr.edu, and visit https://precollege.syr.edu/.

Winterlude

Winterlude is a four-week session between fall and spring semesters. All classes are delivered fully online. Taking a Winterlude class provides students the opportunity to take a course they could not enroll in during other semesters.  Additionally, students visiting from other colleges can, with permission from their home school, take an SU Winterlude class and transfer their credits to their own university. The Winterlude class schedule and registration is available to students through MySlice.

For more information, visit http://winter.syr.edu

Office of International Programs

David Lind, Director
700 University Avenue

English Language Institute

English Language Institute (ELI) courses are designed for international students and professionals who are interested in short-term or long-term study to improve their English skills. This full-time intensive program is offered through the College of Professional Studies. Five levels of Academic English courses are offered. Many of the students have been conditionally admitted to Syracuse University and need to increase their English proficiency before enrolling in a degree program. Completion of the level 4 (high intermediate) course will waive the university’s TOEFL requirement for most undergraduate and some graduate programs.

Highly qualified instructors, a great deal of personal attention and intensive exposure to English language instruction enable students to make the necessary progress. Enrollment is limited and admission is by application only. For more information about the ELI, call 315-443-8571, email elimail@syr.edu, or visit the website at eli.syr.edu.

International Pathway Programs 

The Office of International Programs offers alternative pathways into Syracuse University for international students.  The College of Professional Studies leads the International Year One (iY-1) Program, for which qualified students begin Syracuse University classes in their home countries, usually their hometowns, taking credit-bearing courses, language lessons and culture, and study skill modules from Syracuse University faculty and local teachers in target countries. Classes will be taught in a hybrid format, with in person classes in country and online classes with Syracuse University professors. Upon successful completion of the program and requirements met, students progress to the Syracuse University campus or other partner institutions in the U.S. where they complete their undergraduate degree.

Arthur O. Eve HEOP

The Arthur O. Eve Higher Education Opportunity Program (HEOP) for part-time students, administered by the College of Professional Studies, is designed for first-time college students and transfer students from other opportunity programs. It provides academic and financial support for people of all ages who, because of educational and economic circumstances, would otherwise be unable to attend college. This is the only HEOP program for students who can study on a part-time basis in New York State.

For more information on the HEOP program, call 315-443-3261 or visit the web site.

College of Professional Studies Honors

The College of Professional celebrates the accomplishments of students who achieve extraordinary success in their studies with the following forms of recognition.

Alpha Sigma Lambda - Matriculated part-time candidates for the bachelor’s degree may be invited to join Alpha Sigma Lambda, the national honor society for continuing education students, represented at SU by the Beta Delta chapter. To qualify, part-time students who have earned at least 24 credits, have maintained a 3.2 GPA, and are in the top 10-20% of the class may be selected as initiates.

Dean’s List - Matriculated part-time students enrolled at the College of Professional Studies are selected for the dean’s list at the end of the fall or spring semester, if they have enrolled in consecutive semesters with a total of 12 or more credits and earned a 3.4 GPA.

University Honors - Students who achieve superior cumulative GPAs are eligible to receive their degree with University Honors. This honor is based on a minimum of 60 credits of letter-graded classes taken at Syracuse University.

See the current issue of Academic Rules  for a complete statement of University policies and requirements.

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