Bachelor of Arts, Major in Recreation and Sport Management

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

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 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

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.

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.

USF’s Bachelor of Social Work (BSW) program is designed for those who wish to make a career out of helping people improve their lives and reach their highest potential. Our program helps students develop skills that will give them the competency they need to be marketable and to make a difference in today’s multicultural world.

Many students report one of the most interesting aspects of our program is interacting and learning from a diverse student body and faculty. In addition, the required classes for the BSW program are small, which ensures lively discussions and hands-on experiences in and outside of the classroom. Faculty and students get to know each other well and provide a supportive environment for learning. Each year there are numerous opportunities for students to get involved in faculty research and to explore the wide range of opportunities within the social work field.

If you’re passionate about making a difference in the world by helping others and affecting social change, the BSW program at the University of St. Francis will prepare you to do just that!

Imagine going every day to a job you love. Do you have a passion for sports? Does working with kids and families interest you? Do you love being outdoors? If so, a career in the recreation and sport management field may be for you.

Recreation and leisure are essential for strong communities and satisfying lifestyles. USF’s Recreation and Sport Management program prepares students for rewarding careers in a field that provides meaningful leisure in a variety of settings. USF’s dedicated faculty prepares students for professional leadership roles through innovative instruction, experiential learning and a personalized advising process.

As the only nationally accredited program of its kind in the Chicago suburbs, USF’s Recreation & Sport Management program produces students who are marketable across a range of job settings. Nationally, jobs in the recreation field are expected to grow faster than the average for all
occupations (United States Department of Labor, Bureau of Labor Statistics). Entry level salaries average at $31,650, while median salaries can range anywhere from $62,740 to $83,790, depending on titles and duties.

Concentrations

• Community Recreation & Park Resources
• Outdoor Recreation
• Recreation Therapy
• Sport Operations Management

At the University of St. Francis, theology is approached as a science of faith whereby reason inquires into divinely revealed truth. Theology prepares a student to better understand his or her faith and therefore better serve the Church and live that faith. Rooted in tradition, the study of theology helps students answer the fundamental questions of human existence, providing a foundation upon which one can deal with the spiritual and ethical questions of the modern world.

USF theology majors receive a firm foundation in the basic knowledge and awareness regarding the religious nature of the human person in relationship to God. In this pursuit, students will gain a broad exposure into the history of religious expression and belief, particularly that of the Roman Catholic Church.

Emphasis is on Scripture, tradition, Catholic Church doctrine, and the application of ethics and morality to everyday life. While the focus is on Roman Catholicism, the interrelationships with other Christian denominations and non-Christian religions are also pursued in a spirit of ecumenism.

Concentrations

• Pastoral Ministry
• Teaching Ministry

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

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.