Academic Building 3
http://cps.fgcu.edu/
(239) 590-7820
Dean: Kenneth I. Millar, PhD
Associate Dean: Tony A. Barringer, EdD
Academic Advisors: Lynde Burnside, BA and Christina Jordan-Watkins, MSW
Secretary: Cheryl Brown
Vision
The College of Professional Studies at Florida Gulf Coast University offers baccalaureate and graduate degree programs in specialized career and professional fields. The college also offers programs and projects that meet the lifelong professional development needs of practitioners. The faculty recognizes the changing climate in the professional disciplines, where learning must be linked to community and regional needs, and recognize diversity in culture and environment.
Mission
The College of Professional Studies is committed to educating professionals in the public-, private-, and not-for-profit sectors, as well as to developing students’ problem-solving abilities in the realms of government, law, leisure, and social services. Recognizing the rapidly changing environments in which such efforts must be carried out, the College’s curricula are oriented toward lifelong approaches to professional and personal development integrating theory, practice, technology, and diversity. All programs in the College link students’ learning experiences to the needs of communities and their members.
Goals
- Prepare students to respond in innovative ways to the evolving social, political, economic, and natural environments in which policy-making and service delivery are carried out.
- Cultivate an ethic of public integrity and civic engagement in professional, political, and community activities.
- Develop an understanding of the multi-cultural and increasingly global contexts within which public problems emerge, as well as an ability to formulate interdisciplinary strategies for their identification and resolution.
- Cultivate the knowledge, skills, and personal attributes required for life-long growth and development.
- Integrate multiple, state-of-the-art technologies into the learning environment and develop students’ abilities to use technology creatively in their work.
- Develop comprehensive field-based experiences linked to individual and community development.
Articulation Agreements
Articulation agreements facilitate the transfer of students from associate degree programs at community colleges to baccalaureate degree programs at universities. Articulation agreements are in place for both the BS Criminal Justice program and the BS Legal Studies program (see program descriptions).
Admission to Undergraduate Programs
Admission to the College of Professional Studies is open to all students who have been accepted to Florida Gulf Coast University, are in good standing, and have completed the common prerequisites with a grade of C or higher.
Undergraduate Advising
(239) 590-7820
The academic advisor provides the student with a course of study in his or her desired discipline, the process begins with orientation and continues through individual counseling for meeting graduation requirements. Advising is provided via the Internet for our students in the distance learning programs. The advisor also provides information for our students in the extension programs off campus and tracks them through their course of study.
Division of Justice Studies
Academic Building 3
Chair: Tony A. Barringer, EdD
Faculty: P. Asfour, JD; T.A. Barringer, EdD; R. Diotalevi, JD; D. Dobbert, PhD; J. Jinian, MPA; J. Kleeger, JD; B. Lipton, D.D.S., DABFO; D. Lounsbury, PhD; J. McGaha, PhD; C. Mesloh , PhD; P. Seay,JD; D. Thomas, PhD; H. Walsh-Haney, PhD; M.A. Zager, PhD
Degrees: Criminal Forensic Studies (B.S.), Criminal Forensic Studies (M.S.), Criminal Justice (B.S.), Criminal Justice (M.S.), and Legal Studies (B.S.)
The B.S. in Criminal Forensic Studies provides students with the skills requisite to the investigation of criminal offenses and the identification, apprehension, and prosecution of criminal offenders. This curriculum integrates the theoretical perspectives of different disciplines pertaining to deviant and criminal behavior with the practice of identification, procurement, and presentation of evidence resulting from criminal activity. This program builds upon a solid liberal arts core to achieve a balanced criminal justice perspective, which includes an emphasis upon the victim, the offender, the criminal justice system and society. The scholar/practitioner curriculum provides students with advanced levels of knowledge in criminal investigation, thus increasing the employment potential for graduates.
The M.S. in Criminal Forensic Studies is an interdisciplinary program, focused on making graduates highly competitive in the marketplace. Students completing the Forensic Behavioral Analyst Concentration will possess advanced skills for utilization as Criminal Investigation Detectives at local, state, and federal law enforcement agencies, offices of the state and federal prosecuting attorneys, juvenile and adult corrections, and child welfare agencies. Graduates will also be qualified to develop and promulgate policy in local, county, state, and federal agencies. Students completing the Death Investigator Concentration will have completed the requisite curriculum required by the majority of Medical Examiner’s Offices throughout the United States. The curriculum is based on the St. Louis University School of Medicine’s Medico-Legal Death Investigation Program. Once the graduate has had the requisite experience working in a Medical Examiner or Coroner office with the job responsibility to conduct crime scene investigations they will have the skills necessary to negotiate the Medico-Legal Death Investigators Certification Examination. This program is designed to fill the need for qualified questioned death investigators for Medical Examiner’s and Coroner’s Offices; Homicide Investigation Units; and other agencies whose responsibilities include the investigation of questioned death.
A sub-specialization exists in the Death Investigator Concentration in the area of Human Identification. This specialty centers on aspects of Forensics Anthropology and Osteology. The study of the human skeleton and dentition is critical for the investigation of questioned death where decomposition of the victim has occurred. This will qualify the student to process decomposed remains for the purposes of identification and potential cause and manner of death.
The B.S. in Criminal Justice program provides an extensive overview of the criminal justice system including law enforcement, corrections, the judiciary, juvenile justice, probation and parole, and international justice. The program builds upon a solid liberal arts core to achieve a balanced criminal justice perspective, which includes an emphasis upon the victim, the offender, the criminal justice system, and society. The program’s objective is to develop a sound educational foundation for graduate work or professional practice at the bachelor’s level. Students are provided a set of core courses and experiences to orient them to the broader criminal justice system. Thereafter, they have the opportunity to specialize in law enforcement, corrections, legal studies, juvenile justice, international justice, or management in criminal justice. The upper division portion of this program is available through distance learning via the Internet.
