“Saint Peter’s University believes in innovation in higher education, and the APEX initiative is a testament to the University’s commitment of providing value to its students.” – President Hubert Benitez, D.D.S., Ph.D.

The Professional Experience

As a student who has earned an associate degree during your high school years, you’ve already hit the gas on your education and career path. APEX supercharges your college experience by combining high-value academic credentials with real-world, paid work experience. Once you’ve cleared all your undergraduate degree requirements in years 1 and 2, you’ll move on to the Professional Experience, which is made up of 2 professional certificates and on-the-ground work experience with one of our industry partners.

The Professional Certificates

During Year 3, you’ll complete two 12-credit certificates that will enhance your preparation for the workforce thanks to their immediate applicability to professional settings. You can select the undergraduate certificate from one of 14 different options based on your interest or your planned career path. Your advisor will help you make the best choice for you.

All APEX Scholars complete a graduate-level certificate in Strategic Communication. Employers consistently rank the ability to communicate effectively as the top-ranked soft skill they seek in an employee. Don’t believe us? Just ask LinkedIn, which found Communication to be the most desired skill for employers in its annual survey.

Twelve (12) credits from these certificates will “roll forward” into the master’s program, allowing for an accelerated completion of the graduate degree.

Select an undergraduate certificate program from the following options:

  • Management Certificate
  • Financial Accounting Certificate
  • Digital Marketing & Social Media Certificate
  • Healthcare Management Certificate
  • Human Resource Management Certificate
  • Sports and Event Management Certificate
  • Cyber Security Certificate
  • Professional Sales Certificate
  • Fashion Business Certificate
  • Leadership Certificate
  • Risk Management Certificate
  • Entrepreneurship Certificate
  • Project Management Certificate
  • Non-Profit Management Certificate

Experiential Learning

Building your resume happens beyond the classroom, and our Professional Experience Partners– companies and organizations who believe in the transformative power of APEX– are stepping up in a big way to create opportunities for APEX Scholars in the form of cooperative learning experiences. You’ll be doing hands-on work with these partners so that, by the time you graduate, you’ll be anything but “entry level.”

  • Students will complete two, semester-long, paid Professional Experiences. Each will be worth 3 credits.
  • APEX Scholars are guaranteed a placement in 2 Professional Experiences– one in the fall semester and one in the spring semester– and will receive compensation for their work in the form of direct pay from a Professional Experience industry partner or stipend/grant funds provided by the University.
  • APEX Scholars may continue the same Professional Experience placement over the course of 2 semesters, depending on their interest, placement availability, and approval from the Professional Experience Partner.

Year 4 - The Master's Degree

The Master of Arts in Communication & Public Relations helps develop your skills in creating impactful messages in the working world. Whether you plan to work in business, finance, non-profit, the sciences, or a helping profession, every student can benefit from a solid foundation in strategic communication. Strong communication skills are harder to find in employees than you might think; that’s why employers regularly cite an employee’s ability to communicate effectively as the top in-demand skill. As an APEX Scholar, you’ll cultivate these skills on an accelerated timeline. But, hey… you’re used to that by now! In just one academic year of study, you’ll be a newly minted Master of Arts, and you’ll have completed all requirements for the APEX initiative.
  • Master of Arts in Communication & Public Relations – 33 credit
  • 12 credits rolled forward from the graduate certificate
  • Students will complete 21 credits during the 4th year
    • 6 credits in Fall
    • 6 credits in Winter
    • 6 credits in Spring
    • 3 credits in Summer
For more information about APEX, please contact us at apex@saintpeters.edu.