Majors and Minors
At the North Park University School of Adult Learning (SAL), you have two options for finishing your undergraduate degree. You can either pursue a Bachelor of Arts (BA) or a Bachelor of General Studies (BGS) degree. The most significant difference between the two degrees is that the BA has a foreign language requirement. Both degrees require you to complete 120 total semester hours of credit:
- 8 hours of adult learning core courses
- 44 hours of general education courses (all 44 hours may be fulfilled in transfer)
- 40 hours of major coursework (up to 20 hours may be fulfilled in transfer)
- 28 hours of elective courses (all 28 hours may be fulfilled in transfer)
Majors
All SAL students are asked to choose a major area of study. These seven majors are designed to build job-ready skills for a broad range of careers in the private, public, and nonprofit sectors.
By learning the core principles of finance, marketing, and management, you will be well-prepared for graduate study in business, or management roles within corporate or nonprofit organizations. Business administration majors graduate with strong communication and presentation skills, the ability to effectively manage resources and analyze financial statements, and the capacity to lead organizational change.
As a church and ministry management major, your coursework will focus on the unique skills required for management and leadership roles in faith-based organizations. Those skills include fundraising and stewardship, strategic planning and organizational growth, financial management of nonprofits, information systems, and communicating in organizations.
This major is particularly valuable for students considering careers in government social services agencies, private human services agencies, mental health organizations, or graduate programs in social work or clinical psychology. Courses in this major address normal human development, mental illness, and principles of counseling diverse populations. There is also a hands-on practicum, where counseling psychology majors can use their newly acquired skills to help real clients.
Law enforcement and criminal justice represent two of the fastest growing professions in America. The criminal justice major provides a broad foundation in criminal procedure, methods, law, and professional ethics to prepare students for management-level roles in law enforcement and related organizations. In addition to taking courses on the causes, prevention, and control of crime, criminal justice majors get to work with local law enforcement agencies as part of a supervised, for-credit practicum.
Business is powered by information technology. Successful organizations use software to analyze data and make informed real-time decisions. There is a tremendous need for managers who not only understand how this technology works, but how to use it to make production more efficient, customers better satisfied, and companies more profitable. MIS majors complete coursework in business and leadership fundamentals, plus classes on managing data, systems analysis and design, and Web technologies.
North Park has one of the strongest nonprofit management programs in Chicago. As a nonprofit management major, you will learn how to apply solid business sense and sound leadership skills to any kind of nonprofit organization, from private foundations to arts advocacy groups to faith-based initiatives. Courses include effective nonprofit governance and volunteer management, economic decision-making, financial management, and building public and financial support for nonprofits.
This is an excellent major for students considering graduate study in business, management, human resources, or nonprofit management. The coursework in this major is designed to develop effective skills for successfully leading people, departments, and entire organizations. Classes include understanding group and organizational behavior, assessing leadership skills, and managing change and conflict.
Minors
Add a second concentration and skill set to your resume by pursuing an academic minor. For a minor to appear on your SAL transcript, you need to take between 20 and 22 semester hours in one of the five programs below. In most cases, you won’t have to complete more than 120 semester hours to earn a minor. Your academic advisor can help you choose the best courses to graduate on time. We offer minors in:
Certificates of Study
If you don’t have time to pursue a full bachelor’s degree, consider our two undergraduate certificate programs. These are focused, accelerated courses of study that add valuable knowledge and job-ready skills to your resume. Certificates can be completed in six to nine months and all credit can be applied later toward a bachelor’s degree. We offer certificates of study in:
Contact Us
If you have any questions about majors, degrees, or academic requirements, don’t hesitate to contact Leslie Bertholdt, assistant director of admission, online or at (773) 244-4577.