University of San Francisco Reviews

"The University of San Francisco's School of Education, Masters of Arts in Teaching is a great program of study. The program fully prepares you to teach in today's classroom. One of the great advantages of the program is that the professors in the program are current or retired teachers in your area of study. The student field advisors are current teachers, and when they come to conduct observations spend as much time as you as a student for review of performance after observation. They will conduct extra observations if you want, the whole course is student oriented. The rigor of the program is very high, but I feel that have such high standards for classroom performance has made me so much more prepared to teach. I recommend this program for anyone interested in becoming a teacher."

"The University of San Francisco not only provided me with the tools necessary to excel in the public sector but also taught me the importance of values in the workplace. After leaving the University I will not be satisfied with the status quo. The institution is driven by the idea of inclusion, innovation and values that will make this world a better place for all. The sense of community and access to professors is one of a kind, the program is life changing!"

"Just started in this amazing program in January, 2017. This covers the ins and outs of every aspect of the sports industry. Great support in networking, resumes, cover letters, and presentations to lead you to your dream done. A+ professors that will go to bat for you and help you make valuable career decisions. This school in two months has made me a better student, speaker, parent and professional."

"Kinesiology at USF was an amazing experience. All of my peers were dedicated to learning and the faculty was entirely devoted to the student body. If I had to do it all over again, I absolutely would. Being in the city was a dream come true to me, I love everything about being in a big city, but it makes it much different from a "normal" college experience. So much of the school experience revolves around being there and all the opportunity that comes with it. Everything from the clinics that gave me internships to the places I explored, University of San Francisco was a phenomenal place to go to school."

"The International and Development Economics (IDEC) program at USF is a great place for those interested in field experience and economic development. As with most programs-you'll get out of it what you put into it. Professors have their own interests and may put them ahead of your thesis projects, but that is very common in academia. The summer abroad requirement is really the highlight of the whole program allowing you to gain valuable field experience you might want to show off in future career opportunities. Once you enter the job market, you might find USF teaches in other statistical programs than what is more in demand. I'd suggest doing problem sets in R as well as STATA. With the opening of a similar program across the bay in Berkeley I think they've tried to up their expectations for students in recent years."

"I found this program at USF in Santa Rosa, CA where you earn your teaching credentials while also earning your Master's degree in Teaching. The 18 month long program focuses on teaching for diversity and social justice. The faculty and staff are available, knowledgeable and helpful. The small class size and personal experiences are very conducive to learning and succeeding."

"The University of San Francisco upholds it's mission to "change the world from here." While attending the university I was instantly connected with the change makers of San Francisco through guest speakers in my classes and various internship opportunities offered through my program. Specifically for public affairs, the professors have the highest level of expertise in their areas as well as the connections necessary to help students advance in whatever career goal they aspire to. USF provides a great education in a great city!"

"The program has been very rigorous so far, and really opens your mind up to the world of economics and development. You quickly become conversant with important papers and authors in the economic sphere, and your professors make sure that you thoroughly understand a topic before they move on."

"USF is known for having a wonderful quality education, which you will certainly receive. The teachers and clinical sites are all great. You will learn a lot, and feel prepared. However, a major drawback is the cost as with most private institutions. However, if it is manageable, going here is worth it."

"USF is a very unique institution of learning both in under graduate and graduate curriculums. The track I have presumed is the MPA to prepare me for public sector job market. USF's tag line stating "A USF education reaching beyond the classroom to include internships and experiential learning in entrepreneurial, diverse SAN Francisco" caught my attention due to my learning curve being a very hands on type style. After attending an information session for the MPA program and meeting some of the cohorts that are enrolled, I was extremely impressed on how the curriculum would involve in a real world type environment. The instructors are very straight forward and accommodating to each students situation creating a win-win situation for comprehension of taught material but also that of any personal life issues that may hinder a students ability to complete assignments or understand the lessons. The university's visions and values have been upheld by all my professors to the "T". Engaged learning, Passion for Justice, Equipped to Lead and Succeed, and Change the world from here goes beyond just a set of words, but is the goal to nurture new students as young adults and transform them to a more knowledgeable adult that understands more about life after graduation."

"The chemistry department is very small which allows for an environment where you can feel comfortable. The staff and faculty are willing to help and guide you even though you may not be there student. You'll need to research and complete a thesis in order to graduate within 2-3 years. There is a scholarship for chemistry and biology graduate students and a teaching assistant opportunity to help bring in some extra money. The school itself is small but in a nice location in the city."

