Online Bachelor of General Professional Studies
Apply Credits to Your Bachelor’s Degree in General Professional Studies
100% Online
18 Months
39 Major Credit Hours
$450 per Credit Hour
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Complete this form to receive information about coursework, admissions, tuition and more.
Our Faculty Guide Your Journey to a Meaningful Career
- Apply By: 01/11/2027
- Start Class: 01/11/2027
If you’re ready to earn your degree but still haven’t decided on a career, you aren’t alone. With Benedictine University’s online bachelor’s in general professional studies program, you’ll find your path in our supportive community. Learn from faculty who know your name, identify your strengths and guide you in developing a portfolio that demonstrates your career-readiness.
Benedictine offers eight-week terms, with asynchronous courses designed to fit your life. You can access academic support to stay on track to graduation and move toward the purpose you came here to find. Along the way, you’ll build versatile competencies rooted in strong values, earning a bachelor’s degree that reflects the principled person and professional you’ll become.
Program Highlights
- Transfer your credits.
- Enjoy convenient online learning.
- Gain valuable professional competencies.
- Experience a program designed for busy working adults.
- Accelerate your career growth with a bachelor’s degree.
Professional Studies Degree Program Highlights
Curriculum
Discover Engaging, Fully Online Professional Studies Courses
39 Major Credit Hours
120 Total Credit Hours
In your online general professional studies degree, you’ll learn from videos, podcasts, personalized content and other interactive media. Each course helps you develop targeted professional competencies. Then, your instructors will help you put together a comprehensive portfolio that showcases resilience, adaptability and readiness to thrive.
Course Highlights
- GPS 3400 Cognitive Flexibility & Problem Solving I
- GPS 3700 Cognitive Flexibility & Problem Solving II
- GPS 4000 Emotional Intelligence, Collaboration & Success
- GPS 4100 Language and Culture: Navigating Differences
- GPS 3200 Sustainability & Citizenship
Admissions Requirements
Apply for the General Professional Studies Degree Quickly and Easily
Application Deadline January 11, 2027
Start Date January 11, 2027
From application to graduation, we want your experience at Benedictine to be great. When you’re ready to apply to your program, complete a free online application and provide the required documents. You’ll need official transcripts showing at least a 2.0 GPA to apply for the bachelor’s degree in general professional studies.
Call us at (866) 295-3104 or request information to speak with an enrollment counselor who can guide you through the decision and admissions process.
| Online Application Form | Apply Now |
|---|---|
| Degree | Associate degree preferred but not required. |
| Transcripts | Submit official transcripts from your previous regionally accredited institution(s) with a minimum cumulative GPA of 2.0 based on a 4.0 system. |
| Transfer Credits | Awarding of credit is determined through the process of transfer credit evaluation and/or program/departmental approval. Students pursuing this major will need to complete general electives to fulfill the University requirement for 120 credit hours toward graduation. |
| Credit for Work/Life Experience | Students can submit Prior Learning Assessment (PLA) portfolios for a maximum of 12 general elective credit hours.
|
International Students
We welcome international students into the B.A. in General Professional Studies program. For admission, prospective international students must submit proof of English proficiency. Visit the Undergraduate International Admission page for more information about application materials, procedures and requirements.
| Undergraduate TOEFL/IELTS Requirements | Undergraduate international students must meet the following TOEFL or IELTS requirements:
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Tuition & Aid
Explore Tuition for the Online Bachelor’s in General Professional Studies
Calculate your cost for attending BenU Use our tuition calculator to help you estimate your total tuition costs.
Benedictine University’s online bachelor’s degree in general professional studies is an affordable way to position yourself for advancement. We make it possible to invest in your education so you can complete your bachelor’s degree, elevate your salary potential and pursue rewarding new career opportunities.
| Cost per Credit Hour | $450 |
|---|---|
| Total Credit Hours (Major) | 39 |
| Total Estimated Tuition (Major), Without Fees | $17,550 |
| Student Services Fee | $40 per credit hour |
| Other Costs to Budget For | Textbooks, course supplies and loan fees are not included in the tuition estimate. |
Proud to Support Our Military Students
Benedictine University is grateful for the service of the men and women of the U.S. military. We participate in the Yellow Ribbon program and offer a Military Scholarship to active-duty and veteran service members. Additionally, our admissions team can help you make the most of the education benefits available through the Department of Veterans Affairs.
We strive to provide valuable returns as you progress through your online program and career. To make your program cost-effective, we can help you explore financial aid options, scholarships, military benefits and more. Plus, learn how tuition reimbursement programs help you save money while earning a career-aligned degree.
Tuition Details“I was extremely impressed with how much the professors invested in their curriculums as they were all curated for the program – they were easy to navigate with an appropriately challenging workload.”
