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Adult Degree and Continuing Studies

Director/ Associate Dean: Ms. Julie Barris

Continuing one’s academic journey is an exciting and fulfilling process. The Office of Adult Degree and Continuing Studies provides the opportunities for lifelong learning for persons of all ages. The University has offered adult education courses since 1973. We are located in Raymond Hall, 2nd floor and may be reached by phone at 814-472-3012 or by email at oce@francis.edu.

Academic Programs

Adult Degree and Continuing Studies offers academic programs in business administration and religion. Individuals can study business administration on three different levels: Business Administration Certificate, Associate of Science in Business Administration, and Bachelor of Science in Business Administration. Individuals pursuing the B.S. in Business Administration degree may major in Accounting or Management. The Bachelor of Health Science with a Concentration in Medical Laboratory Science is geared toward the medical technician wanting to expand his or her opportunities in the lab. The degree completion programs, Bachelor of Science in Organizational Leadership, Bachelor of Science in Computer Systems Management, and Bachelor of Health Science in Medical Laboratory Science, allow qualified students the opportunity to complete bachelor degrees with more flexibility in the transfer of credits. In addition, the University offers several special programs in conjunction with the Greater Altoona Career and Technology Center, the Greater Johnstown Career and Technology Center, and area health care institutions, which consist of Associate of Applied Science degrees in Human Resource/Computer Technology, Health Professions Technology, and Engineering/ Mechanical Technology. . For course descriptions visit: www.francis.edu/adcs-course-descriptions/

Admissions Requirements

Individuals interested in applying for admission to any undergraduate program offered through the Office of Continuing Education (OCE) must submit the following materials to the OCE:

Completed Application Form
Letter of Recommendation (from a non-family member)
Official high school transcript or evidence of GED, if no prior college level work
Official transcripts for all post-secondary study

Current resume

The application for admission will not be processed until all materials have been received. Credit evaluation of courses taken at other accredited colleges will be completed at that time.

Faculty

Faculty who teach in the Adult Degree programs bring to the classroom a unique background of exceptional academic qualifications and practical business experience. Many Adult Degree instructors also teach in the daytime programs at the University. Others are adjunct faculty from the local educational and professional communities.

Location

Saint Francis University offers adult education courses and programs at the campus in Loretto, at the Greater Altoona Career and Technology Center in Altoona, at the Greater Johnstown Career and Technology Center in Johnstown, at the South Hills School of Business and Technology in State College, and online. Courses range from 15 week, one evening a week to online accelerated 7 week or Saturday, accelerated 7-week courses. There are other course offerings and options during the summer session as well. Our courses fit every adult’s busy lifestyle!

A Profile of the Saint Francis University Adult Learner

The Adult Degree programs are designed primarily for women and men over the age of 23 who are seeking to enhance and develop their current profession, embark on a new career path, or resume their postsecondary study. The Adult Degree programs attract students from a 50 mile radius of Altoona and Johnstown. Degree programs offered through Saint Francis University focus on the student who has full-time responsibilities on the job or in the home. Some students work part-time or may have been displaced from a job and are looking to retool. No matter the case, the Adult Degree and Continuing Studies Office is here to serve the adult learner’s needs. Many of the programs are offered at off-campus locations convenient to the student and can be completed through evening and weekend studies. All programs are accredited by the Middle States Association of Colleges and Universities.

Business Certificate

The business certificate curriculum was designed for individuals with little or no business education background. It provides a basic understanding of current business trends, along with course work in the areas of management, accounting, marketing and finance. The business core is complemented by a liberal arts component of courses meant to provide necessary skills and knowledge needed by the business professional.

Associate of Applied Science Degrees

Since 1978, Saint Francis University has offered several special degree programs in conjunction with the Greater Altoona Career and Technology Center, the Greater Johnstown Career and Technology Center, and area health care institutions.

Saint Francis University’s Mission Statement states:

…the University aims to provide both broad intellectual development and career preparation…to promote opportunities to help people directly…and to recognize that higher education is a means by which individuals can improve the condition of the human family.

