A Closer Look at the MPrS Degree
If your educational plans require customization, efficient use of graduate transfer credit, on-line access and interaction with qualified faculty, this degree program is designed for you.
UNA's Master of Professional Studies (MPrS) degree program is designed to meet the educational and career-oriented objectives of today's working professionals. The MPrS degree appeals to students interested in the areas of community development, higher education administration, information technology, or security and safety leadership who want to customize their area studies while enhancing their knowledge base specific to work and leadership within formal organizations. Click MPrS Areas of Specialization to learn more about the degree concentrations. Click Degree Requirements to learn about the core component classes required of all MPrS students.
Frequently Asked Questions
- Earned baccalaureate degree from an accredited school.
- Overall undergraduate cumulative GPA of 2.7 minimum or 3.0 in last 60 hrs. of undergraduate study.
- Submission of three letters of recommendation from contacts knowledgeable of the applicant's professional work and suitability for graduate study.
- Submission of the student's personal statement describing their reasons for applying, the choice of concentration, and how this degree program will affect their future career plans.
- Students may be admitted conditionally with minimum of three years of successful full-time work experience in a professional field. The Job Verification Form must be completed and submitted in such cases.
- Applicants should contact their prior graduate program and have that school send official transcripts to the UNA Office of Admissions. Please remember that transcripts from all prior undergraduate and graduate institutions must be requested and sent directly to the UNA Office of Admissions.
- Official transcripts should be sent electronically to graduate@una.edu through an electronic transcript service or mailed to:
Office of Graduate Admissions
UNA Box 5078
Florence, AL 35632 - Students may transfer into the MPrS program up to 12 credit hours of graduate credit (grade of B or higher) with the approval of the MPrS Program Director.
- First, resident tuition/in-state tuition applies to ALL MPrS students who take 100% of their coursework online.
- UNA Graduate tuition is accessible at the following website*: Graduate Student Resources. You may also use the Tuition Calculator.
*All expenses and fees are subject to change
- MPrS students may be considered for student loans, student employment, assistantships, and scholarships. Click the following link to learn more: Assistantships and Financial Services.
- Graduate students are not eligible for Pell Grants.
- Students may apply for Federal Unsubsidized Stafford Loans only by filing the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). It is recommended to complete the FAFSA application at least 8 weeks prior to the beginning of the term which you plan to enroll. You may visit the Office of Student Financial Aid's website to learn more.
- Those who have served in the military may apply the GI bill toward the MPrS degree. For additional information about GI benefits and eligibility, it is recommended that you contact the VA directly at 1-888-442-4551.
- The MPrS degree is a 33-36 credit hour program (the non-thesis or capstone project option is a 33 credit hours program).
- Time to completion depends on whether the student attends full-time (taking 3+ courses a semester), part-time (taking less than 3 courses), and whether the student takes summer courses (generally 1 or 2 courses over 8 weeks).
- A year and a half to two years is a practical timeline.
- UNA courses are organized around the traditional 15 week academic semester.
- No. Undergraduate and work-related success are capable predictors of graduate school performance.
- UNA is flexible when it comes to accepting and processing applications. Naturally, we encourage prospective students to apply for admission as early as possible. We are committed to reviewing applications efficiently and providing our prospective students with equally efficient feedback.
- A complete application consists of the application for admission to the Graduate School, a written letter of intent (in the letter of intent we encourage our applicants to clearly state their academic and professional goals as well as courses they want to take and/or skills they want to advance), official transcripts sent from all undergraduate institutions attended, and 3 recommendation forms submitted by professional references.
- The decision to commit to graduate studies is an important one. Please call 1-800-TALK-UNA ext. 5003 or 5006 during regular business hours (8 am - 4:30 pm CST) or e-mail us at mps@una.edu.
Updated HDS - 3/01/2021