Joliet, Ill. – The University of St. Francis (USF) is now offering an online master’s degree in social work (MSW) that prepares students for advanced, leadership-oriented, social work positions. Open to graduates from any Council on Social Work Education (CSWE) accredited Bachelor of Social Work (BSW) program, the new degree format is aimed at expanding options for social work graduates across the country who need a master’s degree in the field.
With an MSW, graduates can pursue licensure, become an advanced social work practitioner, and hold leadership positions across the public or private sectors. USF is also keeping the price of the graduate degree program frozen for the third year in a row at $599 per credit hour.
“USF already accepts graduates of social work programs from across the Chicago region for our on-campus MSW program, but this is an opportunity to support bachelor’s level social work graduates across the country,” said USF vice president for admissions Eric Wignall.
The new online MSW program is designed to fill a gap for graduates of social work programs at any of the country’s accredited colleges or universities. “Social workers work with many different populations and types of people, particularly focusing on those who are vulnerable and living in poverty,” Wignall said.
“USF has a long tradition of educating highly trained social workers, but we need more of them. Social workers are practitioners who help people and families in need. The MSW program provides advanced clinical skills required for specialized practice, while developing the confidence to address challenging, and constantly changing, situations in the field,” said USF provost Beth Roth, Ph.D.
Roth, who leads USF’s academic program quality and development efforts, feels the online degree offers flexibility that BSW graduates need in order to take the next professional step.
“As a Catholic, Franciscan university with a fully online master’s degree program in social work, the University of St. Francis can extend its mission to more students, reaching more communities if we make the program more affordable. With rising inflation and higher tuition rates, many master’s degree-seekers are looking for affordable MSW options,” Roth said.
USF will continue to offer on-campus undergraduate and graduate degree programs in social work.
“USF’s nationally-accredited MSW program focuses on advanced practitioner skills, leadership development, and evidence-based practice guidelines to improve and expand the effectiveness of social service programs. They also support clients and communities who are living with disabilities, substance abuse problems, or experience domestic conflicts,” Roth said.
“Social workers are trained to address many different barriers to a given client’s overall wellbeing. Some of these barriers include poverty, unemployment, discrimination, or a lack of housing,” Wignall added.
“USF will help graduate students continue their educational journeys by providing high quality, interactive online learning in the online MSW program. We are also being flexible in response to COVID-19 closures and disruptions. USF will accept GRE scores, but they are not required for admission,” Wignall said.
Students can use the free online application to the USF online social work master’s degree program at stfrancis.edu/apply and applications for classes beginning January 10th and next fall are still being accepted. Visit stfrancis.edu/social-work-msw/ for more information.
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The University of St. Francis, in Joliet, Ill., serves close to 4,000 students nationwide and offers undergraduate, graduate, doctoral and certificate programs in the arts and sciences, business, education, nursing and social work. There are over 52,000 USF alumni across the globe. For information, call 800-735-7500 or visit stfrancis.edu.
University of St. Francis: Bigger thinking. Brighter purpose.
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University of St. Francis news
Michael Compton, director of bands, was honored to have an orchestral arrangement of one of his jazz chart medleys performed in September 2021 by the Des Moines Symphony (Des Moines, IA).
“I was commissioned by a gentleman named Richard Hinson to arrange music. He dabbles in composition—basically making out a rough sketch of ideas—and then has me orchestrate it for him,” explained Compton.
Hinson, a board member of the Des Moines Symphony for many years and a major donor to their foundation, was so enamored with Compton’s jazz band arrangement that he had another acquaintance of his use it to create setting for a symphony orchestra.
The piece was performed by the Des Moines Symphony on their opening concert for the post-COVID season, and Compton attended.
“It was interesting to hear my creation reimagined by another person for an altogether different performance setting,” he said.
The University of St. Francis “Band of Saints” pep band has been adding value to this year’s Fighting Saints athletic events. They’ve progressed quite well compared to last year, due to all of the COVID-19 regulations at that time… this year, they’ve been able to play at multiple football and basketball games with more hopefully to come. Just being able to perform has been a huge success in itself.
Some band members talked about their experiences. Band president, Sarah Deffenbaugh, shared, “I really love the community we have built ever since our start. We have grown so much as friends and as a musical group. We love bringing pep to games, and we are able to laugh and have fun doing so. I love being able to not only watch the games but also play a part in providing spirit and cheer. I am so glad I met this amazing group of people, and I am so proud of how far we have come!”
Another student, Vanessa McLean (the band’s social media coordinator), shared her reasons for joining the pep band.
“I personally love being able to play music and impact the school. A lot of people have been enjoying us being at games and it is nice that they are enjoying our presence,” McLean said.
There are currently 23 students in the band, with more to come in the spring. It has provided a close-knit environment of students that share a love for music and the University of St. Francis. Scholarships are also available. If you are interested in joining, visit stfrancis.edu/band or contact Paul Laprade, chair of USF’s Music & Performing Arts Department, at plaprade@stfrancis.edu or 815-740-3219.
Joliet, Ill. – The University of St. Francis (USF) continues to be recognized by national ranking agencies as one of the top institutions of higher education in Illinois. WalletHub recently released its 2022 Best Colleges and Universities Rankings in which the agency ranked USF as one of the best schools in Illinois.
The rankings, which were compiled by comparing more than 1,000 higher-education institutions across 30 different measures within seven categories that included Student Selectivity, Cost & Financing and Career Outcomes, named the University of St. Francis one of the top six overall higher-education institutes in Illinois. WalletHub’s rankings also placed USF at #32 in the Midwest rankings, and ranked USF #1 in Illinois in the “Campus Safety” category. To view the list in its entirety, visit wallethub.com/edu/e/college-rankings/40750.
