College of Business

Overview

The College of Business at the University of St. Francis offers academic programs that provide a broad base of theoretical and practical knowledge. Both the undergraduate and graduate programs within the College are designed to provide students with challenging course work, which will enhance the team building and interpersonal networking skills necessary in preparing for a position in business. Faculty include both full-time, on-campus professors as well as adjunct faculty who are professionals with expertise in the course they teach. Students and faculty have an opportunity to interact in an exciting learning environment. Use of technology, written and oral communication abilities are emphasized throughout all academic programs.

Mission

The mission of the College of Business is to offer undergraduate and graduate degree programs that are career oriented and focus on academic excellence. Undergraduate programs are designed for traditional and adult students providing the learners with a blend of professional studies and a strong liberal arts curriculum. Graduate programs are designed for working professionals and are practitioner based. All programs in the College of Business are driven by the University's Catholic Franciscan mission.

History of Undergraduate Business Programs

The undergraduate business program was initiated in the fall of 1975. Four majors are offered within this program: Accounting, Finance, Management, and Marketing. The majors were developed for the career-oriented student who intends to assume a professional role and leadership position in the business world. In addition, students are encouraged to combine their major with one of the available minors: Accounting, Economics, Finance, Management, Marketing, Inter-disciplinary Business, and International Business. The undergraduate course of studies has been designed to combine the basic theoretical and practical knowledge and applied skills required of professionals in the business world.

History of Graduate Business Programs

The University of St. Francis initiated its offering of career oriented graduate business programs in 1993 with the Master of Business Administration (MBA). The MBA is offered at off-campus sites and is entirely online with the exception of selected elective courses. The MBA program is designed for business professionals seeking career advancement and who would like to develop leadership, communication, fiscal, and creative skills for upper management positions. In 1995, the University began offering the Master of Science in Management (MSM) degree. The MSM is designed for professionals with non-business undergraduate degrees who desire to focus on the human aspects of applied management skills. In 2005, the University started to offer a graduate certificate in Logistics. These logistics courses are also used as an optional concentration within the MBA and MSM degrees. The College of Business has been a leader in providing the adult population and working professionals with career oriented graduate education in business. From the beginning, the focus of this graduate program has been on part-time students who are working professionals.