School of Lifelong Learning
College of Education and Human Development
The Professional Interdisciplinary Studies and University Studies programs offer adult learners flexible pathways to degree completion through fully online, hybrid, and face-to-face instruction. Our programs provide opportunities to engage in relevant coursework and training designed to build 21st century professional competencies such as lifelong learning, research skills, strategic problem solving, teamwork, communication, and habits of leadership.
Elevate Your Education. Advance Your Career.
The School of Lifelong Learning was established by the Mississippi Board of Trustees of State Institutions of Higher Learning in November 2002 with the expressed purpose of providing access to higher education for nontraditional adult learners. The School of Lifelong Learning (SLL) meets the academic and talent development (professional development) needs of adults 25 years of age and older. The School comprises the following units: the academic unit (Professional Interdisciplinary Studies and University Studies Programs), the Center for Professional Development, and the Continuing Education Learning Center. Whether your goal is to enhance your professional skills through completion of an undergraduate degree, prepare for admission to graduate school, position yourself for a promotion or career transition through professional training, or simply reach a personal academic goal, the School of Lifelong Learning is here to help you elevate your learning to the next level.
ACADEMIC PROGRAMS
1. BACHELOR OF SCIENCE IN PROFESSIONAL INTERDISCIPLINARY STUDIES (PRIS)
The Bachelor of Science in Professional Interdisciplinary Studies is designed for the adult learner seeking a dynamic and relevant education for the modern world. This program moves beyond traditional majors by integrating knowledge from multiple disciplines, empowering students to solve complex problems in academic, professional, and civic contexts. Students master in-demand 21st-century skills and are uniquely equipped for entry into emerging, innovative industries.
The curriculum cultivates a mindset of lifelong learning, ensuring our students are not just prepared for their next career advancement or graduate school opportunity but are also adaptable learners capable of continuous growth throughout their professional lives. Ultimately, we graduate proactive professionals ready to leverage interdisciplinary thinking to drive innovation and achieve success across all sectors of the economy.
Two concentrations are available: General Interdisciplinary Studies or Human Resource Development.
GENERAL INTERDISCIPLINARY STUDIES
The General Interdisciplinary Studies will prepare you for a broad range of careers by allowing you to design a course of study across disciplines such as Education, Behavioral and Social Science, Natural Sciences, Liberal Arts, and more!
HUMAN RESOURCE DEVELOPMENT
Human Resource Development Concentration is a professional concentration area that prepares learners to engage in the work of training and developing the workforce within an organization. Professional Interdisciplinary Studies students have the option of elevating their undergraduate degree program by selecting to complete 27 hours of HRD coursework to earn the Human Resource Development Concentration. Employment opportunities for human resource managers are expected to grow 7% over the next 10 years.
The HRD concentration is industry-driven and includes courses that address issues that are relevant in the 21st-century workforce through a compelling curriculum in the following areas:
- Design, Delivery, and Facilitation of Training
- Conflict Resolution and Negotiation
- Ethical Procedures in the Workforce
- Assessing and Analyzing Training Needs
- Management and Administration of the Training Function
Human Resource Development (HRD) is a dynamic interdisciplinary profession that combines training and development, organization development, and career development efforts for the purpose of improving individual, team, and organizational performance.
2. BACHELOR OF UNIVERSITY STUDIES (BUS)
The University Studies Program at Jackson State University grew out of the statewide Complete 2 Compete (C2C) initiative — a program designed to help adult learners return to college and finish their degrees. While the C2C program has since been phased out, Jackson State University continues its mission through the University Studies Program, providing a flexible pathway for adults who have earned college credit but have not yet completed a degree. This initiative remains committed to helping returning students finish their education, enhance career opportunities, and improve their overall quality of life.
The Bachelor of University Studies is appropriate for adult learners who have at least 90 credit hours earned and have not attended a postsecondary institution in the past twenty-four months.
Both PRIS and BUS are offered in both a traditional (16-week course) format as well as the fully online (8-week course delivery) format.
Ready to Be a Tiger?
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