Center for Professional Studies

Center Overview

UW-Parkside is committed to high-quality educational programs, creative and scholarly activities, and services responsive to its diverse student population, and its local, national and global communities. The Center for Professional Studies (CPS) supports the university mission by offering interdisciplinary, innovative, and diverse learning opportunities in flexible environments to students and our regional partners.  The values of the CPS are compatible with the values of the University.
 

• Access: Provide motivated learners access to a high-quality, world-class education, which allows them to achieve their education and career goals.
• Academic Excellence: Our career-focused educational programs provide the highest level of academic excellence to prepare our students with real-world experience. Our commitment to quality pervades all aspects of program design and assessment.
• Innovation: Innovation is driven by an understanding that higher educational delivery must be managed in a fiscally sustainable model, enabling the enterprise to secure resources and infrastructure to achieve and strengthen its mission.
• Student Success: We serve as catalysts to transform the academic experience to meet the needs of students. We are compelled to deliver an academic experience that is highly relevant and enriching to our students’ lives.
• Diversity and Inclusiveness: Our curriculum is developed to align with the needs of the global economy’s leading industries. The diversity of our students reflects the global economy in which they will practice.

Associate of Arts in Military and Security Studies

The Associate of Arts (AA) degree in Military and Security Studies is open to all students, without military obligation. Students who are active in the military or are currently enrolled in an ROTC program may be able to apply the credits earned in the AA to their advancement and promotion systems within their respective military services. Our veteran students may be able to demonstrate learning derived from their experiences that may transfer toward this degree through the Prior Learning Assessment (PLA) process. Military experience in critical and analytical thinking, decision making, communication, intercultural competencies, history, etc. may be directly applied to specific AA courses, rather than general electives, which is how ACE credits typically transfer. Traditional students enrolling in the AA will learn these valuable professional skills and applications that they will be able to utilize whether they continue in higher education or choose to enter the professional world.

The AA in Military and Security Studies degree provides historical, ethical, and foundational skills to advance careers as leaders in the public/private sector or military. The AA in Military and Security Studies focuses on the following interdisciplinary fundamental skills found in our general education curriculum that support both the public/private sector and military based professions. Learning outcomes associated with these skills are:

• Articulate foundational knowledge and possess a skill set through effective inter‐cultural written and oral communication. (Communication skills/Cultural competence)
• Utilize considerations of context in decision‐making (American and International historical foundations/spatial awareness)
• Develop the skills and awareness vital to the success of citizens of an advanced technological society, and habits of mind that promote lifelong learning, responsible actions, and independent thinking. (Physical fitness/physical science)
• Apply ethical perspectives/concepts to an ethical question, accurately, and consider full implications of the application. (Ethics and morals)

The AA degree enables students to earn a credential after approximately two years of study in general education, university skill requirements, program requirements, and a capstone course. Upon entering the program, a student will meet with an advisor to discuss educational and professional goals and plan the best selection of courses to meet those goals. Upon completion of the AA degree, students will have the option to continue on to complete a bachelor’s degree, with the completed Associate of Arts credential in hand. Students may pursue any UW‐Parkside bachelor’s degree program, noting however, that this AA has been created to lead into Bachelor’s degrees in the social and behavioral science disciplines, but does not preclude any student from pursuing the degree.

See the Associate Degree section of the catalog for more programmatic and curricular information.

 

Associate of Arts in Professional Studies

The Associate of Arts (AA) in Professional Studies degree is a generalist degree aimed at preparing students for careers, citizenship, and possibly further education. An AA in Professional Studies focuses on analytical skills designed for success in the private and public sector.

Students enrolling in the AA will learn valuable professional skills and applications that they will be able to utilize whether they continue in higher education or choose to enter the professional world.  Upon completion of the AA degree, students will have the option to continue on to complete a bachelor’s degree, with the completed Associate of Arts credential in hand.

Learning outcomes in the AA in Professional Studies offers a unique set of skills that emphasizes the need for a 21st century career. Learning outcomes in the AA are:

• Students earning the AA in Professional Studies degree will be practically and intellectually prepared to enter the job market.
• Students earning the AA in Professional Studies degree and leaving college will be intellectually prepared to consider returning, when ready and able, to complete a four-year bachelor’s degree.
• Students earning the AA in Professional Studies degree will demonstrate the intellectual and interpersonal skills that will help them contribute to innovation in the community and in the workplace.