It is in respect for the mission of Saint Francis University that we offer three Associate of Applied Science degree programs which enable individuals involved in post-secondary technical programs to be educated in the liberal arts and in the Catholic Franciscan tradition. These degree programs are: Associate of Applied Science in Human Resource/Computer Technology, Associate of Applied Science in Health Professions Technology, and Associate of Applied Science in Engineering Mechanical Technology. For more information:

Associate of Science in Business Administration

The Associate of Science degree program in Business Administration is a career-oriented curriculum designed to give students practical business knowledge and skills. In addition to course work in accounting, management, economics and computer science, and in keeping with the Catholic Franciscan liberal arts tradition, students enrolled in this program are required to complete 24 credits of general education requirements in humanities, natural sciences, social sciences, and religious studies. These liberal arts requirements provide students with a broad-based educational experience designed to enhance their skills as professionals in the contemporary business world. Students who graduate with an Associate of Science degree in Business Administration are eligible to enter the work force at entry level positions. Many students, after obtaining the Associate’s degree, will continue their studies at Saint Francis University to earn a Bachelor of Science degree in either Accounting or Management or may choose to enroll for degree completion through the B.S. in Organizational Leadership or B.S. in Computer Systems Management programs.

Bachelor of Health Science Concentration in Medical Laboratory Science

The B.H.Sc. with a concentration in Medical Laboratory Science is a degree completion program designed to provide professional development and educational options for Medical Laboratory Technicians (MLTs) and other health care professionals who seek additional education and certification. The program is developed for the health care professionals with prior college-level course work and health care experience, and is developed to provide a convenient and effective transition towards a baccalaureate degree. The Medical Laboratory Science curriculum includes a health science core and a liberal studies core embodying the University’s educational goals of providing knowledge, skills, and values. As a degree-completion program, the Medical Laboratory Science Program has flexible transfer credit policies because it recognizes the life and professional experiences of adults returning for a university degree. To enter this degree completion program, applicants must already have experience or certification as a medical laboratory technician. 

Bachelor of Health Science with Concentration in Health Care Management

The B.H.Sc. with a Concentration in Health Care Management is a degree-completion program focusing on health care policies, procedures, systems, and trends within the health care industry. The core curriculum consists of a strong business focus along with the concentration consisting of 21 credits of health care management course work. The general education courses provide a traditional liberal arts foundation in humanities, natural sciences, and religious studies. Eligibility requirements, admissions criteria and transfer credit policies are the same as the other degree completion programs.

Bachelor of Science in Early Childhood Education/ Early Childhood Certification

The Bachelor of Science degree completion program in Early Childhood Education (PreK-4) is designed for the work-experienced adult with some prior college level coursework. The program is designed to provide a convenient and effective means of progress toward completion of the degree. Classes are provided in early childhood settings or in another convenient location including online in order to meet the needs of busy working adults. 

Bachelor of Science in Organizational Leadership

The B.S. in Organizational Leadership degree is designed for the work-experienced adult with prior college-level course work. Developed to provide a convenient and effective transition towards a baccalaureate degree, the organizational leadership curriculum is supported by a strong business core and a liberal studies curriculum embodying the University’s educational goals of providing knowledge, skills, and values. As a degree-completion program, the BSOL has flexible transfer credit policies because it recognizes the life and professional experiences of adults returning for a university degree. 

Bachelor of Science in Computer Systems Management

The B.S. in Computer Systems Management is a degree completion program designed for the work-experienced adult with prior college-level course work. The computer systems management program prepares students to analyze, design, develop, implement, integrate, manage, and maintain information systems and information technology. By integrating a solid business administration curriculum and a technical and conceptual core of computer based study, adult learners will gain the expertise and knowledge necessary for successful employment in today’s high tech workplace. Eligibility requirements, criteria for acceptance, and transfer credit policies are similar to those of the B.S. in Organizational Leadership. 

Bachelor of Science in Business Administration — Accounting

In the tradition of Saint Francis University, the Bachelor of Science degree program in Accounting combines a broad liberal arts curriculum with specific career focused course work, to provide students with a firm professional preparation in the context of contemporary society. The curriculum core includes courses in accounting, statistics, business law, economics and management. The general education courses provide a traditional liberal arts foundation in humanities, natural sciences, social sciences, and religious studies. Upon completion of their degree, students are qualified to sit for the C.P.A. Exam. 

