Mission Statement

The Center for Professional Studies (CPS) has offered professional development to working professionals for over a decade, collaborating with school districts, businesses and other professional groups on continuing educational needs. Fitchburg State University believes that excellence in education practice must be supported beyond the conferring of degrees or professional licensure. As such, the CPS is a key element of the university's total strategy, providing educational opportunities to working professionals during the critical years of induction into their profession and throughout their career.

To help address this goal, the CPS offers an extensive array of high-quality professional development opportunities for educators, business people, healthcare and other working professionals. The activities of the Center include graduate courses, workshops and conferences, as well as collaboration with agencies and work force groups to provide consulting and to develop custom programs as needed.

Academic Credit and PDPs

Some professional development course offerings can be taken for Fitchburg State University graduate credit.  These courses meet the standards of the Continuing Education Department, but are not part of the degree programs.  Courses that qualify for graduate credit may also be taken for Professional Development Points (PDPs), of which the CPS is an official state provider. Certificates are awarded for each professional development offering; 1 hour = 1 PDP.  Certificates are either handed out at the end of the workshop or are mailed to the individual.