"Professional studies" is a term used to classify academic programs which are applied or interdisciplinary in focus. The term can also be used for non-academic training for a specific

profession A profession is a field of Work (human activity), work that has been successfully professionalized. It can be defined as a disciplined group of individuals, professionals, who adhere to ethical standards and who hold themselves out as, and are ...

. Research on professionals can be seen as a multidisciplinary field of research with a multiple of perspectives in theory and by methods. Professional studies usually combine theory and

practice-based professional learning Practice-based professional learning (PBPL) is understood in contrast to classroom- or theory-based learning. It is kindred to terms such as work-based learning, workplace or work-centred learning. Distinctive, though, are a concern for professiona ...

, focusing on a body of knowledge that is more strictly delineated and canonical than non-professional studies. Students are trained to ensure expected

standards Standard may refer to: Symbols * Colours, standards and guidons, kinds of military signs * Standard (emblem), a type of a large symbol or emblem used for identification Norms, conventions or requirements * Standard (metrology), an object t ...

and adequate service delivery in the

best practice A best practice is a method or technique that has been generally accepted as superior to alternatives because it tends to produce superior results. Best practices are used to achieve quality as an alternative to mandatory standards. Best practice ...

of a profession. One aspect of professional action that has been widely studied in professional studies is tacit knowledge (cf. Polyani 1967), including professional judgment, discretion or fronesis, a term from the Greek philosopher

Aristotle Aristotle (; 384–322 BC) was an Ancient Greek philosophy, Ancient Greek philosopher and polymath. His writings cover a broad range of subjects spanning the natural sciences, philosophy, linguistics, economics, politics, psychology, a ...

, also called practical intelligence or knowledge (see Dunne 1997; McGuirk 2013). Professional studies may lead to

academic degrees An academic degree is a qualification awarded to a student upon successful completion of a course of study in higher education, usually at a college or university. These institutions often offer degrees at various levels, usually divided into un ...

such as the Bachelor of Professional Studies (BPS), Master of Professional Studies (MPS), or

Doctor of Professional Studies The Doctor of Professional Studies (or sometimes awarded as Doctorate in Professional Practice) (most commonly DProf, DProfPrac or ProfD, but also available as DProfSt, ProfD and DPS) is a doctoral degree for experienced professionals who wish to ...

(DPS). A BPS is similar to a Bachelor of General Studies with a greater emphasis on practical and technical training (and a corresponding lower emphasis on

liberal arts Liberal arts education () is a traditional academic course in Western higher education. ''Liberal arts'' takes the term ''skill, art'' in the sense of a learned skill rather than specifically the fine arts. ''Liberal arts education'' can refe ...

), and therefore of greater interest to mid-career students. MPS degrees are usually course-based with a report or project component rather than a research

thesis A thesis (: theses), or dissertation (abbreviated diss.), is a document submitted in support of candidature for an academic degree or professional qualification presenting the author's research and findings.International Standard ISO 7144: D ...

. The US National Science Foundation considers a DPS to be equivalent to a

PhD A Doctor of Philosophy (PhD, DPhil; or ) is a terminal degree that usually denotes the highest level of academic achievement in a given discipline and is awarded following a course of graduate study and original research. The name of the deg ...

. In Germany, new higher professional degrees were introduced at the beginning of 2020. The new Bachelor Professional and Master Professional have been equivalent to other bachelor's and master's degrees. The basis for this are §§ 53c and d of the Vocational Training Act (BBiG).

Professional Studies Certificate

Some music schools like Curtis Institute of Music offer postgraduate programs that result in a ''Professional Studies Certificate''. Other schools, like the

Manhattan School of Music The Manhattan School of Music (MSM) is a private music conservatory A music school is an educational institution specialized in the study, training, and research of music. Such an institution can also be known as a school of music, music a ...

require a master's degree or postgraduate diploma in order to attend the program.

External links

Bachelor of Professional Studies

References

Vocational education {{Edu-stub be:Прафесазнаўства be-tarask:Прафесазнаўства mk:Стручни студии

Professional Studies Certificate

See also

External links

Further reading

References