Bachelor of Science in Business Administration — Management

This contemporary business program provides students with administrative skills necessary to be successful in today’s business world. Built on a firm liberal arts foundation which gives students exposure to various aspects of the humanities, natural sciences, social sciences, and religious studies, the management curriculum provides students with solid educational and professional course work in personnel management, production, marketing, statistics and economics. Students are also able to gain valuable experience through the internship program established by the Business Department. 

Post-Baccalaureate - Professional Certificates

In response to the needs of local adults for short-term career-oriented programs of study, the post-baccalaureate professional certificates were created. The programs are designed to provide concentrated areas of practical knowledge useful in today’s contemporary workforce. These 24 credit certificate programs can be valuable to those beginning careers or to those changing career directions. Certificates are available in accounting, management and computer systems management. Students applying for a post-baccalaureate certificate must have graduated with a minimum QPA grade average of 2.5.

College in High School

In response to requests by area school districts, Saint Francis University has developed a program to offer selected and approved college courses to eligible students in the high school setting. Courses are approved by Saint Francis faculty and taught by high school teachers. Credits earned through the program are typically accepted by Saint Francis University and most other colleges or universities upon graduation.

Summer Classes/ Summer Session

Regularly scheduled undergraduate courses are offered during the summer under the direction of the Adult Degree and Continuing Studies Office. The classes are scheduled in one-, three-, six- and seven-week formats, as well as online, to meet the needs of both day division and evening division students who wish to accelerate their degree work, make up deficiencies, or ease their academic coursework load during the regular academic year. Summer classes are held on the main campus in Loretto, as well as at various locations in Johnstown, Altoona, and State College. Classes are taught by many of the full-time faculty as well as some of the experienced adjuncts.

Students matriculated in the regular undergraduate division of Saint Francis University whose programs require summer coursework or clinical experiences, and those who wish to enroll in an internship, independent study, or tutorial during the summer should contact their academic advisor and the Adult Degree and Continuing Studies Office for Summer School registration information.

Graduate students in Business Administration, Education, and Human Resource Management may contact their respective program director for Summer School information.

Policies

Credit Transfer

1. A student may transfer credits from other institutions such as College in High School, Advanced Placement Tests, CLEP, PEP, and Armed Forces Course Equivalencies. Such credits do not count toward the student’s quality point average at Saint Francis University.
2. A matriculating student who wishes to take a course from another institution must obtain permission to do so prior to enrolling in the course. Necessary forms are available in the Office of the Registrar or Adult Degree & Continuing Studies. Transfer credit will not be granted if the student fails to obtain approval prior to taking the course. A student who is on academic probation is not authorized to enroll in courses at other institutions.
3. At least sixty-four (64) credits of study must be completed at Saint Francis University for a student to be eligible for a bachelor’s degree, except those students studying for a second bachelor’s degree (32 credits are required for a second degree, if coming back to complete a second degree), selected non-traditional degrees through the office of Adult Degree & Continuing Studies, or a teaching certificate. A minimum of 36 credits must be taken at Saint Francis University to earn a degree through the degree completion programs. The last thirty (30) of those credits must be taken at Saint Francis University.
4. Candidates for the Associate of Applied Science Degree program must fulfill appropriate degree requirements. At least twenty-seven (27) credits of study must be completed at Saint Francis University for a student to be eligible for an Associate of Applied Science degree. The University will accept a maximum of nine (9) credits of a combination of transfer courses and CLEP examinations, in addition to 27 credits awarded in a prescribed technical curriculum from the partner institution.
5. Candidates for the Associate of Science Degree program must fulfill appropriate degree requirements. At least thirty-three (33) credits of study must be completed at Saint Francis University for a student to be eligible for an Associate of Science degree. The University will accept a maximum of thirty (30) credits of a combination of transfer courses and CLEP examinations. The last eighteen (18) of those credits must be taken at Saint Francis University.
6. CLEP and Dante’s test scores must be submitted prior to the final semester. No tests can be taken in the final semester. Special permission must be obtained through the office of Adult Degree & Continuing Studies to transfer in a test score in the final thirty (30) credits.
7. A matriculated student follows the requirements of the catalog for the year that they were matriculated.
8. Only grades of C or higher can be transferred in to Saint Francis University.
9. All transfer credits will be converted to semester hours. Any transfer credits obtained in a quarter hour will be converted. The conversion rate will be three (3) quarter hour credits will be equal to two (2) semester hour credits.
10. Half of the credits for a major or a minor must be completed at Saint Francis University.
11. Second degree students will have the core honored from their first degree. Students who already hold a degree and want to complete a second degree will be required to complete a minimum of thirty two (32) credits and at least half of the major.

