Northwestern University School of Professional Studies
About SPS
Welcome
Dear Friends of SPS,
As a global University, Northwestern's mission is to improve our community and contribute to the greater good. By helping limit the spread of COVID-19, we are protecting not just ourselves but those beyond our campus, including those who are more susceptible to the virus, such as the elderly and those with underlying health conditions.
To do our part to protect our community and help combat the spread of COVID-19, the School of Professional Studies (SPS) has taken steps to pause any on-campus activity in buildings. This includes:
Ceasing all face-to-face appointments and walk-ins to our buildings
Implementing technology solutions that enable us to continue our work and manage all business activities remotely
Remaining available, and looking forward to, helping you by email, phone, and web conferencing
Providing updates about how we will continue educational offerings for the upcoming quarters
Updating the SPS website with the latest information regarding classes, support, and administrative functions
Moving all on-campus/blended courses to remote learning classrooms
Continuing to offer existing online courses as usual
We are each navigating this unprecedented and evolving global health crisis in our own way. Northwestern University School of Professional Studies is here to support you in whatever way we can, and we remain committed to providing access to the high-quality educational programs you need to support your goals. We’re here when you are ready to move forward.
Sincerely,
Thomas F. Gibbons, Dean, Northwestern University School of Professional Studies
A core part of Northwestern's mission for more than 80 years
Northwestern University School of Professional Studies students are part of a unique and distinguished university community. They learn in a supportive, collaborative environment in courses — offered online and in the evenings on Northwestern's Chicago and Evanston campuses — that enable them to balance their personal and professional lives with the pursuit of learning. Classes in SPS degree and certificate programs are taught by some of the university's most respected and talented teachers — scholars and professionals who value the diversity, energy and creativity of our students.
One of the 12 colleges and schools of Northwestern University, SPS and adult learning have been a core part of Northwestern’s mission for more than 80 years. SPS is enmeshed in many parts of the University — sharing faculty members, creating innovative programs and setting the standard for higher education for adults. SPS students become part of a university ranked among the nation’s best universities with top medical, law and business schools, and a faculty that has made pioneering contributions to materials science, nanotechnology, economics, the humanities, and more.
Our Mission
Providing innovative learning opportunities
The mission of the School of Professional Studies is to provide a superior Northwestern education to outstanding students whose academic pursuits must be balanced with professional or personal commitments. SPS strives to be a national leader in continuing and professional education by providing innovative learning opportunities that serve the lifelong learning needs of its students.
Meet some of our students and alums
It was incredibly important for me to maintain my professional experience while I went to school. Northwestern gave me the most flexibility and the best-rounded coursework, so I knew I’d be able to learn what I wanted to on a timeline that accommodated my busy schedule.”
My professors are running businesses, working for consulting firms and agencies, and navigating today’s workplace just like I am. Hearing about their experiences and creative solutions to work challenges many of us face is not only really interesting but also applicable.”
Northwestern is a high-end research facility and I’m certain some of the more advanced concepts I learned here are going to help me fit in well at Yale.
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