Master of Science in Reading

at University of St. Francis USA

The University of St. Francis Psychology program provides students with a solid foundation in psychology preparing you for successful career development — in graduate training or the workplace. You will explore ideas, learn cognitive skills, and experience both personal and professional development.

Designed using the guidelines of the American Psychological Association (APA), USF’s Psychology program offers students the knowledge and flexibility to enter a specified field for advanced post-graduate training. Students may individualize their course of study according to their personal interests such as clinical, developmental or social psychology or gerontology. You can gain more experience through USF’s Psychology Club, which offers field trips, social gatherings, admission to psychology conferences and more. Study psychology at USF, and you’ll be prepared for a successful future!

A growing field with many options, employment for psychologists is expected to grow 14 percent by 2026, faster than the average for all occupations, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.

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.

Mathematics permeates virtually every intellectual discipline. Carl Friedrich Gauss called mathematics the “queen of the sciences” and indeed, it forms an integral part of scientific thought and is a necessary component of contemporary advances in all scientific fields. Mathematics majors are analytical, detail-oriented and methodical.

It’s a great time to be a mathematician! The career outlook for mathematicians is favorable and healthy. The Bureau of Labor Statistics reports that the median salary for mathematicians and statisticians as $84,760 with a projected 33 percent increase in employment by 2026.

The mathematics program at the University of St. exposes students to the various topics in undergraduate mathematics along with analytical skills to continue lifelong learning and application of mathematics. Dedicated faculty members get excited about innovations in technology and education and bring both to their classrooms. They also work closely with their students to cultivate a student’s personal interest.

Concentrations

• Mathematical Science
• Actuarial Science
• Mathematics Secondary Ed. (9-12)

Health care is one of the fastest growing industries in the U.S., increasing the need for qualified people to lead and manage facilities and staff. Executives must have in-depth knowledge of not only health care, but also traditional business concepts like accounting, finance, human resources, leadership and strategy.

Students will study health care delivery, management, information management, epidemiology and more. In addition, USF’s Franciscan values of respect, service, integrity, and compassion align with the values necessary for delivering exceptional patient care. This prepares students to lead with compassion and excellence in any setting.

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 USF science faculty is committed to the success of Biology majors, which is proven by the fact that more than 97 percent of natural science students obtain employment or enter graduate school within six months of graduating. The new LaVerne and Dorothy Brown Science Hall offers a unique, state-of-the-art learning environment where students will have top scientific labs, tools and resources at their fingertips and interaction with faculty and peers is made more effective through the clustering of programs in the building.

As a biology major, you will use biological models and simulation to understand complex biological systems. A main goal of the Biology program is to enable students to use the scientific method to formulate testable hypotheses, design appropriate experiments, analyze quantitative and qualitative data and draw appropriate conclusions in biological sciences.

You’ll do research and report on your findings using scientific literature. Through your courses, you’ll integrate and relate information from biology, chem­istry, physics, mathematics, and the liberal arts to make meaningful connections to society and the natural world and to apply this knowledge to new situations.

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

Concentrations

• Advertising & Marketing
• Audio
• Journalism & Public Communication
• Media Studies
• Video
• Visual Communication

The Master of Science Degree in Health Administration (M.S.) program at the University of St. Francis is designed for students who have knowledge and experience in specific areas of health care and are seeking a broader understanding of the field.

While the program is offered in a convenient format, the content is rigorous. The curriculum includes both the theories of management and its practical application in the health care field. Sound administrative skills—systematic, critical and open-minded investigation of literature and data for the solution of challenging problems—are essential for professionals preparing for increasingly significant roles in today’s society.

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 Adventure-Based Recreation Therapy major at USF seeks to prepare students who are interested in helping others develop into their full potential through the use of outdoor experiences.

Students graduating from this major can find themselves working in a field such as Adventure Therapy or Wilderness Therapy. Adventure Therapy seeks to gives outdoor recreation opportunities to individuals with disabilities. This can include adaptive skiing, adaptive canoeing, adaptive rock climbing, and much more. The goal is to provide unique experiences that help the individuals to develop not only great physical freedom but also make social and mental improvements. Wilderness Therapy differs in its approach to development, focusing on the use of the outdoors to help treat at-risk or substance dependent youth and adults. Careers focus on providing outdoor experiences that develop a great sense of personal understanding in the participants.

This major provides a three-pronged approach. A third of the coursework helps the student to develop a level of comfort and skill building in the outdoors while gaining important leadership experience in a wilderness setting. Aanother third of the coursework trains the student in recreational therapy and, once an internship is completed, allows the student to sit for the Certified Therapeutic Recreation Specialist exam. The final third of the coursework is rooted in substance abuse counseling, preparing the student to help individuals through any emotional/mental challenges they may face.

As a medical laboratory scientist (MLS), also known as a medical technologist or clinical laboratory scientist, you will analyze a variety of biological specimens. Graduates from this program are responsible for performing scientific testing on samples and reporting results to physicians.

The Medical Laboratory Scence program at the University of St. Francis provides a thorough education for students interested in pursuing a career in the clinical lab sciences. A dedicated, passionate staff works with students throughout the program, preparing them to become qualified, well-prepared and confident professionals upon graduation.

If you’re serious about becoming a top medical lab scientist, then the rigorous Medical Laboratory Science program at the University of St. Francis can help you do just that.