The AA degree enables students to earn a credential after approximately two years of study in general education, university skill requirements, program requirements, and a capstone course. Upon entering the program, a student will meet with an advisor to discuss educational and professional goals and plan the best selection of courses to meet those goals. Upon completion of the AA degree, students will have the option to continue on to complete a bachelor’s degree, with the completed Associate of Arts credential in hand. Students may pursue any UW‐Parkside bachelor’s degree program, noting however, that this AA has been created to lead best into Bachelor’s degrees in the social and behavioral science disciplines, but does not preclude any student from pursuing the degree.

See the Associate Degree section of the catalog for more programmatic and curricular information.

 

Requirements for Admission to the Military Leadership Minor

Students seeking a minor in military leadership must be approved by the director of the Center for Professional Studies, be seeking commission to the United States Army, and enrolled in the Army ROTC program.

Requirements for the Military Leadership Minor (22 credits)

The military leadership minor promotes the development of undergraduate students in the area of small group leadership. The goal is to prepare students and future Officers in the United States Army to serve effectively in formal and informal leadership roles. The minor reinforces understanding and application of Army Leadership strategies, critical decision-making methodologies, and physical and mental fitness excellence. Competencies include an in-depth understanding of small unit tactics, land navigation and field training, operations and logistical planning, team building, and peer-to-peer counseling. The core courses in the minor are sequences to meet the increasingly complex sets of outcomes-based instruction across cognitive, personal development, and group/organizational domains required for the Army Reserve Officers’ Training Corps program. 
 

1. Required Core Courses (16 credits)

   MILS 110	Military Leadership I	1 cr
   MILS 120	Military Leadership II	1 cr
   MILS 210	Tactical Leadership*	2 cr
   MILS 220	Military Leadership in Contemporary Environments*	2 cr
   MILS 310	Adaptive Team Leadership*	3 cr
   MILS 320	Leadership and Ethical Decision-Making*	3 cr
   MILS 410	Applied Leadership I*	2 cr
   MILS 420	Applied Leadership II*	2 cr

2. Military History Course (3 credits)
   Choose one course from below:

   HIST 102	U.S. Reconstruction to Recent Times	3 cr
   HIST 342	The American Civil War*	3 cr

3. Elective Course (3 credits)
   Choose one course from below:

   GEOG 105	Contemporary Human Geography	3 cr
   GEOG 250	Map Use and Analysis	3 cr
   HIST 260	International Conflict	3 cr
   INTS 100	Introduction to International Studies	3 cr
   PHIL 206	Introduction to Ethics	3 cr
   POLS 100	American Politics	3 cr
   POLS 217	Tactical Decision Making	3 cr
   POLS 224	American Foreign Policy	3 cr
   POLS 317	Strategic Decision Making	3 cr
   SOCA 101	Introduction to Sociology	3 cr

    *indicates courses with prerequisite requirements

 

Master of Arts in Applied Professional Studies

The Master of Arts in Applied Professional Studies (MAPS) is an applied professional program with workforce development, organizational leadership and personal development at the core of its vision. The mission of the program is to develop advanced skill sets in multiple subject areas to meet emerging workforce development needs. The graduate degree is designed to provide students an accessible, online, and affordable opportunity to achieve professional and personal goals that align with potential for career advancement and upskilling needs. 

This program is an interdisciplinary master's degree combining the academic social sciences and applied professional experience with a common set of Core courses (15 credits) and a self-selected Concentration (15 credits). There are three separate and unique concentrations within the degree for students to choose graduate level courses: Leadership in Public Service, Data Visualization and Interpretation, and/or Content Expertise for the Professional Educator. Students have the unique opportunity to select graduate coursework individually suited to their chosen area of concentration.  

See the Graduate Programs section of the catalog for more programmatic and curricular information.

 

Air Force Reserve Officers’ Training Corps (AFROTC)

UWP students have the opportunity to participate fully in the Air Force Reserve Officers Training Corps (AFROTC) Program through a partnership with the host Marquette University. Students enrolled in the Air Force ROTC program attend AFROTC courses at Marquette University. Through this program, UWP offers its students the opportunity to prepare for initial active duty assignments as Air Force Commissioned Officers. In order to receive a commission, AFROTC cadets must complete all university requirements for a degree and courses specified by the Air Force. AFROTC offers four- and three-year programs leading to a commission as an Air Force officer. Four-year program students complete the general military course and the professional officer course.

