Bachelor of Arts, Major in Psychology

at University of St. Francis USA

This major offers a comprehensive approach to studio art, photography and graphic design. Students may immerse them­selves in a variety of traditional and contemporary media, taught by practicing artists with local, national and international professional experience. Learning takes place in a state-of-the-art facility that’s unmatched in the region, offering dedicated spaces for a variety of media such as ceramics, digital arts, graphic design, photography, printmaking, studio arts, video editing and woodshop.

Classes are small (usually ranging from 8–15 students), giving each student the opportunity to develop enriching educational relationships with classmates and professors. The Art & Design department emphasizes the importance of blending the faculty’s professional experience with the students’ understanding of contemporary aesthetics and their development of ambitious studio practice.

Art & Design students will:

• Gain an understanding of the visual arts in relation to culture and history
• Be introduced to historical and contemporary artistic and design practices
• Learn in an environment that fosters critical thinking
• Use facilities that are current with industry standards

Concentrations

• Graphic Design
• Photography
• Studio Art

USF’s MSW program is designed for working professionals because it offers convenient evening, weekend and online classes. Full-time students can expect to complete the degree in two years or four semesters. Applicants with a bachelor’s degree in social work from a CSWE-accredited program may be eligible for advanced standing and should anticipate one academic year for completion. Part-time options are also available.

Benefits
Now more than ever, a Master of Social Work degree is critical to professional success in the social work field. Those earning an MSW degree have increased professional competency and job satisfaction, along with opportunities for career advancement. The field has shown an increased demand for individuals with the MSW degree, making it a must in today’s competitive market.

The Criminal & Social Justice major at the University of St. Francis offers students an exciting alternative to a traditional criminal justice program by offering the opportunity to build a concentration in one of several specializations. The focus of the program goes beyond the criminal justice system and examines historical, social, and legal barriers to creating a more just society. Students are educated about the structure and process of the criminal justice system with a holistic, Catholic social justice perspective.

Writing skills, ethics and integrity, service and social justice are emphasized to prepare students for a profession where these traits and skills are in high demand. The program seeks to provide students with a broad liberal arts foundation challenged by Franciscan values, and engage them in the continuous pursuit of knowledge, faith, wisdom, and justice. Students will explore and understand societal issues that lead to criminal behavior, and will learn theoretical and practical knowledge of the structures, processes, and functions of the criminal justice institutions and their relationship to other social systems.

The Master of Business Administration, or MBA, is the most popular educational path for graduate students in the United States. It is popular because of its value in business, industry, non-profit organizations, and public institutions. Chicago MBA

The USF Master of Business Administration (MBA) is available entirely online or in a hybrid program (with a mix of online and on-campus courses), depending on your needs. It is a competitive, technologically focused, global approach to management and business.

USF’s relevant and on-trend curriculum focuses on:

• Global and competitive challenges
• The value chain of business
• Analytical thinking
• Leadership and decision making

The music field is very wide, and a degree in music offers many dynamic careers in the arts. The Bachelor of Music program at the University of St. Francis is oriented toward performance and will prepare students for a career as a professional performing musician or college-level teacher and prepares students for further study in graduate school. Students can choose to concentrate in either guitar, piano or voice.

Musicians and singers earn a median pay of approximately $27 per hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS). The BLS also estimates 10,400 job openings through 2026 for musicians and singers. These jobs include singing or playing instruments either in front of a live audience or in a recording studio.

The University of St. Francis offers students ample opportunities to expand their musical skills and experience in and outside the classroom. In addition to comprehensive classwork, students can join a variety of ensembles and musical groups that perform as part of the university’s Music at Moser performance series.

Concentrations

• Guitar
• Piano
• Voice

The Finance degree is designed for students who intend to assume professional roles as financial managers. USF will prepare you with the knowledge, skills and tools you’ll need to be an effective manager of financial resources. A student may choose one of four concentrations that combine a traditional and certification-ready curriculum, experiential learning and practitioner-based instruction.

Finance students will learn to weigh benefits and costs by applying fundamental and advanced financial concepts in the decision making process. They will design financial spreadsheet models to solve real-world financial management problems, and will help advance the study of finance and its impact, both locally and globally, to make the world a better place.

An added benefit, seniors who feel inspired to keep studying to obtain an MBA or M.S. degree may take graduate-level courses during their last two semesters for dual undergraduate and graduate credit. That means students can take nine graduate-level credit hours during senior year, and can complete their MBA or M.S. one year after graduating if they attend full time. See course catalog for additional details about the “3 to Degree” program.

The M.S. in Reading program is designed for educators who want to assume Reading Specialist/Literacy Coach roles at the school or district level. The program culminates with candidates earning a Master of Science degree and a K-12 Reading Specialist Endorsement. The purpose and intent of the program is to prepare educators to become ethical decision-makers and leaders who can provide literacy-based services within an educational community.

On the front page, on the home page, on camera, or behind the microphone… these are just a few of the places you’ll find University of St. Francis Communication & Media Arts (CMMA) majors.

Communication & Media Arts is a broad field that touches on every aspect of human social behavior. Along with traditional communication theory, media writing, and broadcast/print production, you will learn about new and emerging electronic media. Digital media, wikis, video sharing, podcasts, blogs and social media are altering the way we communicate. In CMMA you will explore the fast-changing fields of advertising, public relations, journalism and broadcasting.

Students are encouraged to “jump in with both feet” from the moment they step on campus by:

• Writing articles or taking photos for the USF Encounter student news magazine
• Filling air shifts on USF’s radio station, WCSF 88.7 FM
• Creating graphics for a television or video production
• Producing on-location video news stories
• Designing websites for the community and completing real world projects
• Developing storytelling techniques for social media

If you are interested in how and why people make the choices they make then economics is your degree. As a combination of psychology, finance, business, and government, a degree in economics is incredibly useful and can lead to many interesting career choices.

Economics is a social science and graduates with an “econ” degree are in high demand. It provides you with a useful skill set and background for careers in business, finance, banking, government policy, or development.

USF’s Supply Chain Management degree prepares students to solve problems and meet organizational goals in settings including business logistics, distribution, supply chain management and domestic and international transportation management.

Supply Chain Managers are responsible for the entire chain of supply for a business, creating and delivering the products and services to the customer. This strategic and tactical functional area is critical to business success, working with marketing to meet customer needs and expectations. Supply Chain Management includes demand planning, supplier management, manufacturing, operations, logistics, transportation and distribution. This degree prepares students to solve problems and meet organizational goals in settings including supply chain management, business logistics, and domestic and international transportation management.

Best yet, USF’s Joliet location in Will County is home of North America’s largest inland port. This transportation hub area has eight major rail lines, important truck freight distribution routes, and extensive warehouse and distribution facilities. Logistics and related businesses are the county’s third largest employer, with continuing growth expected. In the U.S., supply chain jobs encompass over one third of all employment (HBR 2018).