SFC Expands Online Degree Programs
Delivering on its commitment to create more flexible learning opportunities for students, St. Francis College announced that it will now offer five more degree programs fully online.
The programs include a new Master of Science in Exercise and Sport Science, which comes on the heels of the introduction of the B.S. in Exercise and Movement Science last year. Students can opt to complete degree requirements for either of those through traditional in-person learning, too.
"SFC put the wheels in motion to grow its online educational offerings years ago, and the past year of remote instruction has accelerated those efforts. We're thrilled to add yet another master's degree to our growing roster of SFC graduate programs," said Gale Gibson-Gayle, Ed.D., Assistant Vice President of Academic Affairs. "Exercise and Sport Science is a field that prepares students for jobs of the future. What students learn in the program aligns with the ongoing technological revolution that is defining the career landscape of today and tomorrow."
SFC also offers master's degrees in accounting, management, psychology and an MFA in creative writing.
SFC is rolling out entirely online versions of four already-existing traditional degree programs, giving students the choice to complete requirements for those degrees entirely or partially online. Those programs are:
"SFC is deeply committed to removing barriers to higher education in every way we can, which is consistent with our values of inclusivity and respect of all people," said Jennifer Lancaster, Ph.D., Vice President of Academic Affairs. "Some people's work or family commitments – or the commute to a college campus – can make in-person classes untenable. Technology and best-in-class teaching techniques mean outcomes of online education are on par with those from traditional classrooms."
This spring, SFC unveiled SFC Forward, its vision for the College for the coming years. At the center of SFC Forward is a new campus SFC is building in Downtown Brooklyn that will open doors to students in September 2022. SFC Forward also includes plans to provide more online learning opportunities and to introduce new degree programs that meet 21st century job market demands.
In July 2021, the Middle States Commission on Higher Education, SFC's accreditation body, approved SFC's applications to deliver the five additional degree programs online. Michele Hirsh, Ph.D., SFC's accreditation liaison officer, led SFC's application process, working with Dr. Gayle, Corinne Smolizza, Director of Online Learning and Instructional Designer, and other stakeholders including key faculty members along with the College's curriculum committee and administrative offices.
SFC offers degrees in more than 70 fields. Its most popular degree programs are nursing, management, psychology, biology and accounting.