General Eligibility

• Be a full-time student;
• Be a United States citizen (for scholarship appointment);
• Be in good physical condition;
• Be of good moral character;
• For pilot or navigator training, fulfill all commissioning requirements before age 29;
• For scholarship recipients, fulfill all commissioning requirements before age 31; and
• For non-scholarship students, fulfill all commissioning requirements before age 31.

General Military Course

The first- and second-year educational program in Air Force Aerospace Studies consists of a series of one-hour courses designed to give students basic information on world military systems and the role of the U.S. Air Force in the defense of the free world. All required textbooks and uniforms are provided free. The general military course is open to all students at UWP without advance application and does not obligate students to the Air Force in any way.

Field Training

AFROTC Field Training is offered during the summer months at Maxwell Air Force Base, Alabama, and provides leadership and officer training in a structured military environment. Major areas of study include physical training, drill and ceremony, marksmanship, and survival training. The Air Force pays all expenses associated with field training.

Professional Officer Course

The third and fourth years of Air Force Aerospace Studies are designed to develop skills and attitudes vital to the professional officer. Students completing the professional officer course are commissioned as officers in the U.S. Air Force upon college graduation. All students in the professional officer course receive a non-taxable subsistence allowance per month during the academic year. Students wanting to enter the professional officer course should apply early in the spring semester in order to begin this course of study in the following fall semester.

Leadership Lab

Leadership Lab is a cadet-centered activity. It is largely cadet-planned and -directed, in line with the premise that it provides leadership training experience that will improve a cadet's ability to perform as an Air Force officer. The freshman and sophomore leadership laboratory program introduces Air Force customs and courtesies, drill and ceremonies, wearing the uniform, career opportunities in the Air Force, education and training benefits, the life and work of an Air Force officer, and opportunities for field trips to Air Force installations throughout the U.S. Initial experiences include preparing the cadet for individual squadron and flight movements in drill and ceremonies and for the field training assignment prior to the junior year.

The junior and senior leadership laboratory program involves the cadets in advanced leadership experiences. Cadet responsibilities include planning and directing the activities of the cadet corps, preparing briefings and written communications, and providing interviews, guidance, information, and other services that will increase the performance and motivation of other cadets.

AFROTC College Scholarship and High School Scholarship Programs

While participating in AFROTC, scholarship students receive a stipend per month along with paid tuition, fees, and a fixed textbook reimbursement. To be eligible for either of these programs, students must:

• Be a U.S. citizen;
• Be at least 17 years of age on the date of enrollment and under 31 years of age on December 31 of the estimated year of commissioning;
• Pass an Air Force physical exam;
• Be selected by a board of Air Force officers;
• Have no moral objections or personal convictions that prevent bearing arms and supporting and defending the Constitution of the United States against all enemies, foreign and domestic (applicants must not be conscientious objectors);
• Maintain a 2.5 grade point average.
• High school students can apply for scholarships late in their junior year or early in their senior year.

Information on Air Force ROTC and applications for Air Force scholarships are available at www.AFROTC.com (https://www.afrotc.com). Scholarship applications will not be accepted after December 1 of the year before entering college.

For more information, contact the Department of Aerospace Studies at Marquette University, (414) 288-7682.

Courses for Air Force Reserve Officers’ Training Corps (AFROTC)

 

Army Reserve Officers’ Training Corps (AROTC)

UW-Parkside students have the opportunity to participate in the Army Reserve Officers Training Corps (AROTC) through a partnership with the host Marquette University.  The AROTC program provides university students with leadership, management, technical, and tactical skills that will enable them to start their journey as commissioned officers in the United States Army, Army Reserve, or Army National Guard.

Army ROTC is not a major field of study. It is a program in which students pursue a baccalaureate degree of their choice and take AROTC courses in military-oriented subject matter. AROTC provides a general knowledge of the contemporary role of the Army in support of national objectives and a practicum in management and leadership skills. Credits earned in military studies courses apply toward graduation requirements.

