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The Master of Professional Studies degree is a customizable, fully online graduate degree program in high-demand professional content areas that provides working professionals with targeted choices that fill a need for in-demand credentials desired by employers and prepares you for life and work in a cutting-edge marketplace and an ever-changing world.

The Master of Professional Studies – a 30-credit hour, fully online program – allows learners to select two graduate certificates and create their own customized curriculum relevant to today’s market, their interests and their career goals. The stackable certificate/modular approach is geared toward today’s busy professional who may be looking for a more convenient, flexible and specialized alternative to a traditional MBA program.

How it works

Learners pursue two complementary 12-credit graduate certificates in the content areas of their choice. The remaining 6 credits to complete the master’s degree consist of two core courses: a 3-credit Managerial and Leadership Skills course and a 3-credit Integrated Capstone course. The entire master’s degree can be completed in as few as 12 months on a full-time basis, or at the student’s own pace on a part-time basis.

For example:

Strategic Leadership & Analytics Certificate + Human Resource Management Certificate + 2 Modular Master’s core courses = Master of Science in Strategic Leadership & Analytics and Human Resource Management.

Certificates Available

There are six certificate options currently available to students interested in completing a Master of Professional Studies degree. Upon completion of the two certificates and the two three-credit Modular Master’s core courses, students will graduate with a master’s degree that combines their two chosen content areas.

Dietetic Internship

The Dietetic Internship can be applied toward the Master of Professional Studies degree. Please see the Nutrition Department for details.

Learn more about the Dietetic Internship. 

Diversity and Women’s Leadership (Online or Hybrid Format)

This 12-credit graduate certificate provides a distinctive blend of emphasis on workplace gender equity with an emphasis on women’s leadership, cross-cultural challenges and Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DEI) leadership. Diverse and inclusive organizations not only better serve their employees through ethical workplace hiring and culture, but also offer enhanced performance towards organizational goals.

Learn more about the Diversity and Women’s Leadership Certificate.

Health Care Management (Online)

Through this 12-credit graduate certificate, students will gain an understanding of assessing the service needs of the local population, addressing workforce and supply chain challenges, and assuring compliance with legal and ethical requirements. Managing these crucial success factors can help develop strategic leadership initiatives to successfully position health care organizations for future success.

Learn more about the Health Care Management Certificate.

Human Resource Management (Online)

Effective and ethical use of human resources within an organization is crucial to its success. This 12-credit graduate certificate allows learners from a wide array of career fields to gain the expertise to understand the strategic use of human resources within the organization.

Learn more about the Human Resource Management Certificate

Management Information Systems (Online)

CURRENTLY ONLY AVAILABLE THROUGH DIRECTED STUDY.  Management Information Systems are increasingly central to modern businesses and organizations. This 12-credit graduate certificate allows learners from a wide array of career fields to gain the expertise to understand how the strategic use of information creates value for the organization.

Learn more about the Management Information Systems Certificate

Strategic Leadership (Online or Hybrid Format)

This 12-credit graduate certificate provides students with the skills necessary to lead organizations strategically and ethically while considering success factors such as supply chain, organizational right-sizing, market appropriateness and working across international boundaries to achieve business objectives.

Learn more about the Strategic Leadership and Analytics Certificate

Dive A Little Deeper

Program Requirements

Courses Required

BUA 500 Managerial and Leadership Skills (3 credits)
BUA 650 Integrated Practicum (3 credits)
Completion of any two 12-credit graduate certificates offered at Cedar Crest (24 credits)

Tuition & Fees
Admissions Requirements

General Admissions Information

Students are admitted to graduate programs at Cedar Crest College on the basis of individual qualifications.

Applications for the Master of Professional Studies are accepted and reviewed on a rolling basis. Students are admitted to the program in the fall, fall II, spring, spring II, and summer I sessions.

