Science and Society (BA)

Why USF for Science and Society?

The University of Saint Francis has a rich tradition of providing a premier education in the liberal arts and health sciences—our unique Science and Society program brings together the best of both worlds.

Science at the Core: Build a Solid STEM Foundation

This interdisciplinary major provides a solid foundation in biology, chemistry and ecology—and statistics, research methods and ethics courses prepare you to put scientific inquiry into action. As you fulfill your core requirements, you’ll learn alongside students from a variety of academic majors.

Focused & Flexible: Personalize Your Path with a Concentration

Find your niche within the versatile science and society major. Each concentration area offers distinct academic opportunities and a wide range of career possibilities, including in many high-demand fields.

Hands-On Learning: On Campus and in the Field

The Science and Society major is all about practical application. As such, you’ll have many opportunities to learn outside the classroom, including a required internship and plenty of optional immersive experiences.

Gain Real-World Experience With a Science and Society Internship
As part of your major, you’ll complete a summer or semester-long internship with a company or organization that matches your career interests. USF students have interned with local nature preserves, state parks, national nonprofits and regional companies.

Get Your Hands Dirty (Literally) With Field Studies Courses
Embark on a short-term study trip with your professor and classmates. Courses and destinations vary each spring, however one recent option led our students to the Smoky Mountains for a 10-day camping trip.

Experience Another Culture While Serving Those in Need
Faculty-led service trips, often with a health services focus, take USF students to various locations, including Haiti and the Dominican Republic. Traditional semester-long study abroad opportunities are also available through a variety of partner programs.

SUSTAINABILITY

Prepare for meaningful work in land management, conservation, agriculture, alternative energy and other green fields.

Sample Classes:
Intro to Sustainable Food Systems
Literature and the Natural Environment
Forest and Grassland Biology

ECO-PSYCHOLOGY

Build a foundation for a counseling or wellness career or prepare for other nature-centered helping professions.

Sample Classes:
Environmental Psychology
Sociology of Health
Introduction to Counseling

BUSINESS

Pursue a sales, marketing, management or other role within a STEM-focused company, agency or organization.

Sample Classes:
Intro to Business Principles
Marketing
Risk Management

COMMUNICATION

Help fulfill the growing demand to create accessible medical- and science-related content for the general population.

Sample Classes:
Strategic Media Writing
Digital Campaign Management
Interpersonal and Group Communication

Faculty & Facilities

As an interdisciplinary program, the Science and Society major gives you access to a diverse range of faculty expertise. You’ll learn from scholars, practitioners and clinicians with research interests such as eco-wellness/eco-therapy and sustainable food systems.

USF’s Achatz Hall of Science was designed with a respect for creation in mind — green and sustainable. You’ll learn in well-equipped science labs and learn to use modern equipment and instrumentation. Beyond the walls of the classroom, our campus features a vibrant greenhouse and restored prairie, both of which serve as learning labs. Nearby campus, there are plenty of woodlands and wetlands to explore during field trips.

Campus and Community Involvement

There are plenty of ways to get involved at USF. Science and Society students may be especially interested in Eco Club, which organizes Earth Day Events and other educational and awareness events. Depending on your career goals and the societal issues that matter to you, you might also be interested in organizations like the Public Relations Society, Social Work Club or Sigma Pi.

“USF continually brings students in contact with professionals. My first internships (with the Indiana Department of Transportation) came through a campus networking event. It was a great opportunity and gave me the experience I needed for my second internship at SevenGen. Over  those two years, I was exposed to so many areas of environmental science.”

Madison (Young) Pirtle ’20, business and environmental science
Health, Safety and Environment Consultant, SevenGen

Science and Society Career Opportunities

Career opportunities abound for science and society majors. Possible job titles for graduates of this versatile interdisciplinary program include:

• Clinical Research Coordinator
• Parks and Recreation Program Manager
• Healthcare Communications Specialist
• Science Writer/Science Media Specialist
• Pharmaceutical/Medical Sales Representative
• Technical Sales Manager
• Environmental Science and Protection Technician
• Environmental Health and Safety Specialist
• Occupational Health and Safety Specialist
• Sustainability Program Manager
• Agricultural and Food Science Technician
• Community Health Educator
• Data Analyst/Biostatistician

Additional academic training, such as a master’s degree in a psychology-related field, can lead to careers in ecotherapy, a nature-focused counseling specialization.

Employers: Where You’ll Find USF Graduates

USF students of all majors have a passion for people, the planet and problem solving—and many have found rewarding careers related to science and society. Here are a few places you’ll find our graduates:

• Allen County Parks
• Allen County Department of Health
• City of Fort Wayne
• SevenGen
• Indiana Department of Natural Resources

“USF values connections between people. We do a lot of outreach. It’s a deeper level of education and it gives us skills we need. When I go out into the world, I’ll be comfortable communicating naturally.”

Will Chrisman ’20,  Financial Advisor at Credent Wealth Management