Welcome to the Department of Professional Studies. We offer a variety of programs to meet your academic and professional needs and invite you to explore our website for information and answers to your questions. Our programs are conveniently offered on-campus and off-campus throughout California and out-of-state. Most of our off-campus instruction is provided via distance learning modes of the Internet, video, integrated live instruction, and combinations of these three.
The Bachelor of Science Degree in Occupational Studies is targeted primarily towards employed persons serving in business, industry, labor, government and occupational education and teachers and counselors serving in the private and non-profit sectors. The BS program will help people to grow in their various occupational subject areas while gaining knowledge of respective training and development methods. Students will also learn to address problems of work-life education in an information and technological society. The primary goal of the program is to improve the competencies of human resource development personnel to design curriculum, to advise learners, to instruct in technical subjects, and to evaluate curriculum and learner performance.
Our Master of Arts Degree in Occupational Studies is available to qualified students preparing for professional careers in the fields of career, occupational, and vocational education. A major thrust is the development of qualified leadership personnel to serve workforce preparation programs in public and private education as well as related human resource development programs in business and industry.
The Master of Science Degree in Emergency Services Administration is designed to provide students with the conceptual foundation and managerial communication and analytical skills required for designing, testing, and implementing an effective response to workplace and community emergencies. Such emergencies may involve the potential loss of human life and property due to fire, explosion, the release of hazardous chemicals, structural failures, natural calamities, and terrorist acts. The program has two major purposes: (1) to provide an understanding of the administration and management of emergency managers, and (2) to prepare students for leadership roles in emergency disaster administration by stressing independent research, communication and writing skills, exposure to experts, and practical experiences of respected emergency services and disaster organizations. The intended audiences are practitioners from the public and private sectors who are engaged in the delivery or coordination of emergency services. The program is offered in the traditional classroom setting, and is enhanced with a careful blend of technology-assisted instruction.
The Designated Subjects Credential (DSC) program was developed to meet the competencies specified by the California Commission on Teacher Credentialing. The program is accredited by the National Council on the Accreditation of Teacher Education (NCATE). This two-level program first helps occupational and adult teachers develop survival-level classroom skills and then assists them in making the transition to full-time professional educators. All courses in the DSC program are applicable to bachelor's and master’s degrees, and are offered at times convenient to working individuals with families. Many of the courses that meet credential requirements are available in an on-line format. Housed under the Professional Studies Department, the program offers four types of credentials:
We thank you for your interest in our programs and invite you to learn more about us. If you have any questions or if you wish to apply for admission, please contact a member of our faculty or staff. We will be happy to assist you with your inquiry.
Sincerely,
Henry O'Lawrence, Ph.D.
Chair, Department of Professional Studies
College of Health and Human Services
