Saint Vincent College

Accounting

Offered by the Alex G. McKenna School of Business, Economics, and Government and accredited by the Accreditation Council for Business Schools and Programs. Students complete the 40-credit business core plus accounting major requirements, and may work with an advisor on a 150-credit four-year plan to meet CPA licensure requirements.

Addiction Specialist Training

Designed to provide the background knowledge necessary for students to develop the skills to help people with substance abuse problems, covering mood-altering chemicals, counseling theories, legal rights of clients, and treatment skills. The 300 clock hours of instruction may be applied toward fulfilling Pennsylvania Chemical Abuse Certification Board instructional requirements for state certification.

Art Education

One of three programs hosted by the Department of Visual Arts and Media Design. The goal of the department is to lay a foundation for creative expression in the classroom, in a gallery, or on the internet. Art Education majors seeking certification must also complete the requirements set by the Department of Education.

Aviation Management

A McKenna School program combining the business core with aeronautical theory and flight training. Students choose Option 1: Professional Piloting (54 to 55 credits) or Option 2: Advanced Piloting (50 credits), demonstrating knowledge of the functional areas of business, aeronautical theory, and proficiency in piloting.

Benedictine Leadership Studies

The Benedictine Leadership Studies program allows students to analyze who they are as an individual called to serve and promote the common good of their community, using the teachings of the Catholic Church and Benedictine spirituality as guides. The certificate has five major components: BLS coursework, retreat workshops, experiential learning, self-leadership exercises, and a Rome capstone course.

Biochemistry

Offered by the Chemistry Department, which offers students the possibility to earn a B.S. degree in Chemistry, Biochemistry, or Environmental Chemistry. The degree programs build on a common core of chemistry courses (general, organic, physical, analytical, and biochemical) and culminate in a senior research project.

Biology (B.A.)

The biology program lays a foundation for graduate study in biology and for training in the professions and technologies based upon the biological sciences. Bachelor of Arts students must complete 33 credits in biology and select one of three areas of concentration: cellular/molecular, organismal, or population biology.

Biology (B.S.)

The biology program lays a foundation for graduate study in biology and for training in the professions and technologies based upon the biological sciences. Bachelor of Science students must complete 36 credits in biology and complete a senior research project as a capstone experience.

Biotechnology

Biotechnology, the technological application of biological systems, is a dynamic, evolving field that has fundamentally changed the world we live in. The certificate may be completed as a post-baccalaureate certificate, usually in one year, or concurrently with a traditional major course of study.

Business Administration

A McKenna School program designed to provide a thorough academic and professional education in the study of business principles, practices, and systems. The curriculum combines theoretical, quantitative, and technical work with case studies and simulations to understand business life and activity within a dynamic market economy.

Business Data Analytics

A McKenna School major combining the business core with coursework in relational databases, Python programming, data mining, econometrics, and data visualization. The program is in candidacy for accreditation with the Accreditation Council for Business Schools and Programs.

Business Economics

An ACBSP-accredited McKenna School major that combines the business core with microeconomic and macroeconomic theory, labor economics, public finance, econometrics, and game theory.

Chemical and Biological Analysis

A Chemistry Department major intended for students who wish to work in an analytical lab, such as a forensics or medical testing lab. The curriculum includes a 32-credit foundation in chemistry, biology, physics, and calculus plus required analysis courses.

Chemistry

Undergraduate study in chemistry provides students with the background to pursue graduate school, industrial research, professional programs, science policy, and forensics. Students receiving the B.S. degree in Chemistry are certified by the American Chemical Society, and the program culminates in a senior research project and thesis.

Communication and Media Studies

The department engages students in theoretical, empirical, humanistic and applied work in human communication. Students complete 10 required core courses and 7 elective courses, and may optionally choose a concentration in public relations or sports communication.

