April 12, 2019
In a quest to offer students diverse fields of study to help prepare them for future professions, St. John’s will introduce six academic programs in the Fall 2019 semester that span several disciplines from computer science to international hospitality management.
“As a University, we continue to develop competitive academic programs that meet the growing needs of students,” said Simon G. Møller, Ph.D., Interim Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs. “Our students are eager to embrace cutting-edge knowledge; we work hard to ensure that they have access to this so that they develop the skills needed in a dynamic job market.”
Noting today’s economy is built on change and innovation, Katia Passerini, Ph.D., Dean, College of Professional Studies, said, “Launching new undergraduate and graduate programs that enable acquiring both theoretical and applied competencies is essential to remain relevant and competitive.”
“Innovative programs give students an edge in the job market, while enabling them to ensure meaningful career paths and lives,” Dr. Passerini said. “Students who meet the master’s admission requirements can start a graduate program in their senior year and essentially accelerate their graduation. It is important for St. John's to build new and solid options that leverage our areas of excellence and move students to the next level.”
The new programs are
Physician Assistant, Master of Science
College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences
Queens Campus
Listed by Money magazine as one of the “top 10 jobs in America,” physician assistants (PAs) are in high demand. These health professionals are licensed to practice medicine under the supervision of a licensed physician. The PA profession is expected to experience a 37-percent growth rate in the next 10 years, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. St. John’s received 3,399 applications from potential students in pursuit of a total of 75 available slots in the program.
This graduate program incorporates two essential components: classroom/laboratory-based learning at the University and clinical training at various practice sites in New York City and beyond.
Business Analytics, Bachelor of Science
The Peter J. Tobin College of Business
Queens Campus
The Business Analytics major provides the skills, insight, and capability to transform data into insightful information that leads to better decision making. In this program, students learn how to use a data-driven approach to solve business challenges in the era of big data. Business analytics is at the intersection of business and data science, offering new opportunities for a competitive advantage. Business analytics enables a student to unlock the predictive potential of large data sets in order to improve financial performance, strategic management, and operational efficiency.
Computer Science, Master of Science
College of Professional Studies
Queens Campus
The employment landscape for computer science-related professions is strong. Technology generally (and computer science specifically) dominate the job market, in terms of necessary skills for success in virtually all career areas. Nationally, the Bureau of Labor Statistics projects growth in this sector at well above the national average. Similarly, the New York State Department of Labor projects growth in this sector of the New York City and Long Island economies to be well above average. In addition, the Computing Industry Trade Association suggests that New York City, the primary market that St. John’s serves, will be a “leading technology innovation hub over the next four years,” second only to Shanghai and California’s Silicon Valley.
Students in this program achieve knowledge and competency in the core areas of advanced database system design, compiler design, algorithms and theory of computation, software design and architecture, and distributed operating systems. Students choose from a variety of elective courses in mobile applications, cryptography, machine learning, and robotics. In addition, they will select specializations in data mining and predictive analytics, software development, artificial intelligence, or cybersecurity.
Entrepreneurship and Innovation, Master of Science
The Peter J. Tobin College of Business
in collaboration with the College of Professional Studies
Queens Campus
This program is designed for individuals from varied backgrounds who are focused on creating new ventures, part of family businesses, interested in starting or growing their own businesses, or are pursuing successful careers in innovation-related roles within established organizations. It equips students with the knowledge, skills, and competencies to create businesses in all sectors. Given the complementary strengths of both professional schools involved, this collaboration has produced a dynamic program
with an experiential learning focus. Both Colleges offer pedagogical flexibility to meet the demands of the market as it evolves in the context of new technologies.
Health Care Systems, Master of Science
College of Professional Studies
Queens Campus
Health care continues to be a growing industry. According to the federal government’s Bureau of Labor Statistics, the job growth outlook for medical and health services managers for 2016–26 is 20 percent, a much faster growth rate than the average for all occupations. A study from Georgetown University’s Center on Education and the Workforce states, “32 percent of individuals working in health and administrative medical services hold a graduate degree.”
The Master’s in Health Care Systems program recognizes the need for a graduate degree program in healthcare systems that equips students with the necessary tools to achieve and manage integrated approaches to health care—approaches that enable students to look at operational, policy, technology, and legal issues in health care from a holistic perspective. The program offers medical and nonmedical professionals opportunities to develop advanced organizational and technical skills, effectively positioning students to assume leadership positions within the evolving ecosystem of the US healthcare stakeholders and health-related professions.
International Hospitality Management, Master of Science
College of Professional Studies
Queens Campus/Staten Island Campus
The Master of Science degree program in International Hospitality Management responds to the explosive growth in the global hospitality industry in recent years. More people are traveling than ever before for business and pleasure. The industry today is full of new and exciting varieties of hotels, restaurants, brands, experiences, adventures, and more. Employment in the hospitality industry continues to grow. By 2024, the US Bureau of Labor Statistics projects wage and salary jobs in this industry will grow by eight percent.
The master’s degree program enables students to increase their managerial hospitality expertise, through study and research, in several newly developing specialty areas. M.S. degree graduates offer increased executive talent and value to hospitality organizations employing them.