Bachelor of Arts, Major in Communication and Media Arts with Concentrations in Media Studies

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 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

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.

The field of music promises a creative career, and to prepare students, the University of St. Francis offers a friendly and supportive environment with a multitude of performance opportunities—recitals, concerts, theater and classes.

The Bachelor of Art in Music is a four-year degree preparing students for music-filled careers that allow for creative thinking and expression, and offers the rewarding experience of sharing one’s art with others. For those who teach students – either in a classroom, studio, or private lessons – the experience of helping others express themselves through music can be extremely gratifying.

Through classes and extracurricular activities, students will have ample opportunities to expand their musical abilities. The university hosts a variety musical and theater performances open to the public, giving students a chance to showcase their talents. The Music program also offers a Digital Audio Recording Arts concentration for students interested in exploring the technical side of music production.

If you’re serious about learning everything about music from theory to performance to recording, the Music program at the University of St. Francis is for you.

Concentrations

• Digital Audio Recording Arts
• Generalist

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 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.

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.

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.

As a USF DARA major, you will become a musically competent professional. You’ll gain the technical knowledge to excel in today’s digital-based music production industry. You’ll also acquire the knowledge, principles and practices of engineering methodology and music production, while learning to turn your artistry into a viable and sustainable business.

Each DARA major will have a prolific portfolio of work with a resume that illustrates his/her exceptional abilities. You’ll be equipped for success as an audio engineer, music industry entrepreneur, creator of user generated content or a recording artist.

In the studio, you’ll remix and reshape audio loops, create MIDI compositions utilizing various MIDI editors and controllers, and capture, edit, mix and master audio using USF’s state-of-the-art facilities.

The DARA Studio includes digital audio workstations that run Avid Protools and Ableton Live as host DAWs. Students use a myriad of embedded plug-ins and virtual instruments, an extensive microphone selection, a tracking room, sound booths, a control room and editing suites to create their musical masterpieces, at which point the value of the DARA program and coursework will truly reveal itself.