Computer Science

One of three majors in Computing and Information Systems. The curriculum is based on the guidelines of prominent professional organizations and combines theory with in-demand technical skills, preparing graduates for positions such as software developer or systems analyst, or for graduate study. A senior capstone project demonstrates students' ability to solve problems in teams.

Counselor Education

Certifying in PreK-12 school counseling, the 39-credit program prepares candidates for a career as a professional counselor in the school setting and addresses current clinical counseling for children and young adults. Graduates are prepared to take the Praxis II: Professional School Counselor exam.

Criminology

Designed to prepare practitioners in the area of criminology to serve as leaders and innovators in the system dedicated to the just enforcement of the law. The curriculum employs a 'think tank' philosophy focused on issues, challenges, and viable solutions in law enforcement, corrections, probation and parole, juvenile counseling, and the administration of justice.

Criminology, Law, and Society

The Criminology Department provides a rigorous liberal arts curriculum preparing students for a wide variety of educational and career options. The curriculum insists that students become familiar with both the theory and practice of criminal law and the larger social, economic, and psychological forces that affect decision-making in the criminal justice system.

Curriculum Instruction

Focuses on three critical elements of learning: curriculum, instruction, and assessment. The accelerated 30-credit program can be completed in approximately 18 months and is versatile in that students can earn their initial Pennsylvania teaching certification in the desired area while completing graduate courses.

Cybersecurity

One of three majors in Computing and Information Systems. The National Security Agency and Department of Homeland Security have named Saint Vincent College a Center of Academic Excellence in Cyber Defense Education for its bachelor of science program in cybersecurity.

Data Science

Advances in technology have caused an explosion of data in areas from business to health care to history, and organizations need employees who can extract information from structured or unstructured data. The program prepares data scientists who create algorithms and programs to gather and clean data, develop models to analyze it, and present insights for decision-making.

Digital Art and Media

A program of the Department of Visual Arts and Media Design whose goal is to train students to work creatively in an ever shifting digital landscape. Students learn the fundamentals of animation, graphic design, illustration, 3D modeling, and video production.

Early Childhood Education (PreK-4)

A four-year Education Department degree program leading to Pennsylvania certification in early childhood education, grades PreK-4. Candidates combine instruction in basic pedagogy with field experiences and psychological foundations of education, culminating in a 14-week student teaching assignment.

Economics

The economics program provides a strong academic foundation for understanding the complexities of economic activity and decision-making within both the private and public sectors and the relationship between the economy and society. Students apply rigorous analysis to economic issues through market-oriented theoretical models, quantitative techniques, and economic reasoning.

Economics and Mathematics

A joint McKenna School and Mathematics Department degree combining the economics curriculum with advanced mathematics coursework. Candidates who plan to pursue graduate work in economics, finance, or related disciplines are strongly encouraged to consider this degree.

Educational Leadership

Offers veteran educators a degree program to obtain Pennsylvania certification as a K-12 Principal in full compliance with Pennsylvania Department of Education Core and Corollary Standards for Principals. The 39-credit graduate degree requires students to have three years of documented teaching experience.

Engineering

A general engineering program accredited by the Engineering Accreditation Commission of ABET. The program provides a strong foundation in science, mathematics, and general engineering concepts plus depth in a selected engineering discipline through upper-level courses and a year-long senior capstone project; students select a concentration in environmental, chemical, materials, or mechanical engineering.

English

The English Department invites students to join the 2,500-year-old conversation about language and literature, reading classic and contemporary texts from a variety of critical perspectives. Majors choose one of five concentrations: literature, creative writing, publishing, literary translation, or teaching certification.

Entrepreneurial Success

Designed to help aspiring business owners gain the practical knowledge and skills necessary to successfully open and sustain their own business. Students work with entrepreneurship experts, many of whom are business owners themselves.

Environmental Chemistry

One of three B.S. degrees offered by the Chemistry Department, building on the common chemistry core with earth systems science, advanced environmental chemistry, and methods of environmental analysis. The program culminates in a senior research project and thesis.

