USF Sarasota-Manatee Campus Graduate Programs Grow

August 31 – Sarasota

Graduate programming on the University of South Florida’s Sarasota-Manatee campus continues to expand this fall as USF welcomes the largest and highest achieving first-year class in its history. On the Sarasota-Manatee campus, the number of incoming graduate students is triple what it was last year. 

Of the six advanced degree programs offered on the Sarasota-Manatee campus, four are experiencing significant growth thanks to creative campus leadership. 

MS in Hospitality Management 

The Master of Science in Hospitality Management program has nearly quadrupled in size under the leadership of Cihan Cobanoglu, dean of the School of Hospitality and Tourism Management and director for the M3 Center for Hospitality Technology & Innovation. 

Available entirely online, the program offers a variety of learning experiences through case studies, experiential learning, research projects and partnerships that help students reach their career goals. Students learn how to play a vital role in addressing the hospitality industry’s changes and challenges while gaining the hands-on experience to become a leader at a top hotel, restaurant, resort or hospitality organization. 

For the first time in the program’s history, courses will be offered on the Tampa and St. Petersburg campuses in addition to the Sarasota-Manatee campus to accommodate a growing population of international students from Turkey, Saudi Arabia, India, Pakistan and Nepal. 

MBA 

Applications to the Professional Weekend MBA program rose this fall in response to a new, hybrid delivery method, which optimizes the experience for working professionals by creating a balance between schedule flexibility and classroom engagement. Now, courses will be held on the Sarasota-Manatee campus one Saturday per month, allowing students to balance their professional obligations, personal responsibilities and academic endeavors. Asynchronous, online learning experiences will complement the monthly Saturday sessions.

“The kick off of the newly redesigned Professional Weekend MBA program was a resounding success,” said Joni Jones, campus dean for the Muma College of Business at the Sarasota-Manatee campus. “The design allows students to utilize their COVID-acquired remote learning/work skills during the work week and adds enhanced learning with special programing, speakers, and student-to-student and student to faculty interactions at the Saturday sessions.  The combination is a win win for our students.” 

USF’s nationally ranked MBA program promotes a multi-disciplinary understanding of business, analytics and leadership. By developing well-defined skill sets in the foundations of business, students are prepared to become adaptable business leaders who seek solutions through data-driven decision making.  

Part- and full-time options are available.  

MA in Criminal Justice  

The Master’s in Criminal Justice program is experiencing an increase in enrollment — both in the number of traditional students advancing directly from undergraduate programs and in the number of law enforcement professionals returning to continue their education. 

Designed for individuals interested in pursuing a career in a criminal justice field and those already working in a related agency, the program allows students to apply principles, theories and research to contemporary, real-world issues affecting the criminal justice system. Students also receive opportunities to work with faculty members on research projects and other professional activities that assist with networking and building career connections. 

Since moving online, the program has become accessible to a larger audience, attracting more students from outside Sarasota and Manatee counties than in previous years. 

MSW  

USF is currently recruiting the next cohort of graduate students for the part-time Master’s in Social Work program at the USF Sarasota-Manatee campus. The application deadline is Oct. 15, and students will enter the program in January 2023, after the current cohort of 11 students graduates in December.  

The 24-course program includes field placements and is designed to prepare graduates to meet the steady demand for social workers. An intensive field practicum develops the skillsets needed for graduates to be employed in medical hospitals, psychiatric agencies or hospitals, children’s services, youth outlets, hospices and other venues. In eight consecutive semesters, it offers a schedule favorable for students with full-time jobs.