Frequently Asked Questions
Below you will find a wealth of information to assist you in understanding how to effectively apply for admission to International University of Professional Studies. To begin your enrollment process, please complete the Official Enrollment Application Form, and submit it along with your "Personal Portfolio" and the required $100 Educational Assessment Fee. For students accepted for enrollment into the University, 100% of this nonrefundable $100 Educational Assessment Fee is applied toward tuition. For information on how to put together your Personal Portfolio be sure to check out the Sample Portfolio and the very helpful "7 Secrets To Putting Together An Effective Portfolio".
FAQ's
* These files are available as Portable Document Format (PDF) files. The free Adobe Acrobat Reader is required to view and print PDF files and is available for download, with instructions from Adobe's web site.
FAQ Answers:
1. How Does Distance Learning Work?
All Degree Programs at IUPS can be completed from anywhere in the world, as long as you have internet access and the ability to be in regular contact with your assigned mentor. While the majority of coursework can be completed online, we also encourage our students to become involved in their communities by taking part in local seminars, retreats, workshops, and other offerings (within their area of specialization), that can potentially be applied as course credit to their program at IUPS.
The IUPS Distance Learning Program:
Our purpose as an educational institution is to provide undergraduate and graduate learners throughout the world, opportunities to engage in a curriculum where the students are actively involved in devising and executing their learning contract. This is achieved in collaboration with a highly qualified faculty mentor to insure that a relevant, competency-based program is implemented. Competency-based education focuses upon the learner, not the needs of the educational institution or the teaching interests of the faculty. We assume that the learner is already competent in many areas and builds upon these abilities while developing those skills that are still not actualized.
Such an approach is especially welcome to the individual who has already gained knowledge and skills through non-classroom studies, intern situations, and their own reading and practice. Credit for prior learning conforms to the standards of the Council on Post Secondary Accreditation: “Credit is recognized for life experience, work experience, independent reading and study, travel, equivalency exams, media presentations, transfer credits from other institutions and formal courses sponsored by employers and associations.”
In addition to including the traditional areas of psychology, health and education, we will include such emerging professions as transpersonal psychology, expressive arts therapy, integral health and wellness services, and transformational education.
Our University fills the void left by traditional universities by creating an opportunity for mature students to earn educational credentials that are an appropriate validation of their experience and training. This is facilitated through the Academic Study Plan which allows the student to progress at their own pace and in a location of their own choice. This is particularly feasible at this time since we can utilize the technology of the internet, e-mail, video conferencing, etc.
Tuition costs are lower at International University of Professional Studies than at comparable institutions, as a result of reduced capital outlay for classrooms, contract faculty, and efficient administrative operations.
We encourage students of any race, color, sex, sexual orientation, national or ethnic origin, religion, or spiritual connection to apply to the University.
International University of Professional Studies, is not accredited by an accrediting agency recognized by the United States Secretary of Education. Note: In the United States, many licensing authorities require accredited degrees as the basis for eligibility for licensing. In some cases, accredited colleges may not accept for transfer, courses and degrees completed at unaccredited colleges, and some employers may require an accredited degree as a basis for eligibility for employment. (Please refer to #11 for more information.)
2. What Is Non-Traditional Education? (PDF File)
3. How Do We Evaluate Applicants?
Admission to International University of Professional Studies depends on intelligence, creativity, demonstrated capacity for self-direction and proven disciplined effort toward self-chosen objectives. Preference is given to those applicants who are already well accomplished in a chosen field, who are able to work independently and reflect potential for additional personal and professional growth. Evaluations are conducted from two perspectives:
a) Quantitative/Descriptive Analysis — The nature and content of the prospective student’s life and educational experience, the actual knowledge or skills acquired and the actual number of hours spent in those experiences.
b) Qualitative/Judgmental Analysis – The value of those experiences in relation to the objectives of the intended degree program for which the applicant has applied. Enrolled students of any race, color, sex, sexual orientation, national or ethnic origin, religion, or spiritual connection are admitted to all rights, privileges, programs and activities available at the university.
4. What are the Steps to Earning a Degree?
Five Steps to Earning a Degree:
Step 1: Initial Inquiry
The applicant discusses degree objectives with an admissions representative (if necessary) and submits an application for admission which includes a personal portfolio — an organized summary of education and life experiences related to the degree being pursued (see sample portfolio). In addition, applicants submit a nonrefundable $100 Education Advisement Fee which is credited toward tuition for students accepted for admission.