Environmental Science

The environmental science program is multidisciplinary in its approach to environmental problems, based on the philosophy that environmental problems are best solved through careful scientific investigation within the context of social, political, and ethical structures. All students complete a senior research project and thesis as a capstone experience.

Finance

An ACBSP-accredited McKenna School major. Students completing one of the tracks in corporate finance, investment management (CFA), investment management (CFP), computational finance, or behavioral finance will graduate with a B.S. in Finance.

Finance and Mathematics

A joint McKenna School and Mathematics Department degree combining finance coursework such as investments, portfolio theory, and financial institutions with advanced mathematics including real analysis, linear algebra, and complex variables.

General Studies

An option administered through the Liberal Arts program for students who need to change their major in order to complete an undergraduate degree at Saint Vincent College. The program is constructed around a concentration of at least 27 credits in a particular subject or area plus the Liberal Arts capstone course.

Global Engagement

Listed among the undergraduate certificate programs offered by the College. Students engage in reading, discussion, and debate about ways to analyze and interpret the world's increasingly interconnected political, social, cultural, ecological, and economic systems.

Health and Physical Education

A four-year Education Department program that meets and exceeds all Pennsylvania Department of Education guidelines for PreK-12 Health and Physical Education certification. It prepares candidates to teach grades PreK-12 or to work in coaching, private youth programs, aquatics, specialized physical education, health and wellness programs, and correctional settings for youth health and fitness.

Health Science

The major provides students with options in the sciences that combine courses from multiple traditional disciplines to meet the needs of students interested in allied health careers. The goal is to educate students to use scientific principles from a multitude of scientific fields in real-world health applications and to prepare them for professional or graduate school.

History

The Department of History prepares students for graduate or professional school or for a wide variety of careers, developing their intellectual understanding of historical events and their broader significance. The major consists of area studies, upper-division courses, and a majors-only sequence culminating in a senior writing seminar.

Hospitality

Designed with the Benedictine Hallmark of the same name in mind, enabling participants to learn about the hospitality industry — tourism, hotels, recreation and service-oriented businesses — through a Benedictine lens.

Information Systems

One of three majors in Computing and Information Systems. The curriculum combines theory with current in-demand technical skills and prepares students to support the delivery, use, and management of information systems within an information systems environment.

International Business

An ACBSP-accredited McKenna School major combining the business core with global business management, international finance, global marketing, and intermediate-level modern language study. Majors are required to complete a minor in Accounting, Finance, Management, Marketing, Economics, or Operational Excellence and are encouraged to study abroad.

Legal Studies

The Legal Practice Certificate is offered by the McKenna School and provides students attending law school with an advantage in understanding the practical implications of the law. For students who delay or forgo law school, the certificate provides information and understanding to make them valuable assets to a law office.

Liberal Arts

An interdisciplinary course of study by which students engage timely issues that defy the bounds of a single discipline. Students select an interdisciplinary track and complete a senior capstone project that concentrates on a specific problem or question relevant to that track.

Management

An ACBSP-accredited McKenna School major combining the business core with human resources management, leadership, project management, operations management, and operational excellence coursework.

Management: Operational Excellence

The MSMOE program is comprised of 36 credits designed to prepare students for leadership roles in organizations, blending traditional management concepts with cutting-edge operational excellence philosophies related to continuous improvement, problem-solving, and waste reduction. Administered by the McKenna School, it is a year-round program that can be completed in as little as one year.

Management: Operational Excellence

A graduate certificate for anyone interested in implementing Operational Excellence techniques for Continuous Improvement, regardless of industry. Students build a foundation of Lean and Operational Excellence skills that can be implemented immediately to reduce waste and costs, increase productivity, and gain a competitive advantage.

Marketing

An ACBSP-accredited McKenna School major combining the business core with consumer behavior, global marketing, marketing research, and strategic marketing.

