West Liberty University is adding a new master's degree program with two areas of study, school officials announced on Monday.

After three years of planning and "perfecting" the curriculum, West Virginia's oldest institution of higher education is offering a Master of Professional Studies (MPS) degree, WTRF News reported.

The MPS in Organizational Leadership track prepares graduate students to become fully competent leaders as they discover their own leadership style. The MPS in Justice Leadership track is designed for working professionals in the fields of law enforcement and justice administration.

"We believe the 30-credit hour program will fill a void in our curriculum that many professionals and our own graduates will welcome," University Provost Brian Crawford said in a statement.

The program, which was approved by the Higher Learning Commission in August, will begin in late September at the university's Highlands Center campus.

The structure and curriculum of the program emphasizes learning directly relevant to professional employment in both for-profit and non-profit fields. Two tracks or areas of emphasis are offered, organizational leadership and justice leadership.

Other tracks will be developed as student needs and interests are determined, school officials said.

"There is a real need for this type of quality degree program for working adults. We are pleased to offer it in a convenient location and format," Dr. Thomas Michaud, dean of the School of Professional Studies, said.

Within the state of West Virginia, no other institution offers a master's in leadership degree with an area of emphasis structure designed to be this responsive to student needs, according to Michaud.

"The fact that our MPS is affordable makes it even more attractive to the students I've talked with," he said. "Many other colleges offer an accelerated master's program but few are as affordable, convenient and adaptable as this one."

In addition to the new master's degree, the School of Professional Studies Offers undergraduate degrees that fit the busy schedules of working adults, including the Bachelor of Arts in Organizational Leadership and Administration, the Regents Bachelor of Arts and the Bachelor of Applied Science.