The Career and Organizational Studies (COS) Bachelor of Science Degree Program at EIU is a part of the School of Technology in the Lumpkin College of Business and Applied Sciences. COS is a distinct field of academic study focused on the understanding of the human aspects of organizations including people, processes, and practices. For the past 30 years, the COS Program has prepared career-minded working adults to assume professional roles in corporate and non-for-profit settings. The program continues to gain popularity because of its flexible format and it is particularly well-suited for working professionals interested in obtaining or advancing to supervisory, managerial, or leadership positions. Since its inception, the program has been devoted to serving educational needs of working adults by offering courses in alternative formats (week nights, weekends, and online) and at various locations (Charleston, Champaign, Danville). 

The COS Program, established in 1975, enables career-minded individuals with employment experience and professional or technical expertise to earn a bachelor of science degree by attending classes on or off-campus. The degree program is designed so adult learners can pursue a bachelor's degree on a part-time basis. Students take from 3 to 12 semester hours of courses each semester.

The COS Program is for career-minded individuals who:

Have college credit they want to apply toward a bachelor’s degree

Have work experience, certificates, or other “college level” learning experiences (See Prior Learning Credit)

The COS Degree Program:

Is focused on each student's career goals.

Is individually designed for each student.

Provides the opportunity to obtain credit for learning that occurs in the "laboratories of the workplace." 

Therefore, students can earn up to 30 semester hours of credit by completing a portfolio. The COS Program allows students to continue working while pursuing the degree.