Mathematics/Actuarial Science

Actuarial Science assesses financial risks in the insurance and finance fields using mathematical and statistical methods. The coursework blends rigorous mathematics with an emphasis on probability and statistics along with finance, accounting, and economics, and prepares students for the introductory Society of Actuaries exams.

Mathematics (B.A.)

The Department of Mathematics teaches students the ability to comprehend and use the language of mathematics and to formulate the mathematical methods needed to analyze and solve real problems. Courses prepare majors for graduate studies, research, engineering, teaching, and positions in industry and government.

Mathematics (B.S.)

The Department of Mathematics teaches students the ability to comprehend and use the language of mathematics and to appreciate the logical structure and beauty of mathematical development. The B.S. requires additional upper-level mathematics coursework, a computing course, and a two-semester capstone.

Mathematics/Engineering

A cooperative liberal arts and engineering program offered in conjunction with affiliate institutions including The Catholic University of America and the University of Pittsburgh. Students spend the first three years at Saint Vincent College and then transfer to the cooperating engineering institution, receiving a Bachelor of Arts in Mathematics/Engineering from Saint Vincent College.

Middle Grade Education (4-8)

A four-year Education Department degree that meets and exceeds all Pennsylvania Department of Education guidelines for Option 1: Middle-Level Certification. The program provides a wide perspective of teaching young adolescent children in grades four through eight, and candidates select an 18-credit area of expertise in mathematics, language arts, social studies, or science.

Music Performance

One of two majors offered by the Department of Music leading to the Bachelor of Arts degree. Admission is based on a successful audition, and performance majors are expected to participate in an ensemble and complete applied lessons each semester.

Music Studies

One of two majors offered by the Department of Music leading to the Bachelor of Arts degree. The curriculum is designed within a liberal arts structure to give the strongest possible foundation in the history and theory of western music and its practice and performance through applied lessons, performance, and ensembles.

Nonprofit Studies

Enables students to learn the nuances of working for and running nonprofit organizations such as charities, arts organizations, government agencies and religious organizations. Courses like Nonprofit Management and Nonprofit and Social Marketing give students exposure and knowledge about managing these types of organizations.

Nurse Anesthesia Practice

The DNAP entry program prepares registered nurses with at least one year of critical care experience with the knowledge and skills to become nurse anesthetists. Offered in partnership with the Excela Health School of Anesthesia, it includes an intensive didactic curriculum during the initial twelve months followed by full immersion into clinical practice during the second and third years.

Nursing

A four-year pre-licensure nursing program approved by the Pennsylvania State Board of Nursing. The program is rooted in Catholic Benedictine values and prepares baccalaureate-prepared nurses to practice as professionals, clinicians, and leaders, with off-campus clinical practice placements across four spheres of care.

Nursing (Direct Entry with Clinical Nurse Leader)

The Direct Entry Master of Science in Nursing with the Clinical Nurse Leader is an innovative and accelerated second degree program intended for individuals holding a baccalaureate or higher degree in a non-nursing major. The 76-credit, two-year curriculum is designed to be completed within six consecutive semesters of full-time study, after which graduates are qualified to sit for the NCLEX and for national CNL certification.

Organizational Leadership

Teaches students how to lead in real-world scenarios, regardless of title. Students learn theories of leadership and how they shape real-life decision-making through courses such as Organizational Behavior, Leadership, and Business Ethics.

Philosophy

Philosophy is the human attempt to understand one's life and place within the cosmos. Key to this enterprise is being disciplined in logic, formed in the branches of philosophy, and habituated in the art of conversation.

Physics

The B.S. degree in Physics is for students who wish to continue their education in graduate school or to directly pursue careers in government or the private sector. The department develops skills in experimental and theoretical physics, and a thesis is required in the senior year.

Physics Education

One of two alternative programs offered by the Physics Department. The Physics Education program prepares students for certification for careers as secondary school physics teachers; students must contact the Education Department Chairperson for admission to the certification program.

