Students at USF Sarasota-Manatee will soon have three new majors to choose from, including behavioral healthcare, business analytics & information systems and health sciences — USF’s most popular undergraduate program. At the same time, the master's in criminal justice program is adding a new administration concentration.
The new degree offerings come at a time of unprecedented growth for the campus, which will open a new, 100,000-square-foot student center and residence hall this month.
"These programs will address local and regional needs by providing comprehensive education and training in critical fields," said Vice Provost and Regional Vice Chancellor of Academic Affairs and Student Success Brett Kemker. "Our faculty in each of these key areas brings a wealth of knowledge and deep subject matter expertise that significantly enhances experiential learning opportunities for our students. These new offerings will make USF Sarasota-Manatee an even more attractive option for students."
Behavioral Healthcare
Offered by the College of Behavioral and Community Sciences, the behavioral healthcare major will expose students to new, scientific based treatment approaches to some of the greatest public health challenges facing communities today, including mental illness and substance abuse. Students also study issues in the organization, finances and outcome of behavioral health services and participate in direct service learning.
“The program’s aim is to prepare students to work in the field,” said Nicoleta Zenn, an associate professor of instruction on the Tampa campus. “
Students who earn a bachelor’s of science in behavioral healthcare are prepared for careers in case management, family services, behavioral healthcare, research and more.
While much of the program is available online, Assistant Professor Yongjei Lee will teach courses on the Sarasota-Manatee campus, and there are plans to hire an additional faculty member to the campus.
To learn more, contact academic advisor Matthew Beck.
Business Analytics & Information Systems
Offered by the Muma College of Business, the business analytics and information systems major provides students with the skills and knowledge necessary to analyze data, develop information systems and support decision makers in both business and non-business organizations.
“Data is the backbone of business,” said Sarasota-Manatee Campus Dean of the Muma College of Business Joni Jones. “But data is dumb. It needs to be turned into information before it can be used to inform decision making.”
Potential career paths include working as a data analyst, database administrator or project manager within a number of industries, including healthcare, marketing, finance and insurance. Students majoring in business analytics and information systems sometimes adopt a second major or minor in their specific area of interest.
According to Jones, the addition of the business analytics and information systems program “rounds out” the business degree offerings at USF Sarasota-Manatee, which include accounting, marketing, finance and hospitality among others.
“Data is the lifeblood of organizations,” said Jones. “It allows us to generate insights into demand, supply, revenues and expenses, all of which are vital to the success of businesses everywhere.”
Students enrolled in the Muma College of Business at USF Sarasota-Manatee are eligible to apply to live in the living learning community in Atala Hall, which opens this August. Those admitted to the living learning community will connect with like-minded individuals, build life-long friendships and receive up to $4,000 in housing scholarships.
To learn more, contact academic advisors Mark Menezes or Victor Velasco.
Health Sciences
With over 3,400 students enrolled on the Tampa and St. Petersburg campuses, health sciences is the university’s most popular undergraduate program. The highly interdisciplinary degree offers a valuable combination of hard science, social science and humanities.
Offered by the College of Public Health, the program joins biology, psychology and biomedical sciences on the Sarasota-Manatee campus, where students pursuing a career in health care now have another option.
Paul Kirchman, campus dean of the College of Arts and Sciences at USF Sarasota-Manatee, said the new degree program will provide students, who may or may not be interested in attending medical school, additional flexibility when it comes to which courses they take.
“It’s another option for students who want to do health-related fields,” Kirchman said. “It doesn’t require students to go as far in depth into, say, organic chemistry, which they may not even need, depending on their goals.”
Students who major in health sciences at USF Sarasota-Manatee may choose to concentrate in biological health sciences or social and behavioral health sciences — or a combination of the two.
“There’s a whole bunch of things that are related to health care that this degree would prepare students for,” Kirchman said. “This would be great for future nursing students or somebody who wanted to be a pharmaceutical sales representative or go into public health or some types of counseling fields. There are so many available electives that students can tailor this major toward their goals. The two concentrations in this major overlap quite a bit with some other majors, so if a student decides to change to this major, they can often do so without losing many or any of the credits they already completed.”
Students interested in pursuing a bachelor’s degree in health sciences, biomedical sciences or biology should contact academic advisor Sheila Bagley.
Criminal Justice Administration Concentration
The Master’s in Criminal Justice (MACJ) program provides students who are pursuing a career in a criminal justice field or already working in a criminal justice or related agency an opportunity to explore and gain a deeper understanding of current issues facing the criminal justice system and the impact they have on the larger society. For the first time, students now have the option to add a concentration in criminal justice administration.
“This concentration is tailored to empower professionals with advanced knowledge and expertise in managing and leading within the criminal justice system,” said Associate Professor Jessica Grosholz. “Effective leadership, strategic decision-making and adept management are paramount for ensuring the efficient and ethical operation of agencies and organizations. Our comprehensive curriculum is meticulously designed to address the multifaceted challenges faced by criminal justice administrators and to equip them with the skills necessary to navigate complex organizational dynamics and drive positive change.”
Student who adopt the concentration, available completely online, will complete an additional 15 credits of elective coursework, or five classes.
“Obtaining a Master's in Criminal Justice with a concentration in administration at USF provides current and future leaders with a more holistic perspective essential to our profession,” said Chief of Police Lee Bercaw, who earned a master of arts in criminal justice administration and a bachelor of science in criminology from USF before joining the Tampa Bay Police Department in 1997. “The shift work and demands of police officers and professional staff would tremendously benefit from an online curriculum thus opening additional and essential graduate educational opportunities.”
Grosholz intends to introduce two additional concentrations in the near future, one with a focus on juvenile delinquency and victimology and a second with a focus on crime prevention.
For more information, contact academic advisor Cristyne Ramirez.