The Master’s of Science in Criminal Justice is designed to prepare graduates for advancement in justice-related professions, particularly as administrative and management level officers in law enforcement, corrections and juvenile justice. The program will provide graduates with an in-depth understanding of management of criminal justice agencies as it relates to the agency, the law, the courts, and the public. The M.S. program advances the theoretical perspectives and practical applications of the B.S. degree in the develop-ment of advanced administrative skills that increase the effectiveness and professionalism of criminal justice personnel. As noted by numerous agency heads, a graduate degree is particularly beneficial to those seeking advancement in their current agencies as well as those seeking employment in federal law enforcement agencies and federal courts. Specific positions for which this program will prepare students include Police Chief, Sheriff or Commanding Officer of law enforcement agency, Superintendent or Commanding Officer of corrections agency, FBI, ATF, and other federal law enforcement agent, Ph.D. student, and Researcher in criminal justice.
The B.S. in Legal Studies prepares graduates for career advancement in legal assisting, paralegal, and other law-related professions. The program is designed to provide in-depth understanding of the legal system as it relates to the law, the courts, clients, and lawyers. The curriculum encompasses both generalist and specialist courses as recommended by the American Bar Association. The program prepares students for professional legal assisting and paralegal studies certification exams, including the Certified Legal Assistant’s (CLA) Exam sponsored by the National As-sociation of Legal Assistants and Paralegal Advanced Competency Exam (PACE) offered by the National Federation of Paralegal Associations, Inc. (NFPA).
Division of Public Affairs
Academic Building 3
Chair: Terry Busson, PhD
Faculty: T. Busson, PhD; P. Bergerson, PhD; R. Coughlin, PhD; R. Green, PhD; S. O’Brien, PhD; H. Smith, PhD; R. Walsh, PhD
Degrees: Political Science (B.A.), and Public Administration (M.P.A.)
The B.A. in Political Science program imparts knowledge of government institutions and processes, political values, and public policy. It provides students with the analytical tools needed to address local, national, and international issues of governance and policy. A degree in Political Science can aid a student’s career pursuits in local, state, and federal government, as well as in business and not-for-profit organizations. It can also provide an excellent foundation for graduate study in law, business, or the social sciences. The pro-gram offers a choice of five concentrations (political science, interdisciplinary studies, government and managerial innovation, government and information systems, and public administration), allowing students to enhance their knowledge and analytical skills in areas tailored to their future career objectives. It also offers highly qualified students early admission into an Accelerated M.P.A. program, providing them the opportunity to obtain both the B.A and M.P.A. degrees in a shortened period of study. The program is an affiliate of the Washington Center, which provides internship placements for undergraduate students in Washington, D.C.
The Master of Public Administration (M.P.A) prepares students for successful careers and future leadership positions in the public and non-profit sectors. The program is designed for students who have significant in-service experience, as well as for students who have little or no prior work experience in public or non-profit organizations. The MPA core curriculum provides students with current knowledge of public administration and public policy, and in addition develops their analytical, managerial, technological, and communication skills and abilities. Most of the MPA courses are offered in an internet-based format, enabling many students to complete their degree online. For students who lack prior professional experience, internet-based instruction is supplemented by evening and weekend sessions that accommodate the scheduling needs of working students. A choice of concentrations allows students to develop expertise either in general public administration, environmental policy and planning, or management.
Division of Social Work
Academic building 3
Chair: Sakinah N. Salahu-Din, PhD, MSW
Faculty: S. Anstadt, PhD, MSW; P. Coccoma, EdD, MSW; E. Evans, EdD, MSW; M. Hart, PhD, MSW; H. Heckes, MSW; R. Soter, MSW; P. Washington, PhD, MSW
Degree Programs: Social Work (B.S.W.), and Social Work (M.S.W.)
The Bachelor of Social Work (B.S.W.) program prepares students for entry level professional practice that assists individuals, families and groups to identify their strengths and solve problems. Graduates are educated to work in a variety of public, non-profit, and proprietary social service agencies. In the junior and senior years, students develop a core set of skills in case management, information, advocacy, and community organization used in a variety of practice settings. Graduates are prepared for advanced study if they want to pursue a graduate degree.
The Master of Social Work (M.S.W.) program prepares graduates with a solid liberal arts foundation, with generalist underpinnings, and specialized clinical intervention skills to work with individuals, families and groups for an expanded clinical role that integrates political and social action skills for community practice. This multi-focal, clinical practice and community practice approach serves as the cornerstone for an expanded concept of clinical community practice.
Division of Resort & Hospitality Management
Herbert J. Sugden Hall
Director: Sherie Brezina, PhD
Faculty: S. Eisenberg, JD, MP; M. Madanoglu, PhD, CHE; M. Wisnom, PhD; G. Alexakis, EdD
Degrees Programs: Resort & Hospitality Management (B.S.)
The B.S. in Resort & Hospitality Management program prepares students for high demand professional careers in all aspects of the resort and hospitality industry including resort management, club and spa management, hotel and lodging management, special event management, commercial recreation, professional golf management, attractions management, resort food and beverage management, resort timeshare management, and tourism destination management. Two concentrations are available: Event Management and Spa Management
The B.S. in Professional Golf Management prepares students for high demand professional careers in all aspects of the golf industry, including golf club operations, golf facilities management, teaching golf operations, golf merchandising operations, and golf executive operations. Upon completion of all program requirements, graduates will be eligible for membership with the PGA of America. This is a limited access program. For those wishing to become PGA of America members, United States citizenship is required.