–Phil Coote, GPS Major, BA – Benedictine University, Class of 2022
Boost Your Career Prospects and Salary Potential
The competencies you acquire during your online bachelor’s degree in general professional studies can transfer to diverse industries and fields, such as business, communications, education, government, health care, social services and more.
Your bachelor’s degree leads to a higher salary potential in nearly any career. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, individuals with an associate degree made $1,058 per week in 2023, while those with a bachelor’s degree made $1,493.1
Explore CareersPotential Jobs for General Professional Studies Graduates
Project Management Specialist $100,750 2023 median annual wage2
Human Resources Specialist $72,910 2023 median annual wage3
What You’ll Learn
Because each professional studies course is structured around competencies, you’ll focus on building specific capabilities. You’ll be able to create tangible artifacts showing mastery of those competencies and collect them in a portfolio.
Program Outcomes
Benedictine’s online B.A. in General Professional Studies helps you achieve the following competencies for each course.
- Prioritize resources to meet commitments. Anticipate and persist through difficult and complex situations.
- Embrace change, manage multiple demands and adapt ideas or different approaches suitable to changing circumstances.
- Assess the significance and the impact of decisions on individuals, communities and the natural world both now and into the future.
- Distill large amounts of disparate and/or complex content into refined information and good design.
- Evaluate and apply appropriate decision frameworks based on assessing the task at hand.
- Seek relevant, credible background knowledge to support critical thinking and decision making.
- Lead, cultivate and participate actively with diverse groups of people toward a shared goal. Communicate effectively and seek a variety of perspectives.
- Focus on enriching the lives of individuals, building better organizations and promoting the common good in morally responsible ways.
“The fully online program was fantastic! It allowed me to work, stay connected with my family, and complete the program at my own pace. I never thought I could achieve what I did, but it was an incredible experience.”
–Tanya Barrett, GPS Major, BA – Benedictine University, Class of 2023
A recent survey of the American Association of Colleges and Universities showed that 91% of employers value a candidate’s capacity to think critically, communicate clearly, and solve problems much more than they valued any particular undergraduate major.
We are cultivating the kinds of qualities that you want to have in the members of your team.
Communication skills, interpretation skills, teamwork skills that are at the center of business success.
And our recent graduates have affirmed that the training that we’ve given really has helped them.
The data tells a very different story than the conventional wisdom about the value of a liberal arts degree.
As GPS Director, I’m truly proud of the program we’ve built.
The GPS in your car helps you find your way in the road.
The GPS program at Benedict University helps you find a path forward in your career.
Your Guide to the B.A. in General Professional Studies (GPS)
In this video, Martin Tracey, PhD, the Director of General Professional Studies and Professor of Philosophy at Benedictine University, walks you through how the GPS program prepares students for a promising future.
Our Faculty Sees You, Believes in You and Guides Your Journey
Our faculty members teach in the spirit of a storied Benedictine tradition of accompanying people through change. You’ll learn from distinguished instructors and industry leaders who mentor with humility and hospitality, listen before lecturing, and draw on deep experience to guide your growth. From the first day of class, all of our faculty know your name and provide steady support as you become the person and professional you’re meant to be.
Martin Tracey, Ph.D., Director of General Professional Studies; Board Member, International Albertus Magnus Society; Member, American Philosophical Association; Member, Association for Core Texts and Courses
Faculty Spotlight: Martin Tracey, Ph.D.
Martin Tracey, PhD, is Director of General Professional Studies and Professor of Philosophy at Benedictine University. His scholarly research concerns the moral thought of medieval Latin intellectuals such as Albertus Magnus and Thomas Aquinas. A veteran teacher and administrator, Dr. Tracey teaches courses on a range of subjects including business ethics, environmental ethics, and ancient Greek philosophy. His recent teaching includes the courses “Anti-Misinformation” and “Philosophy of Artificial Intelligence.
Education
- Ph.D. (medieval philosophy), University of Notre Dame
- M.A. (medieval studies), University of Notre Dame
- M.A. (religious studies), University of Chicago
- B.A. (theology), University of Notre Dame
Sources
- U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. “Employment Projections: Education Pays.” August 29, 2024. Retrieved January 21, 2025, from https://www.bls.gov/emp/chart-unemployment-earnings-education.htm.
- U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. “Project Management Specialists.” April 18, 2025. Retrieved May 15, 2025, from https://www.bls.gov/ooh/business-and-financial/project-management-specialists.htm.
- U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. “Human Resources Specialists.” April 18, 2025. Retrieved May 15, 2025, from https://www.bls.gov/ooh/business-and-financial/human-resources-specialists.htm.