The Army ROTC program offers competitive two-, three-, and four-year scholarships to qualified students. Currently, the scholarships offered for UWP students cover full tuition and fees or room and board, $1,200 a year for books, and a $300-$500 monthly stipend.

General Eligibility

To be eligible for an AROTC scholarship, students must:

• Be a United States citizen;
• Be a full-time student;
• Have no major civil convictions;
• Not be a conscientious objector;
• Be medically qualified;
• Have a minimum 2.5 GPA; and
• Have a minimum ACT score of 19 or SAT score of 950.

The Army ROTC program is divided into two parts: the basic course (freshman and sophomore years) and the advanced course (junior and senior years). The freshman and sophomore year courses are currently being offered at UWP; the remainder of the courses are offered at Marquette University.  UWP students enroll in the AROTC courses at UWP and complete a cross town enrollment form; all credits count towards GPA and graduation requirements.

Basic Course

In the basic course, cadets learn basic military skills and receive the foundation for leadership and management skills that are expanded during the advanced course. The basic course is open to all full-time UWP students without any obligation to the Army.

Advanced Course

During the advanced course, cadets learn more extensive leadership and management skills, and they are placed into various leadership positions in the battalion. Cadets also develop skills and attributes that are essential for all commissioned officers in the U.S. Army.

In addition to completing the military studies courses, advanced-course students are required to attend the Advanced Leadership Course at Fort Lewis, Washington, during the summer between the junior and senior years. During this five-week camp, cadets are expected to apply all of the skills that they have learned in the AROTC program. In addition, cadets are offered the opportunity to compete for a chance to attend Airborne School, Air Assault School, or Cadet Troop Leadership Training (CTLT).  CTLT is an "internship" in which cadets have a chance to see what A Second Lieutenant does on an active duty Army post.  To qualify for the Advanced Course, students must accomplish one of the following:

• Complete the two years of the basic course;
• Attend the Basic Leaders Course, a six-week camp at Fort Knox, Kentucky; or
• Complete U.S. Army Basic Training or its equivalent.

Field Exercises

Once a semester, all of the cadets in the program go to Fort McCoy, Wisconsin, to practice all of the skills that they have learned. Advanced course cadets also are given the opportunity to improve their leadership skills by being placed in various leadership positions leading other cadets.

Physical Training

Three times a week, cadets are required to attend physical training (PT). During PT, cadets do physical activities such as push-ups, sit-ups, and running. PT currently is conducted at both UWP and Marquette University.

For more information about enrolling in the Army ROTC program, contact armyrotc@uwp.edu or the Army ROTC Office, (262) 595-2162, or https://www.uwp.edu/learn/programs/armyrotc.cfm

Courses for Army Reserve Officers’ Training Corps (AROTC)

1. Army ROTC Courses

   MILS 101	Military Physical Training I	1 cr
   MILS 102	Military Physical Training II	1 cr
   MILS 110	Military Leadership I	1 cr
   MILS 120	Military Leadership II	1 cr
   MILS 201	Military Physical Training III	1 cr
   MILS 202	Military Physical Training IV	1 cr
   MILS 210	Tactical Leadership	2 cr
   MILS 220	Military Leadership in the Contemporary Environment	2 cr
   MILS 301	Military Physical Training V	1 cr
   MILS 302	Military Physical Training VI	1 cr
   MILS 310	Adaptive Team Leadership	3 cr
   MILS 320	Leadership and Ethical Decision-Making	3 cr
   MILS 401	Military Physical Training VII	1 cr
   MILS 402	Military Physical Training VIII	1 cr
   MILS 410	Applied Leadership I	2 cr
   MILS 420	Applied Leadership II	2 cr

2. Military History Requirement (3 credits)
   Choose one:

   HIST 102	The United States: Reconstruction to Recent Times	3 cr
   HIST 342	The American Civil War	3 cr

 

Parkside Access to College Credits (PACC) Program Overview

The Parkside Access to College Credit Program (PACC) allows eligible high school students to earn college and high school credit simultaneously by taking and successfully completing designated courses at their high school, known as concurrent enrollment.  By taking college credit in high school, students also set themselves apart by demonstrating that they can succeed in college-level classes. Go to https://www.uwp.edu/learn/departments/professionalstudies/pacc/.

Courses in Military Studies (MILS)