What Master’s Degree Should I Get?

07/30/2024

Build Your Own with a Master of Professional Studies

In today's fast-evolving job market, professionals often find themselves at a crossroads, trying to decide which degree will best propel their career forward. With traditional disciplines increasingly merging, the demand for versatile skill sets has never been higher.

Enter the Master of Professional Studies (M.P.S.) at Saint Louis University (SLU) — a unique graduate degree designed to empower you to tailor your education to your career ambitions. If your academic curiosity spans multiple interests and a traditional degree program won’t allow you to pursue them both, the M.P.S. could be the perfect solution. Keep reading to learn more about this innovative degree.

What Is a Master of Professional Studies?

The Master of Professional Studies (M.P.S.) at Saint Louis University is designed for those seeking to advance their career by acquiring expertise in more than one field of study. This multi-disciplinary degree allows you to tailor your education to match your precise interests and career goals.

“The modern workforce demands professionals with multidisciplinary skillsets,” says Dr. Matt Grawitch, director at SLU. “The MPS degree was designed to produce dynamic professionals who are prepared to make an immediate impact in their field.”

By choosing a primary area of study paired with a secondary focus, you can cultivate a unique blend of skills that meet the evolving demands of today's workplace. The M.P.S. program emphasizes applied research skills, evidence-based problem solving, and the integration of theory and practice across disciplines. This approach will not only broaden your perspective but also empower you to tackle complex problems with a solution-oriented mindset.

What Concentrations Are Available in the M.P.S. Degree?

Unlike conventional graduate programs that confine students to a fixed set of courses within a single discipline, the M.P.S. program allows you to pick and choose courses from a range of professionally focused concentrations. Your academic coach will help you create a custom educational pathway built around a primary and secondary concentration that directly align with your unique career aspirations.

Examples of available concentrations include (but are not limited to):

• Analytics
• Cybersecurity
• Evidence-Based Decision Making
• Information Systems
• Organizational Development
• Organizational Leadership
• Project Management
• Strategic Intelligence
• Emergency Management (Homeland Security)

Regardless of which disciplines you choose, you’ll gain transferable skills that will be immediately applicable. “Students in the M.P.S. program will acquire foundational, graduate-level expertise across their chosen areas of study,” Grawitch adds. “They’ll leave with the knowledge and skills to make better decisions in their field of interest.”

Why Is the M.P.S. Ideal for Adult Learners?

As a working professional, deciding what master’s degree to get involves a lot of factors. The subject matter is definitely important, but you also want to be set up to succeed. Consider the following ways the Master of Professional Studies at SLU is designed with adult students in mind.

1. Customizable Curriculum

“The biggest reason students choose the M.P.S. degree is because of the flexibility and customization,” says Grawitch. “It gives you the freedom to identify different concentration areas from our existing graduate programs and to combine them into your ideal master’s degree."

For those who have already gained valuable experience in the workforce and have a plan for where they’d like to grow their career, the ability to earn a tailor-made degree can put you on the fast track to achieving your professional aspirations. You could merge leadership and analytics, project management and information systems, strategic intelligence and emergency management, or dozens of other combinations to construct a curriculum that supports your goals.

2. Flexible Learning Options

The M.P.S. program is delivered fully online, making it accessible and convenient for adult learners regardless of where they’re located. With 24/7 access to the learning platform, you can fit your coursework into your schedule whenever and wherever you want.

SLU also offers multiple start dates per year so you can start your program as soon as you’re ready. Many adult learners find that the program’s 8-week courses make it easier to progress through the program at a faster pace. This allows you to focus your time and energy on one course at a time, fully mastering the concepts before moving on to the next. 

3. Top-Notch Support

When choosing a master’s degree – whether in person or online – it’s important to seek out a program that offers ample support. By joining SLU’s M.P.S. program, you’re welcomed into a supportive learning community dedicated to your success, offering personalized attention, mentorship, and resources to help you achieve your academic and professional goals.

Not only will you have a dedicated academic coach in your corner, but you’ll be guided by faculty members who are experts in their fields and truly care about your progress. From the day you enroll to the day you graduate and beyond, you’ll be supported every step of the way.

“Our faculty are active in the online learning platform and eager to help,” Grawitch explains. “You may be learning online, but you are not learning on your own.”

Design Your Own Master’s Degree at Saint Louis University

When deciding what master’s degree you should get, don’t box yourself in to just one field of study. Build a degree that’s as unique as your career goals, with a university that is committed to helping you achieve them.

With its customizable curriculum, flexible format, expert faculty, and comprehensive support, SLU has you covered. Learn more about the Master of Professional Studies and start designing your future today!

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