Villanova University’s College of Professional Studies a Hub for Innovative Programming for Working Adults

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Images via Villanova University’s College of Professional Studies.

Villanova University boasts a longstanding tradition of service to adult learners. The College of Professional Studies (CPS) embodies this enduring commitment to provide access to academic excellence by offering premier, relevant, and innovative programs. Taught by an engaging faculty of scholars and practitioners, the breadth of academic offerings, both on campus and online, range from undergraduate degree completion programs to a wide array of professional education courses and programs.

“Part of what we strive for in CPS is to ensure we are providing the programs and courses professionals demand, in formats that make it possible for them to be successful,” said Susan Leighton, CPS’s Director of Academic Programs. “This requires us to be aware of current industry trends and creative in how we build programs. Our students are as busy as they are ambitious, with a variety of career aspirations, and CPS acts as the force to help them reach their individual goals.”

CPS is a hub for innovative professional programming in a variety of fields, and its curriculum is designed to be focused, responsive, and nimble as it draws inspiration from evolving workforce and career trends. Of the dozens of programs and courses that CPS offers, the Paralegal Professional program, the Principles of Fundraising course, and the Project Management suite are some of the most in demand by students and businesses alike.

Approved by the American Bar Association, the Paralegal Professional program educates students in the theory and philosophy of the law and the ethics of legal practice. It is offered as both a full-time day program (completed in four months) and a part-time evening program completed over nine months.

The “Principles of Fundraising” course, offered in collaboration with the Association of Fundraising Professionals – Greater Philadelphia Chapter (AFP-GPC), is team-taught by four high-level industry experts. The course focuses on providing students with the tools and data-driven solutions for their development needs and covers topics such as planning an annual giving program, using multi-media communication strategies, and cultivating relationships with board members and volunteers.

“This course is an opportunity for students to hear four unique perspectives on fundraising and enables us as faculty to teach in the areas in which we have the greatest expertise,” said instructor Stephanie Cory, a philanthropy and governance consultant. “Peer-to-peer learning is also a strong component of this course – and my favorite aspect of teaching Villanova students. The wide array of industries they come from and their varied experiences truly enrich the teaching and learning experience.”

The Project Management program includes courses designed for professionals desiring to enter the project management field, as well as seasoned project professionals looking to prepare for the PMP (Project Management Professional) Exam.

Mike Palladino, head of the Agile Methods Center of Excellence at Bristol-Myers Squibb Pharmaceuticals and an adjunct professor at Villanova, gives dynamic presentations all over the globe on using Agile to adapt project management for the fourth industrial revolution. As an instructor, he brings the same interactive teaching methods and individual attention to his classes.

“The way I present is the way I run my classes,” he said. “It helps to be interactive because I’m teaching adult learners who have been at work all day. Students dread a boring presentation that just teaches theory or having a professor talk through a set of slides. I like to challenge my students and find ways for them to experience the course material on an emotional level because that’s when students retain the content.”

Click here to learn more about Villanova University’s College of Professional Studies.

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