Bachelor of Music, Major in Music Performance

at University of St. Francis USA

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.

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

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 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 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

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!

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.

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.

The University of St. Francis offers a highly regarded bachelor’s degree program in accounting.

As an Accounting major, you’ll learn the language of business– to think critically and to measure, process, and communicate financial information. You’ll also learn to use the software needed to capture and analyze that information. Most importantly, USF will prepare you to enhance the accounting profession through your research skills, leadership and service.

The increase in number of accounting jobs over the next 10 years will be double that of overall job growth, according to the Illinois Department of Employment Security. Accounting majors typically earn some of the highest starting salaries for students with bachelor’s degrees.

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 an International Business major, you’ll develop strategic and critical thinking skills through a degree that combines courses in business, foreign language, and area studies. Courses are designed to enhance a student’s marketability to a variety of global organizations. Students are encouraged to study abroad to maximize their learning.

As you study, you’ll learn about currency exchange, global capital investment strategies, global strategy development, financial planning and cultural/gender issues in business. You’ll create an integrated global marketing communication plan, including strategies and measures of effectiveness across all mediums. Finally, you’ll collect, process and analyze data to better understand database management and marketing.

International business students at USF also have access to more than two dozen international educational opportunities.

As 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.