University of San Francisco Top Questions

What are the academics like at University of San Francisco?

Jessica

Academics are really important at USF, and the professors definitely make it a point to know everyone's names each semester. Students typically study on campus and take advantage of the study rooms made available in the Library, University Center, and even in some open classrooms. Every semester, you meet with your departmnet advisor and review your class plans for the following semster in order to register. This is a great way to stay on track, discuss class options, or even to just ask questions about your career goals and plans.

Gabriela

In this small university, not only are the classes small and intimate, but the limited number of students in each major normally means that you've attended all four years with the same faces and have developed close relationship with most of them. Most of my professors have been interesting and informative, and several of them welcome previous students to sit in on lectures and contribute to the class discussions. I'm always happy, ans this gives me the opportunity to participate in classes that I couldn't register for due to conflicts or heavy workloads. Although the discussions can become fiery, most of the students maintain friendships that enable the conversations to leave the class. I can still remember debating the merit of Marie de France's "Lanval" on a public bus as a few classmates and I ventured out for gourmet ice cream.

Alexander

Academic life at the University is both rigorous and enjoyable. I constantly find myself motivated for class due to all of my professors' dedication and interest in their material. All of my professors know my name and the classroom environment is welcoming. Our library on campus is full of staff who are all willing and able to help with whatever academic need students require. Participation in class is both necessary and encouraged due to the intimate class, which breeds a sense of academic freedom. During my first semester I enrolled in an Opera appreciation class. Having no knowledge of opera whatsoever, I found myself in a class which was both comprehensive and inviting regarding the teaching of such a unique subject. The most interesting aspect of this class however was not in the classroom itself, but the performances which the students attended at the San Francisco Opera. This holistic approach to out-of-class learning is found in most classes at the University. My experience with the concept of education at the University is one of education for educations sake. While getting a job and career planning is a part of the education mission at the school, it seems the pursuit of knowledge lies at the core of every class.

Sandra

I have never had a professor not know my name. My favorite classes have been my classes for learning communities such as The St. Ignatius Institute or The Honors in Humanities Program; they tend to be smaller and require more participation on the students behalf. My classes for my major, Literature, and my minor, Philosophy, tend to be slightly larger but they have never exceeded 25 kids. The professor still knows your name and typically encourages a lot of participation. It would be difficult for me to pick a favorite class or professor because I've so thoroughly enjoyed the majority of my classes and they have all been so different in range since the university requires students receive a diverse education. I have had professors invite classes to their homes for a class or for a lunch and it has always been a wonderful opportunity to get to know your professors on a more personal level. The learning requirements at USF are perfectly reasonable; they expect you to be responsible. The classes are too small, typically, for you to get away with not doing homework or to miss too many classes. Finally, it depends on the major but most majors are geared towards learning for its own sake, in my opinion but some, such as Nursing, are geared towards getting a really good job.

Paul

The academics at USF can be described as both thorough and varied. Classes are taught in a wide range of sometimes highly specified topics; everything from Great Ideas in Mathematics to Evolution & Human Origins to Literature and the Environment to Philosophy of Human Person. Classes are small so my professors know my name, and what's more is they set aside time when I or other students can meet with them to discuss anything about the class or class related issues. My favorite class last semester was Hinduism which I found infinitely interesting. The professor went out of her way to give us a real life perspective on what being a Hindu means, she even took us on a field trip to two Hindu temples. My least favorite class was a literature class because the class discussions became a bit redundant at times, but even then some of what was said had real value for me. My friends and I are always being introduced to new ideas in our classes and we discuss them with each other outside of class regularly, even if it's only in jest at times. My major is English because I wish to be a professional writer. USF doesn't offer a Creative Writing major at the undergraduate level or else I would be in it, but there are enough English and writing classes for my satisfaction. Although I came to USF to study English I was surprised during my first year to discover my love of gardening. I took a couple Urban Agriculture classes in which I worked in a community garden on campus and learned how to grow food locally and sustainably. Gardening classes quickly became my favorite and I met a great group of people who now make up a portion of my closest friends. USF also offers extensive resources to help prepare students for work after college. People in the career center will help students draft resumes, prepare for interviews, and even apply for internships and jobs. I am confident that I will be ready and able to begin my career when I am done at USF.