Admission Requirements

1. Full admission will be granted to candidates who submit the following materials (application, letter of recommendation, resume, and official transcripts) and meet the university’s admissions requirements.
2. Students may register for up to twenty four (24) credits prior to being officially accepted.
3. Students must be fully accepted prior to their final semester.

Academic Policies
Registration and Withdrawal

1. Dropping or adding classes should be done online through Jenzabar. If the Drop/Add period is over, students should contact the Office of Adult Degree & Continuing Studies to make a change. All requests to modify or change a schedule MUST be in writing. A student can either come into the office to sign the Drop/Add form or send an email indicating the request change. Phone conversations and/ or messages will not constitute a formal request and as such will not be honored.
2. Withdraw policy from an ADCS class: http://www.francis.edu/OCEWithdrawalPolicy.htm
3. In the event a student contacts a member of the Adult Degree & Continuing Studies staff to request a withdrawal from the University, the staff member in ADCS will complete a withdrawal from the university form.

Withdrawal Policy

All withdrawals and requests for refunds must be made in writing and will be calculated according to the email time stamp (oce@francis.edu) of when it was delivered to the Office of Adult Degree & Continuing Studies. An individual will be charged a tuition penalty according to the following schedule:

Online 7 Week Class
0% prior to the start date of the first class
50% up to seven days after the start date of class
75% up to 14 days after the start date of class
After 15 days after the start date of class, no reduction will be given

7 Week In Class
0% prior to the start of the first class
50% up to the start of the second class
75% up to the start of the third class
After the third class, no reduction will be given

15 Week Class
0% prior to the start of the second class
50% up to the start of the fourth class
75% up to the start of the sixth class
After the sixth class, no reduction will be given

Online 15 Week Class
0% prior to the start date of the first class
50% up to seven days after the start date of the class
75% up to 14 days after the start date of the class
After 15 days after the start date for the class, no reduction will be given

Classes that meet less than 7 weeks will not receive a reduction.

Withdrawal Grades
1. The grade for a class from which a student withdraws will be a “W” if the class is dropped prior to completion of 70% of the class meetings (or calendar duration) has taken place.
2. The grade will be an “F” if the course is dropped after 70% of the class meetings (or calendar duration) has taken place.

PLEASE NOTE: All schedule changes must be in writing. Phone call or messages are not accepted under any circumstances.
 

Programs

• ADCS: Accounting Post-Baccalaureate Professional Certificate
• ADCS: Accounting, B.S.
• ADCS: Business Administration, A.S.
• ADCS: Business Certificate
• ADCS: Computer Systems Management Post-Baccalaureate Professional Certificate
• ADCS: Computer Systems Management, B.S.
• ADCS: Early Childhood Education, B.S.
• ADCS: Engineering/ Mechanical Technology, Associate of Applied Science
• ADCS: Health Professions Technology, Associate of Applied Science
• ADCS: Health Science, B.S.H.S., concentration in Health Care Management
• ADCS: Health Science, B.S.H.S., concentration in Medical Laboratory Science
• ADCS: Human Resource/ Computer Technology, Associate of Applied Science
• ADCS: Management Post-Baccalaureate Professional Certificate
• ADCS: Management, B.S.
• ADCS: Organizational Leadership, B.S.
• ADCS: Renewable Energy Certificate

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