Access
Accessing a brighter future
Loyola University Chicago and the School of Continuing and Professional Studies (SCPS) excel at providing an accessible, high-quality education to a diverse community of adult learners in the Chicago area and, increasingly, across the United States. SCPS’s success is rooted in a sincere respect for the adult learner and a profound understanding of the responsibilities students hold beyond the classroom, such as full-time employment and family obligations.
Building on Loyola’s commitment to educational outreach and inclusiveness, SCPS designs its programs with flexibility and relevance top of mind. Whether online, evening, or weekend, SCPS’s transparent scheduling options present students the freedom to learn in the way and on the timeline best suiting them. As a result, students gain the knowledge and skills necessary to elevate their professional pursuits and their lives.
Unlocking opportunities with online learning
When doctors diagnosed Yvette Garcia (BA ’25) with breast cancer in 2018 at age 36, the news stirred critical self-reflection.
The Chicago area native began evaluating her life through a new lens, and nothing—not her relationships, not her professional life—was off limits.
“I had a lot of figuring out to do about where I was and where I wanted to go,” Garcia admits.
For Garcia, SCPS became a valuable ally. Online evening courses in the BA in paralegal studies program enabled Garcia to balance her academic pursuits with full-time work while remaining a present force for her two children. Moreover, the application-oriented program incorporated job-relevant training in areas like legal
argumentation and case discovery with soft skills like communication and critical thinking.
“I learned way more than I ever expected about the field and myself,” Garcia says. “The entire experience completely broadened my way of thinking and elevated my confidence.”
After completing her paralegal studies degree requirements in 18 months and earning a dual certificate in litigation and corporate law in the process, Garcia accepted a remote position with a Washington-based firm specializing in family law. She calls it her “ultimate career job.”
“Loyola was the place to get me where I wanted to go,” Garcia says.
"We are mindful of the lifestyles these students have as well as the families and the jobs they have. SCPS is the perfect place to take that leap. Just because you have a family or are working full time does not mean you have to stop your dreams or your career.” KATRICE MILLER, SCPS PARALEGAL INSTRUCTOR
Unlocking opportunities with online learning
When doctors diagnosed Yvette Garcia (BA ’25) with breast cancer in 2018 at age 36, the news stirred critical self-reflection.
The Chicago area native began evaluating her life through a new lens, and nothing—not her relationships, not her professional life—was off limits.
“I had a lot of figuring out to do about where I was and where I wanted to go,” Garcia admits.
For Garcia, SCPS became a valuable ally. Online evening courses in the BA in paralegal studies program enabled Garcia to balance her academic pursuits with full-time work while remaining a present force for her two children. Moreover, the application-oriented program incorporated job-relevant training in areas like legal
argumentation and case discovery with soft skills like communication and critical thinking.
“I learned way more than I ever expected about the field and myself,” Garcia says. “The entire experience completely broadened my way of thinking and elevated my confidence.”
After completing her paralegal studies degree requirements in 18 months and earning a dual certificate in litigation and corporate law in the process, Garcia accepted a remote position with a Washington-based firm specializing in family law. She calls it her “ultimate career job.”
“Loyola was the place to get me where I wanted to go,” Garcia says.