Alexandria

I really enjoy the classes at USF. The biggest class I have been in is around 42 students. This was because it was part of the core curriculum for USF and these classes always have more students. For classes that are specific to your major the number of students tends to be smaller. At least for myself, as an English major, the most students I have in those classes is about 25. All of my professors learn the names of their students, and know me by name whenever I talk in class or ask them for help privately. They are also very helpful with providing time for students to ask questions in class and ask questions or get help outside of class. All of my professors have told students when they have office hours and all of them have worked with student schedules if students cannot make office hours or need additional help. Professors encourage class participation and discussion, and in the majority of my courses students have taken advantage of this to understand the topic and present their own ideas and opinions on what is being learned. Students are competitive, but not with each other. They all just want to do the best they can in their courses, and because USF gives great internship and career opportunities. A lot of the time this leads to study sessions with fellow classmates and further discussion to gain better understanding of a difficult subject. Within my own friend group I often had discussions about courses for my major and their majors that leads to an exchange of opinions and has aided all of us when trying to understand a concept when studying or when trying to clearly state an idea in a paper. Since I am studying English, this has especially benefited me as my classes have become more rigorous in analytical discussion and critical opinions on literary works I read. The academic requirements and expectations of my professors and the University of San Francisco are fair. They have challenged me in the subject matter and in the requirements of my assignments, and have made me more open in how I approach a topic and pushed me to think outside the box. When working on projects and papers I am expected to find information that is considered well researched and respectable, and provides good evidence to my argument. The education you are getting at USF is designed to prepare you for your future career, but also encourages students to study and learn more about subject matter whether it be for a core class or a class for the students major. Being successfully launched into your career is important to the staff at USF, however the school's motto promotes the continual education of individuals to achieve an open-minded perspective, and the desire to help and accept people in our world.

Michael

Class sizes at this school are generally small, and in my experience never more than 30 students in one class. This allows students to get to know their teachers and meet with their teachers outside of class with ease. Students at this school take academics seriously, throughout the campus there are many places to study, often it's hard to find a table with a group of friends in the library or various other buildings. The school offers many majors and therefore many classes to expose students to different occupational fields. Many students do come in with a declared major, but students are just as welcome even when undeclared, like myself. When declared you have a path, but when you aren't, you don't entirely know what classes to take. Counselors then are very helpful in choosing said classes. Counselors are always available via email and willing to meet. Academics, with all it's aspects, are a big part of this school and it's not a place where slacking off gets you far.

John

The academics at USF are up to par. The core curriculum is evidently unbalanced, with an excess of humanities classes compared to science classes, and can be insipid at times. However, once you move into your upper division and major specific classes, things become interesting. As an English major, with a concentration in literature, I find great enjoyment in my classes. My literature classes are small- no more than 25 kids- and encourage discussion. Students are competitive, but, not necessarily with each other. Students generally realize that school is not a competition with one another, meaning they strive to do well, but do not concern themselves with "beating everyone". Professors are generally reasonable, but, like all schools, some are more enjoyable than others.

Katherine

Classes at USF are amazing, in my opinion. I entered in the school as an English major, and just recently picked up a minor in philosophy because of my philosophy class. The English department is small, but it is connected and offers amazing resources. For example, I just received an internship at City Lights bookstore with my advisor's help. The philosophy department is a bit bigger, but the professors are just as engaged. The professors I have are incredibly passionate and eager to help their students. Yet they refuse to baby them - they want their students to genuinely learn because they are interested in the subject. My friends and I often discuss what we learned in class over lunch, and I usually meet with my professors regarding papers or assignments about three times a week. The classes are small, but they are very beneficial.

Delaney

Every professor I've had knows my name, this is because our classes are about 20-30 students on average (the most I've ever had in a class was 40, the least 7 and these were both general eds.). Classes are more discussion based, which I personally find more conducive to my style of learning. One of my favorite classes I've had thus far that I have applied outside of the classroom has been my Rhetoric and Composition class Freshman year. My professor had lived in San Francisco for years and had watched it change with the times, so she shared her passion for the city with us through various "field studies" she'd send us on. She would write step-by-step instructions (as detailed as "don't forget to look up and note the architecture!") for us and every month or so we'd have a day off of class to, using her instructions as our guide, go out and explore San Francisco on our own. Our assignment was essentially to just be, to enjoy our city and write what we saw. We'd combine our field notes with the San Francisco-centered literature we'd read for class and write papers and speeches on various subjects using San Francisco as our base. It is because of this class that I am able to confidently speak in front of large audiences, write an effective argument, and find my voice.