Political Science

The Department prepares students for careers and professions including law, business, nonprofit organizations, public administration, public office, international affairs, and academia. Courses emphasize the Great Books of Western civilization, the great political writings of the American tradition, and the principles of the American founding.

Project Management

An undergraduate McKenna School certificate that helps students understand both basic and new perspectives, like agile project management, and learn the skills needed for future certification.

Project Management

A graduate certificate intended to equip students with skills employers seek in the technical and behavioral domains of project management. Students learn the fundamentals of project management in accordance with the Project Management Institute's Body of Knowledge and finish prepared to manage both traditional and Agile projects.

Psychology

The primary program of study in the Department of Psychological Science, designed to prepare students for admission to graduate school or for direct entry into the workforce in fields related to psychology. Students receive broad training in the science and application of psychological methods and principles, with an optional concentration in mental health.

Psychology Education

Designed to meet the needs of a diverse group of students, this major is an ideal option for undergraduates who wish to earn a degree while also obtaining PK-12 Special Education certification. It also offers a pathway for students who begin their studies in Education but later decide not to pursue teaching.

Public History

A Department of History major that combines area studies and upper-division history coursework with five required public history courses including museum studies, nonprofit management, and a practicum in public history.

Public Policy

A McKenna School program designed to develop an understanding of the economic and political institutions, principles, and processes involved in public policy decision-making. The curriculum combines courses in economics and political science and culminates in a senior capstone on a public policy topic.

Reading Specialist

Listed among the certificate programs offered by the College, leading to the PreK-12 Reading Specialist credential. Coursework includes foundations of literacy, complex text and disciplinary literacy, diagnosis of reading difficulties, techniques for reading difficulties, and a reading specialist practicum.

SAP University Alliance

Associated with and recognized by SAP, one of the world's leading Enterprise Resource Planning systems. Students participate in practical courses that teach both general ERP knowledge and dedicated SAP Business One skills; a B or better in any three courses is required to be awarded the certificate.

Science Foundations for Health Professions

Typically pursued as a post-baccalaureate certificate or taken in conjunction with any degree at Saint Vincent College. The certificate is designed for career preparation in the medical and health professions.

Sociology

The Department offers a Bachelor of Arts degree in Sociology grounded in the institution's emphasis on the need for a holistic liberal arts education. The unique perspective given by the department is particularly appropriate to any major or career path that would benefit from an understanding of human behavior.

Spanish

Offered by the Department of Modern and Classical Languages, the major requires 12 courses and develops skills in speaking, listening, reading, and writing along with insight into other cultures through foreign literatures, art, and film. Spanish majors are required to pursue a second major or minor and to study in a Spanish-speaking country.

Special Education

Provides advanced scholarship and training in educating students with disabilities, designed for special educators who desire to become master teachers or leaders. Candidates explore advanced theory in high incidence, low incidence, and emotional disabilities, plus life-span transition, behavior analysis, and autism.

Sports Management

A McKenna School major, in candidacy for ACBSP accreditation, combining the business core with sports administration, sports media and promotion, sports venue and event management, sports law, and operations management.

Studio Art

One of three programs hosted by the Department of Visual Arts and Media Design. Students use a variety of materials and techniques to produce a body of artworks for their portfolio and apply professional standards of exhibition and portfolio development; successful completion of an end-of-year exhibition or online portfolio is a requirement for graduation.

Supply Chain

Teaches students about the importance of logistics, purchasing, operating and communicating within the broader supply chain of organizations. Participants take part in simulations and practical exercises that expose them to real-world scenarios.

Theology

The Theology Department offers a rigorous and engaging course of study in theology, embracing St. Anselm's description of theology as 'faith seeking understanding.' Graduates are prepared for entry-level positions as directors of faith formation, teachers of theology at the secondary level, campus ministers, and youth ministers, or for accredited graduate programs in theology.