Bachelor of Science, Major in Biochemistry

at University of St. Francis USA

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

The function of marketing is to create interest, value, and satisfaction for customers of for-profit and not-for-profit firms. It is the mechanism that matches buyers and sellers through product development, pricing, logistics and integrated marketing communications.

Marketing professionals are dynamic people with creative strengths who interact with customers to interpret their needs.

As a Marketing major, you’ll be inspired by research and development, translating products and services into terms of benefits and features that consumers will really understand. Marketing is a crucial strategic business function. USF’s Marketing degree will help you develop the tools, skills, and confidence you need to enjoy a successful and rewarding career in the field.

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 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

Web Application Development focuses on implementation of automated business systems on the internet. This major prepares highly technical developers for a variety of positions in the world of business marketing for the World Wide Web. The Web Development major will give you the course work to prepare you for new challenges in the world of web technology.

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, web developers earn a median salary of $67,990 and are expected to see a 15 percent increase in jobs by 2026. Web development is not only planning a website, but also understanding and supporting the database technology, the planning of a system project and the network requirements.

This major incorporates the visual and oral communica­tion aspects of web development with the technology components of networking and program­ming. Students in this program will be prepared to create well-designed websites and manage the creation of those websites and will also be prepared to implement and administer web servers. The emphasis of the program is on the design and development of server applications, site planning, page creation, tools, and technologies for server automation and hosting options.

Business analytics refers to the skills, technologies, practices for continuous iterative exploration and investigation of past business performance to gain insight and drive business planning. Business analytics focuses on developing new insights and understanding of business performance based on data and statistical methods.

Business analytics depends on data quality, the skill of analysts who understand the technologies and the business, and an organizational commitment to using data to gain insights that inform business decisions. Business analytics makes extensive
use of analytical modeling and numerical analysis, including explanatory and predictive modeling, and fact-based management to drive decision making.  Analytics may be used as input for human decisions or may drive fully automated decisions.

Business Analytics is a growing degree at most universities and is needed in the business environment. Students need Business Analytics programs and courses to support their business success in the marketplace while they identify and analyze patterns in data via visualization, statistical analysis, and data analytics.

Business Analytics (B.S.) Business analytics is the iterative, methodical exploration of an organization’s data, with an emphasis on statistical analysis. Business analytics is used to make data-informed decisions. Business analytics depends on data quality, skilled analysts who understand the technologies and the business, and an organizational commitment to using data to gain insights that inform business decisions. Business analytics makes extensive use of analytical modeling and numerical analysis, including explanatory and predictive modeling, and fact-based management to drive decision making. Analytics may be used as input for human decisions or may drive fully automated decisions.

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.

Studio Art:
Equips students with a sound foundation for entry into a graduate program or a career as an artist.

Radiography is an allied health profession that employs X-radiation to produce images of the human body. The B.S. in Radiography at USF is a “2+2 program.” This means participating students will complete two years of liberal and pre-professional science education courses at USF before applying for admission to a professional program at Swedish American Health System in Rockford, Illinois or Northwestern Memorial Hospital in Chicago. (Admission to the professional education component is controlled by the sponsoring hospitals.)

The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) reports that the median national annual wage for radiologic technologists, also known as radiographers, was $60,070 in 2017. According to the BLS, there will be a projected 13 percent rise in employment for radiographers by 2026, which is a faster-than-average growth rate compared to all occupations.

At the University of St. Francis, students benefit from small, intimate classes where they can work closely with professors. Most importantly, USF prepares students for successful careers in radiography and the allied health professions.

Industrial-organizational psychology is the scientific study of human behavior in organizations and the workplace. As an I-O Psychology major at USF, you’ll learn about major psychological theories and their application in human resources through hiring, training and talent development, performance appraisal, motivation and work satisfaction. You’ll also learn more about organizational communication, organizational change and development, team building and leadership, culture and diversity, safety in the workplace and more. You’ll conduct field research and assessment, and will grow your skills in literature-based research, problem solving, oral and written communication, teamwork, critical thinking, and independent learning. You’ll also enrich your commitment to values and ethics while doing research and business—guided by the values of respect, integrity, compassion and service.

Graduates will be able to apply their understanding of major psychological theories and principles in their organizations and work life. They will be prepared for entry-level job positions and graduate-level training. According to a survey, jobs in the I-O psychology field are projected to increase by 19 percent before 2024.

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

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.