What is your dream job? Coaching athletics? Counseling kids? Creating computer networks and defending against cybercrime? The College of Arts and Sciences at USF can prepare you for the career you’ve always imagined! As a welcoming community of learners, we prepare students for careers as in fields as varied as radio management (through our own radio station, WCSF), medical technology, and industrial-organizational psychology, one of the fastest growing fields according to the Occupational Outlook Handbook.
Do you dream of becoming a doctor, a physical therapist, or an occupational therapist? Perhaps you hope to cure people of cancer through radiation therapy, or help them cope with the ravages of substance abuse. Rachel Esparza ’15, the first in her family to attend college, is now enrolled in medical school at Yale – read more about her story here. Katrin Volkmer ’13 and Elizabeth Kasencak ’15 have both gone on to become occupational therapists. For those who would like to help people who are suffering psychologically, we offer high quality majors in psychology, social work, and substance abuse counseling. For example, Liceth Robles ‘15 became a substance abuse counselor at Stepping Stones with her degree from USF. She enjoyed the work so much that she has now returned to USF to get her master’s degree in social work!
Perhaps you hope to continue your involvement with athletics or music or video after graduation. USF graduates such as Lukas Wyss ’16 and Kacie Jankowski’15 have gone on to careers as recreation therapists and certified parks and recreation professionals based on their USF degrees in therapeutic recreation and sports management; each now works full time for a local park or special recreation district. Our Digital and Audio Recording Arts program brings in world-class artists such as four-time Emmy Award winner David Klotz (music editor for Game of Thrones and Stranger Things) to discuss exciting career opportunities with students. Communications and Media Arts graduates Brendan and Jessica Walsh, both ’05, produced and filmed the movie, Making Waves: Battle for the Great Lakes, shown on WTTW.
Whether you want to help protect people by becoming a law enforcement officer, a lawyer, or a computer crime and security specialist, we have a program for you! Our criminal and social justice majors have gained employment as Illinois state troopers and at local correctional facilities, while our award-winning mock trial team allows students to compete against other colleges while preparing themselves for admission to law school. The computer science program (visit the blog at usfcompsci.blogspot.com) has produced such notable graduates as Vic Pellicano ‘04, founder of Verenia enterprise software company, who recently hired another USF computer science grad, Lauren Burkhart ’17, to work at Verenia after her internship there!
As you can see, at USF it is about more than what you learn in a lab or classroom—it’s about who you become. With a Catholic Franciscan identity to guide and inspire a love of knowledge and truth, CAS provides a truly rich foundation of knowledge and skills for every student. Whether you want to become a director of faith formation, as Anthony Lavorata ’10 has done in Crookston, MN, or to teach English in China, as Kyle Speroff ‘17 is doing, USF inspires you to lead others.
Our award winning faculty provide a rigorous and supportive academic environment in small classes and labs, with personal attention and guidance, built on a curriculum designed to develop critical thinking, analytical skills, creative problem solving, and effective communication skills. CAS is a special place for students to learn in an atmosphere is filled with support, encouragement, and expression.
A strong Arts & Sciences College at USF means investing in the people and programs that make it an outstanding school. We are fortunate to have generous alumni who care deeply about the liberal arts and who remember how their St. Francis experience prepared them and shaped them in so many ways.
Whether you are a new student, a transfer student or an alumnus coming home, please visit our campus. We are excited about our programs and we want you to learn more about us as we get to know you. For a true perspective on student life in CAS, come see our classes, programs, and events, and talk with our faculty and students. We look forward to meeting you!
Dr. Elizabeth Davies
Dean, College of Arts and Sciences