WalletHub representative Adam McCann indicated that the website’s rankings are designed to help students identify both good schools and good deals.
“In a fierce global economy, a college degree can help secure employment and keep you ahead of the competition. Though success ultimately rests on students’ own determination and performance, the quality of the schools they choose can certainly have an impact. However, attending higher education requires more than just the grades to get in. You will also need the financial resources to attend. It varies depending on the school’s public or private status and whether it’s in-state. For those prices, students want to know they are getting a good deal,” McCann said.
USF has a long history of assisting students with the financial obligations that a college degree carries with it. Each year, the university provides need-based financial aid to approximately 96% of full-time undergraduate students. In 2020-2021 alone, USF invested over $23 million in institutional funds in scholarships for full-time undergraduate students.
“Inflation has hit people hard this year, and not just at the gas pump and grocery store. At St. Francis we have held the line on costs, keeping tuition at levels lower than most private colleges and as low as some state universities,” said Eric Wignall, USF Vice President for Admissions.
“Everyone, from high school to graduate students, continue to feel uncertain about the future. We wanted to make college more affordable and hold down costs while providing more scholarships and student support. We think we can do better as a university if our students are successful and have less debt. It’s a key goal at USF,” he added.
For more information on USF programs, financial assistance options or to learn more about registration, visit stfrancis.edu/admissions-aid.
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The University of St. Francis, in Joliet, Ill., serves close to 4,000 students nationwide and offers undergraduate, graduate, doctoral and certificate programs in the arts and sciences, business, education, nursing and social work. There are over 52,000 USF alumni across the globe. For information, call 800-735-7500 or visit stfrancis.edu.
University of St. Francis: Bigger thinking. Brighter purpose.
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Looking for something new to read? Take a look at a new book published by USF adjunct instructor Lauren O’Connor: “Robin and the Making of American Adolescence.”
In O’Connor’s first semester at USF, she teaches College Writing I and Introduction to Literature. Even though she is new to the university, she says she “already feels so at home!”
She shares that her book is about the social and cultural history of superhero Batman’s sidekick Robin, and how Robin was both a product and producer of the idea of the “American teenager.” The book looks at how adolescence intersects with a variety of identities, like race, gender and sexuality—all the while using Robin as a case study.
When asked why she chose this topic for her book, O’Connor responded, “I started my career as an adolescent counselor, and I felt really strongly while working in this field that the way we are taught to understand teenagers was not very accurate.”
She further explained that the stereotype of teens being dramatic, poor decision makers or overly emotional seemed reductive to her. She said that she chose to research Robin, in particular, because he is the oldest comic book teenager that is still around today, and many different characters have filled the role of Batman’s partner, so interesting comparisons can be made.
O’Connor also says the book was a revision of her doctoral dissertation.
“It was very long and involved,” she explained. “I spent about four years total conducting this research and writing the book.”
O’Connor mentions that she had a wonderful group of advisors and a great editor assisting her. Even though the process was long and time-consuming, she says she can’t complain because she “got to read lots of fun comics!”
The book has been described as entertaining and funny. O’Connor worked hard to make it accessible and compelling, while also delivering lots of information about teenagers in society today to the reader.
You can learn more and order O’Connor’s “Robin and the Making of American Adolescence” on Amazon, or on the Rutgers University Press website.
USF’s Mary Kate Hynek and MaKenzie Munson were recently interviewed by sophomore Hannah Mitchell about their experiences as student presenters at the November 13 Writers’ Conference. The conference, hosted by the USF English Department, took place on Saturday, November 13. Poet Naoko Fujimoto gave the keynote address.
Q. What was it like creating your own graphic poem during the workshop with Naoko?
MH: Creating a graphic poem with Naoko Fujimoto was an experience like no other; I’ve never worked with graphics and poetry in combination before (although I am a huge advocate for graphics and writing working together), so the process opened my eyes to new ways of thinking that I can incorporate into my creative writing process. Naoko’s energy and passion really inspired me to create, and she made me feel part of a creative community of writers.
Q. What was your presentation about?
MH: My presentation, titled “Dying Rose,” was a work of short fiction and an adaptation of a graphic novel scene set to appear in a future collaborative project. This piece is the result of seven years of collaboration and character development. The main character of this piece, a young man named Briar who struggles with an ancestral curse that causes irrational insanity, will be one of the main characters appearing in the graphic novel. My collaborative partner made an appearance during my presentation, and we emphasized the benefits of images and words coming together to create something amazing. My presentation won best overall performance at the SFWC.
MM: My presentation was a paper I wrote for my foundations II class that focused on analyzing the movie The Social Network.
Q. How did it feel to present your work in front of a group of people?
MH: Presenting something that I put my heart and soul into was a nerve-wracking experience. Never before had I presented such a treasured piece of writing outside of a classroom setting. My parents, professors, and peers were all watching, and I was hoping my reading would be clear and concise. I made sure to read with emotion, and the nerves I felt before reading my piece disappeared. It was rewarding to hear the applause (and to applaud my fellow presenters) as I finished; the SFWC was such a positive, supportive environment. Presenting in a conference setting boosted my confidence and gave me valuable experience as a writer.
MM: I have experience with public speaking but have not been able to do it for a while, so it felt great to be in front of an audience again!
Q. Overall, what was your takeaway from this experience?
MH: Overall, the SFWC was an incredible experience. It allowed me to make connections, share my work, and appreciate the work of other writers. Perhaps, most of all, I learned so much at the SFWC. I’m so glad that the University of St. Francis has a safe, supportive environment for writers.
MM: While I loved sharing my own work, the most inspiring part of the conference was hearing from others and being part of a space that included so many other talented and passionate writers.
