Continuing and Professional Studies

Executive Director, Continuing and Professional Studies: F.E. Congdon Jr.

Director, Academic Programs: E. Kolodner

Director, Marketing: K. Moran-Gannon

Director, Student Services: S.M. Calder

Director, Professional Education: T.E. Stasik

Director, Occupational Therapy Assistant Studies: M. Dahl

Continuing Studies at Philadelphia University is based on the philosophy that education is a lifelong experience influencing personal growth, career advancement or career change. Degree programs are designed to accommodate adult learners and their professional and personal obligations. Each term, students enroll in baccalaureate, associate and certificate programs on the Main Campus, Bucks Campus and off-campus locations.

To accommodate busy professional and personal schedules, courses are offered in accelerated evening and weekend sessions. Select courses are offered online. Special programs and tutoring services are available to help students adjust to the academic environment and strengthen skills in various content areas. Additionally, students who excel in their academic work are recognized on the dean’s list and in graduation honors.

The faculty and staff are committed to providing excellence in all phases of the academic experience. Continuing Studies strives to provide a challenging environment where students are able to reach their career and educational goals, as well as enrich their personal lives.

Accelerated Programs

B.S. Degree Completion Program

The Accelerated Bachelor of Science degree is designed to serve the educational needs of adult learners. Uniquely structured for adults with at least 30 previously earned college credits, this program offers Bachelor of Science degrees in: Behavioral and Health Services, Emergency Services Leadership, Health Sciences, Health Services Management, Human Resource Management, Information Technology, Law Enforcement Leadership, Organizational Leadership and Pre-MBA. The program features eight-week terms, transfer of 60 or more credits from previously attended colleges and universities and ongoing academic advising and personal attention.

A.S. in Occupational Therapy Assistant Studies

This 69-credit program prepares individuals to practice as an occupational therapy assistant in a variety of settings with people of all ages. The program features accelerated eight week academic terms, five clinical fieldwork experiences and intensive guidance by faculty and mentors. Lecture and laboratory classes are scheduled two evenings per week and Saturday mornings. Students may complete the program in 23 months. Curricular themes permeate all courses and key professional concepts are continually reinforced. Fall entry only.

Certificate Programs

Certificates are beneficial for individuals seeking the basic knowledge and skills required for an entry-level position in a specific field. They are valuable for those seeking additional competencies to enhance their careers. For some individuals, certificate programs are useful as preparation for admission into one of the University’s degree programs.

Candidates are required to earn a “C” or better in all certificate courses. A maximum of six semester credits can be transferred from other accredited institutions. Students may complete the certificate program by itself or use the credits as part of a degree program.

In order to be awarded a certificate, students must apply for admission to the program before beginning the third course. Students who choose to complete the requirements of two or more certificates may apply one overlap course to both certificates.

Non-Degree Studies

Continuing Studies students who are not interested in working toward a degree or certificate, but who wish to take courses at the University to learn new skills for professional or personal development, are welcome to take evening and weekend courses, provided prerequisites are satisfied or waived.

Bucks County Campus

The Bucks County satellite campus is located in the Bucks County Technology Park, 4800 E. Street Road in Trevose, Pa. 19053. Easily accessible to residents of Lower Bucks County and Northeast Philadelphia, this campus location has been designed to serve the educational and career needs of adult students. Courses are offered in the evening and on Saturdays to accommodate the schedules of adults who balance a full calendar of professional and personal responsibilities. Academic advising, registration, book sales, library services and computer labs are all available at this location. To schedule an advising appointment, call 215.953.4500.

Summer Sessions

The Office of Continuing and Professional Studies offers day and evening classes from May through August during one 12-week and two 6-week sessions. Accelerated courses are offered in an eight week term within the summer schedule. Summer courses allow students to accelerate their degree programs, compensate for interruptions in their studies, facilitate career advancement or enrich their personal interests. Accelerated courses are offered in an eight-week term within the summer schedule.

Information is available through the Office of Continuing and Professional Studies or by calling 215.951.2900 or email evening@PhilaU.edu.

On-Site Partnership Programs

The Office of Continuing and Professional Studies is committed to designing and delivering customized, credit-bearing educational programs for corporations and organizations with sufficient employees to enroll ten or more students per class at the location of their choice. Companies and organizations that are interested in exploring this unique program should contact Frank Congdon, executive director of Continuing and Professional Studies, at 215.951.2902 to arrange a program assessment meeting.