Application materials and all correspondence relating to admission should be sent to:
Cedar Crest College
School of Adult and Graduate Education
100 College Drive
Blaney Hall, Room 212
Allentown, PA 18104-6196
Phone: 610-740-3770
Email:
Office Hours: Monday-Thursday 8:30 am-6:30 pm; Friday 8:30 am-4:30 pm

International applicants should send materials and correspondence to:
Cedar Crest College
International Admissions
100 College Drive
Allen House, Room 202
Allentown, PA 18104-6196
Phone: 610-606-4666, ext. 4587
Email:
Office Hours: Monday-Friday 8:30 am-4:30 pm

Applicants and prospective students may contact the admissions office to schedule a campus tour or in-person, online, or phone appointment with an admissions counselor.

Please see the Admission of Students section at the beginning of the catalog for more information related to admissions processes and policies.

Master of Professional Studies Application Requirements
To be considered for admission to the program, applicants must submit the following items:

  • A completed admission application, found at www.cedarcrest.edu/apply
  • Official transcripts from the bachelor’s degree-granting institution and any other institutions where relevant coursework was completed.
    • Transcripts from institutions located outside the United States will need to be accompanied by an official course-by-course evaluation, with degree equivalency, completed by a NACES-recognized foreign transcript evaluation agency, such as World Education Services (www.wes.org).
  • A statement of your goals (approximately 500 words)
  • One letter of recommendation
  • One flex option (choose one):
    • One additional letter of recommendation,
    • GRE or GMAT score, or
    • Two years’ professional work experience
  • Your current resume.

Master of Professional Studies Admission Requirements
To be considered for admission to the program, applicants must meet the following requirements:

  • An applicant must possess a bachelor’s degree from an accredited college or university. Applicants may apply while finishing their bachelor’s degree requirements, however the degree must be conferred, as shown on an official transcript, prior to the start of the student’s first matriculated semester at Cedar Crest College.
  • Minimum bachelor’s degree GPA of 3.0 (on a 4.0 scale). However, applications are reviewed holistically, and applicants with a GPA below 3.0 may be granted conditional admission at the discretion of the program director if their application materials demonstrate the potential for success in the program.

It is recommended, but not required, that the applicant have completed the following coursework at the undergraduate level:

  • One semester of economics
  • One semester of accounting
  • One semester of statistics

*GMAT or GRE test may be required if the applicant does not meet criteria established by the program.

Admissions Decisions

Each applicant will be considered from a holistic perspective. The Program Director reserves the right to ask the prospective candidate for additional information.

How To Apply

Ready to apply as a graduate student?

Apply Now
Cedar Crest student smiling on campus

Accreditation

The Cedar Crest College business program is accredited by the Accreditation Council for Business Schools and Programs (ACBSP).
ACBSP Current Graduation Data
ACBSP Historical Graduation Data
Nov. 2019 Report

Faculty & Staff

Who’s teaching you is as important as the curriculum you choose.
Let’s put a face to some of the names you’ll be seeing on the course listings!

Michael Zalot, Ph.D, MBA

Michael Zalot

Chair of Business, Director of the Master of Professional Studies program, and Associate Professor
Curtis Hall 200
Phone: 610.606.4666 (x4453)
Selma Chehouri Abi-Daher

Selma Chehouri Abi-Daher

Assistant Professor of Accounting
Curtis 216
Phone: 610.606.4666
Scott V. Bartkus

Scott V. Bartkus

Director of the MBA Program, Assistant Professor
Curtis 214
Phone: 610.606.4666 (x3743)
Nina Patel

Nina Patel

Assistant Professor of Business
Curtis 202
Phone: 610.606.4666
Languages Spoken

Nina Patel

Languages Spoken
  • Gujarati
Beverly Magda

Beverly Magda

Founding Director of the Elaine and John Harmon Center
Curtis Hall 215
Phone: 610.606.4666 (x4563)
Bridgette Nassar

Brigitte Nassar

Administrative Assistant
Curtis 216
Phone: 610.606.4666 (x3405)
Languages Spoken

Brigitte Nassar

Languages Spoken
  • Arabic
  • English
Contact:

Summer Open House

August 15, 2026 @ 10:00AM – 2:00PM
Join us for a bright and welcoming day at Cedar Crest College! ☀️Explore our beautiful campus, connect with professors and current students, and get to know our friendly Admissions team. Start the school year off right by discovering what makes…
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