Our History

In June of 2003, the Board of Trustees of The City University of New York created the CUNY School of Professional Studies (CUNY SPS) to meet the educational needs of working adults, organizations, and employers through timely, flexible, and academically rigorous programs.

Starting with 200 students, CUNY SPS is now in its 19thyear, and currently serves over 4,200 students through high-quality bachelor’s degrees, master’s degrees, and certificates, in addition to the 33,000students served annually in our noncredit professional education and workplace learning programs. Many students work full-time and are part-time students; 90% are over 25 years of age, and two in three students are from underrepresented groups.

In 2006, after developing 11 credential and certificateprograms, the School’s growth acceleratedwith the launch of the University’s first onlinedegree, the BA in Communication and Culture(now the BA in Communication and Media). Thisprogram, designed for students returning to collegeto complete a four-year degree, saw over 200enrollments in its first year. The curriculum wasdeveloped by senior full-time faculty from acrossthe University, and was offered with a full suiteonline student services, such as financial aid, helpdesk support, and orientation.

With this first online degree’s success, CUNY SPSdeveloped a second. A group of full-time CUNYfaculty developed a BS in Business, launching inthe spring of 2008 with 151 students.

The Joseph S. Murphy Institute for Worker Educationand Labor Studies, established in July 2005as an expansion of the Queens College WorkerEducation Program, became part of CUNY SPS in2006, helping union members meet their careeradvancement and personal growth needs through

labor studies and urban studies degrees and certificates developed during its time with the School. (In 2018, the Murphy Institute separated from CUNY SPS, becoming an independent school within the University, the CUNY School of Labor and Urban Studies.)

In 2007-2008, CUNY SPS developed a Master of Arts in Applied Theatre and a Master of Arts in Disability Studies, each the first degree of its kind in the nation. The School now offers 26 degree programs (24 fully online, 2 hybrid, and 1 in person): the MS in Business Management and Leadership, the University’s first online graduate degree program, was launched in Fall 2009, followed by the BS in Health Information Management (first offered in Fall 2011), the BA in Sociology (Fall 2011), the BA in Psychology (Spring 2012), the MS in Data Science (Fall 2012), the BA in Disability Studies (Fall 2012), the BA in Human Relations (Fall 2012), the BS in Nursing (Spring 2014), the BS in Information Systems (Fall 2014), the MS in Disability Services in Higher Education (Spring 2016), the MA in Psychology (Spring 2016), the MA in Youth Studies (Spring 2017), three MS degrees in Nursing (Fall 2017-Fall 2018), the BS in Health Services Administration (Spring 2018), the BA in Liberal Studies (Spring 2018), the MS in Research Administration and Compliance (Fall 2018), the MA in Museum Studies (Fall 2019), the MS in Health Information Management (Spring 2020), the BA in Youth Studies (Fall 2022), and the BPS in Applied Management and Entrepreneurship (Fall 2022).

Since 2015, CUNY SPS has been nationally recognizedby U.S. News & World Report in its annuallist of Best Online Bachelor’s Degree Programs.That first year, CUNY SPS was ranked 27th (in thetop 15%); in 2021, it was ranked 8th (in the top2%). Many of the School’s degrees have receivedtheir own individual high ranking and recognition.

With the School’s growth in degree offerings came dramatic growth in the Professional Education and Workplace Learning (PEWL) programs—a portfolio that now includes $32 million in grants and contracts to create and administer customized workplace learning to help people advance their careers and help employers improve their effectiveness.

PEWL comprises partnerships with such City and State agencies as the New York City Department of Homeless Services, the New York City Administration of Children’s Services, the New York State Office of Children and Family Services, and the New York City Department of Social Services, among others. PEWL designs, develops, implements, an devaluates in-person, virtual, and online non-credit training to approximately 33,000 learners a year across a range of customized learning programs including leadership development, anti-bias and implicit bias, on-the-job-training, and skill-based training.

2003

CUNY School of Professional Studies founded in 2003

2006

Joseph S, Murphy Institute for Worker Education and Labor Studies becomes a part of CUNY SPS

CUNY SPS launches its first online degree, BA in Communication and Culture, and enrolled over 200 students in first year

2008

CUNY SPS develops the first in the nation masters degree’s in Applied Theatre and Disability Studies (in person)

BS in Business launches in Spring 2008 with 151 students

2010 - 2012

The CUNY SPS Office of Development was established in 2010 with one team member, and the CUNY SPS Foundation was founded in 2011 with three members, who raised a total of $16,000 that fiscal year

First online graduate degree launched in 2009

Between 2011 and 2012 the following degrees were launched: BS in Health Information Management (first offered in Fall 2011), the BA in Sociology (Fall 2011), the BA in Psychology (Spring 2012), the MS in Data Science (Fall 2012), the BA in Disability Studies (Fall 2012), the BA in Human Relations (Fall 2012)

2013 - 2015

In Fall 2013, the School moved to its own campus building at 119 W 31st St., with additional space at 101 W 31st St.

CUNY SPS launched the BS in Nursing (Spring 2014), the BS in Information Systems (Fall 2014)

In 2015, the School received approval from the CUNY Board of Trustees to becomes its own, independently registered institution

The MS in Disability Services in Higher Education (Spring 2016), the MA in Psychology (Spring 2016), the MA in Youth Studies (Spring 2017), three MS degrees in Nursing (Fall 2017-Fall 2018) are also launched

In November of 2016, the dean charged a Governance Review Task Force to review and revise the School’s Governance Plan

2018 - 2020

In 2017, the School created its Student Association, with an elected membership, a constitution and bylaws, an operating budget, and a professional development grant for students

Also launched BS in Health Services Administration (Spring 2018), the BA in Liberal Studies (Spring 2018), the MS in Research Administration and Compliance (Fall 2018), the MA in Museum Studies (Fall 2019), and an MS in Health Information Management (Spring 2020)

The revised School’s Governance Plan was approved by the CUNY Board of Trustees in May of 2019, and implemented with the Fall 2019 semester

CUNY SPS has been nationally recognized by U.S. News & World Report in its annual list of Best Online Bachelor’s Degree Programs. That first year, CUNY SPS was ranked 27th (in the top 15%); in 2021, it was ranked 8th (in the top 2%)