Step 2: Provisional Admission
The Admissions Committee reviews the applicant's application and personal portfolio. If the Committee requires additional information, the applicant is contacted. For students deemed qualified for admission into the university, a preliminary Academic Study Plan is prepared for the applicant. The Academic Study Plan details credits allowed for previous learning experience as well as the required course of study. The Academic Study Plan is forwarded to the applicant along with a Tuition Agreement.
Step 3: Admission
The Committee will work to determine the best faculty advisor (Mentor) for the student, with subject matter expertise related to the degree being pursued. The mentor and student will set up an initial meeting to make sure the pairing is a good fit. If agreed upon, the student is required to sign both tuition documents (ASP and TA) and submitt he initial tuition payment in order to formally solidify enrollment. The student and mentor will then meet to review the Academic Study Plan and both fine-tune and customize the plan to meet the student's educational goals. The mentor is responsible for providing subject matter expertise, identifying the student's learning needs, assisting to determine specific assignments within the framework of the Academic Study Plan, evaluating the student's coursework, assessing the student's progress, and assisting in the final evaluation of the student's accomplishments and level of scholarship. The mentor and student are partners in the student's path to success within the university.
Step 4: Advancement to Candidacy
Upon completion of coursework as required by the Academic Study Plan, the student submits the research project, thesis, or dissertation proposal for review and approval to the mentor. Once approved in content, it is sent to the Academic Dean for review and approval. After approval of the proposal, the student, under the guidance of the mentor, completes the project following the procedural guidelines in the University's dissertation/thesis manual.
When the thesis or dissertation is completed and approved by the mentor, the project is forwarded to the Academic Dean for Committee review of scholarship, academic integrity, and quality of work. Required revisions are forwarded to the student who makes the necessary changes. Students are often encouraged to work with an editor to fine-tune. The completed Academic Study Plan and revised thesis or dissertation are then submitted to the Degree Committee for final review and approval.
Step 5: Graduation
Upon the Degree Committee's recommendation, the final approval by the Academic Dean, and receipt of the student's $200 graduation fee, a degree award notice is sent to the student and the diploma is issued within 30 days.
5. What Is The Required Personal Portfolio?
6. Can I See A Sample Portfolio? (PDF File)
7. How Do I Provide Official Transcripts?
Requesting Transcripts
In order to satisfy admission requirements, International University of Professional Studies must receive your official transcripts. Once the transcripts are received, we can then customize your Academic Study Plan, allowing for all possible credit transfers.
What is an Official Transcript?
Official transcripts are sent to our university directly from your school of higher education. In order to do this, your college will need written authorization from you to release the transcripts. This authorization allows schools to comply with the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act of 1974 (Public Law 93-3 80).
Attached Transcript Form
Here at the International University Of Professional Studies, we would like to make this process as easy as possible for you. Simply fill out all the information on Transcript Request Form, sign it and mail or fax the form to the Registrar’s Office at your respective college. There may be a fee involved, in which case you will need to submit it along with your form.
* These articles are available as Portable Document Format (PDF) files. The free Adobe Acrobat Reader is required to view and print PDF files and is available for download, with instructions from Adobe's web site.
8. What Is The Tuition and Fee Structure?
9. What Do Students Have To Say About IUPS?
10. Where Is The University Located?
11. Is the University Accredited?
INTERNATIONAL UNIVERSITY OF PROFESSIONAL STUDIES IS NOT ACCREDITED BY AN ACCREDITING AGENCY RECOGNIZED BY THE UNITED STATES SECRETARY OF EDUCATION. Note: In the United States, many licensing authorities require accredited degrees as the basis for eligibility for licensing. In some cases, accredited colleges may not accept for transfer, courses and degrees completed at unaccredited colleges, and some employers may require an accredited degree as a basis for eligibility for employment.
If there is a concern as to whether your degree will be accepted for promotion, licensing, graduate school, etc., it is best to contact the appropriate licensing body, educational institution, employer, or other governing body to discuss their position on degrees from legitimate universities that are not accredited. Furthermore, it has come to our attention that as of May, 2006, there are States that may not allow people with doctorates from educational institutions that are not accredited to indicate or promote to the public that they do indeed have a Ph.D. on business cards, advertising, etc. We strongly recommend that any prospective student thoroughly check out their ability to utilize their Ph.D. in their respective State or Country prior to enrolling.
For more information about our choice to remain unaccredited, please see the IUPS Statement of Mission and Accreditation (PDF file)