B.S. Accelerated Degree Program

Accelerated programs and courses are only available to CPS students

The Office of Continuing and Professional Studies offers an accelerated degree completion program of 60 credits for working professionals. The courses are offered in eight week terms and focus on adult general education requirements, professional competencies, a choice of nine majors, and a limited choice of electives. Candidates for admission to this program must have previously earned 30-60 credits from regionally accredited institutions. Candidates must demonstrate competency in writing, mathematics, information systems, humanities, history, science and social science. Students can accumulate credits toward their first 60 credits through existing university coursework, pre-approved transfer coursework, CLEP examination and prior-learning assessment and pre-approved independent study. Candidates are required to complete an application and related materials, attend an individual interview and write a personal statement. Transcript evaluations are an integral part of this process.

General Education (15 credits) 

Continuing Professional Studies Core (18 credits)

Major – select one 15 credit option below (15 credits)

Free Electives (12 credits)

Transfer Credits 60 credits

CREDIT TOTAL 120 credits

Program Majors

Behavioral and Health Services (15 credits)

Choose 5 of 6 listed courses

Health Services Management (15 credits)

Human Resource Management (15 credits)

Information Technology (15 credits)

Organizational Leadership (15 credits)

Pre M.B.A. (15 credits)

Health Sciences (15-16 credits)

Choose 5 of 6 listed courses:

Note:

The Professional Studies core for this major is:

Required:

Law Enforcement Leadership (15 credits)

Leadership in Emergency Services (15 credits)

The B.S. Accelerated Degree Programs check sheet can be found on page 159.

Associate in Science: Business Administration

Evening only – Available to existing students and employees only.

College Studies (21-23 credits)

For Quantitative Reasoning select one two-course sequence:

Business and Economics Core (30 credits)

Free Electives (9 credits)

CREDIT TOTAL: 60-62

*Prerequisites are listed after the course name in parentheses.

The Associate in Science: Business Administration check sheet can be found on page 163.

Associate in Science: Health and Human Services

Restricted Enrollment

This 60 credit program builds on technical training programs that have been approved by the Pennsylvania Department of Education for post-secondary credit and that have articulation agreements with the University.

District 1199C Training and Upgrading Fund

Core Competencies

Major Concentration

CREDIT TOTAL: 60

The Associate in Science: Health and Human Services check sheet can be found on page 165.

Jewish Employment and Vocational Services

Orleans Technical Institute

Core Compentencies

Major Concentration Category

Credit Total 60

The Jewish Employment and Vocational Services check sheet can be found on page167

Accelerated A.S. in Occupational Therapy Assistant Studies

This 69-credit program prepares individuals to practice as an occupational therapy assistant in a variety of settings with people of all ages. The program features accelerated eight week academic terms, five clinical fieldwork experiences and intensive guidance by faculty and mentors. Lecture and laboratory classes are scheduled two evenings per week and Saturday mornings. Students may complete the program in 23 months. Curricular themes permeate all courses and key professional concepts are continually reinforced. Fall entry only.

Candidates for admission are required to submit an application that includes a resume, personal statement and evidence of two OT site visits (forms included in application packet) as well as participate in an individual interview.

The occupational therapy assistant studies program at Philadelphia University has applied for accreditation and has been granted Developing Program Status by the Accreditation Council for Occupational Therapy Education (ACOTE) of the American Occupational Therapy Association (AOTA), located at 4720 Montgomery Lane, P.O. Box 31220, Bethesda, MD 20824-1220. ACOTE’s telephone number c/o AOTA is (301) 652-AOTA.Once accreditation of the program is obtained, graduates will be eligible to sit for the national certification examination for the occupational therapy assistant administered by the National Board for Certification in Occupational Therapy( NBCOT) examination. After successful completion of this exam, the graduate will be a Certified Occupational Therapy Assistant (COTA). In addition, most states require licensure in order to practice; however, state licenses are usually based on the results of the NBCOT Certification Examination. Note that a felony conviction may affect a graduate’s ability to sit for the NBCOT certification examination or attain state licensure.

FIRST YEAR COURSEWORK (33 credits) 

SECOND YEAR COURSEWORK (36 credits)

* pending course approval as per University policy

The Accelerated A.S. in Occupational Therapy Assistant Studies check sheet can be found on page 169.

Post-Baccalaureate Certificate: Accounting

Pennsylvania requires a bachelor’s degree and 24 credits of accounting to sit for the C.P.A. examination. The Accounting Certificate program is designed for individuals who have a bachelor’s degree in a field other than accounting and who wish to take the C.P.A. examination. Students should be aware that experience in public accounting is also required for certification. Students who apply to this program must have a bachelor’s degree. Students should consult an advisor for current requirements.

CREDIT TOTAL: 24

Please note that the requirements for the C.P.A. examination are being evaluated for change and therefore, could impact changes in the above courses in the future. Consult with an adviser before finalizing your program. Students will need to enroll in late afternoon and summer school classes to complete requirements as evening classes are no longer available.

The Post-Baccalaureate Certificate in Accounting check sheet can be found on page 175.