"USF has been an amazing opportunity for my professional career as well as developing a mindset for the world. In this world, people aren't just looking for bodies to get work done, they are looking for people who have the heart and mind to make a difference in companies and ultimately in the world. With the Organizational Behavior and Leadership degree, I have learned essentials skills and developed key insights that helped me in with private, non-profit and religious organizations. The advisors, financial aids, and career center were well-knowledged and guided me into a career path that impacted me and my company positively!"

"The campus is beautiful and safe. The student body is ethnically diverse. The city has good public transportation. The professors are good. They give great lectures and the coursework is challenging. They will teach you enough to get a good job in the real world."

"At USF, students are challenged to make an impact in the community they work in using what they've learned in the classroom. There is an emphasis on diversity and serving a larger purpose than oneself. Students are supported and encouraged to do their best."

"The University of San Francisco is a small, private college in the heart of San Francisco. The location is one of the best in the city for easy access to all the major tourist destinations as well as all the restaurants and sights favored by the locals. Because everything is so convenient and public transportation is close there is no need for a car, which is good because parking is at a premium. The school is relatively small but still has all the amenities and facilities of a larger college including a fitness facility and large library. The dorms and main campus have recently been upgraded and are quite nice and make living on campus really enjoyable, they have traditional dorms as well as apartments for upperclassmen. The cafeteria is really nice with tons of different options to suite everyone including a coffee shop for hanging out and studying. The campus has tons of outdoor spaces to hang out and a lot of study and gathering rooms to work on homework and group projects. I majored in biology and found the program to be rigorous and interesting. I took a lot of great class and got a lot of lab experience. Most of the classes required a lab so that a lot of hands on learning took place. The labs were all were modern and up to date with the latest technologies. The labs in the last couple years have also been updated to keep up with current technologies. Overall it was a great school and I would recommend it."

"The quality of education at the University of San Francisco is irrefutable. Never before have I felt so safe to speak my mind, and be myself. The faculty and staff are ever available for support, no matter what you need. When I'm at school, I feel a sense of hope, because I know there are a lot of people who are committed to making a difference in the world. It becomes easier to imagine change. My only qualm is that they don't offer enough financial resources to support international students, like me, who aren't able to work off campus, and thus aren't able to sustain themselves independently in a city like San Francisco, where the cost of living is so high. However, that doesn't take away from the incredible experience that I've had here."

"USF has very caring teachers, and the students are helpful and collaborative. That being said it is also very expensive. Sometimes things are a little disorganized, which can be stressful given the significant financial investment we are making. That being said, it's a great program for second career professionals that are looking to switch into nursing as it is two years straight through and they have two program starts each year."

"Program works really well for people seeking a teaching credential who work full time. Students are mostly older professional, and discussions are interesting. The course is expensive and there is not much support from the financial aid office."

"Pros: My program is really competitive and relatively new: I'm in the third cohort since the programs inception. My class has twenty-five people, which is the biggest they've accepted, and we've been told that they are planing to accept less students in the coming years. This coming year we were told that there were 145 applicants, so hang in there if you're interested in applying! Since we're a small class, we've all become really tight nit very quickly, and help each other out. Our professors are great; always willing to help out and talk, either by email, phone, or in person. The technology here is pretty good I would say. Our class was the first class given Ipods for a new program they are implementing, so we use them a lot in class and for projects. And you can always get help with it if you are technology challenged! Cons: Price is definitely an issue, with this program being one of the most expensive of the social sciences here at USF. There is also the issue of books, which is an issue for any student in college. Sometime they can be hard to find cheap, but sometimes the professors will help out by suggesting where to find them, or I had a professor loan me her personal copy of a book for class (that's a pro!) The classes themselves are long, about four hours each, but we get breaks, so that's good, or else I know the professors understand we would be zombies in the middle of it. The workload is fair, but you really need to be on your game in terms of time management and the content of your work. Assignments and come one after another, and while we only have three classes a semester, work WILL pile up if you're not careful with how you manage your time, which will then affect your work itself. If it is not good quality, you can be sure someone will call you out on it. I would say all these cons are pros in a roundabout way, as this is a graduate program, and while the professors in this program are all wonderful and willing to help and listen to you, they do expect you to bring your A game. So be mindful people."

"A degree as a Clinical Nurse Leader is fairly new to the nursing profession and USF was the school that pioneered for this role. I am in the Master's Entry program so the courses are very fast-pace, which can be both a pro and con. Don't expect much of a social life if you plan on doing well in this program. The instructors are very knowledgeable and are always helpful during office hours. The quality of education is very high and after finishing a class, I feel every confident and prepared to pass the NCLEX exam. The program has a pre-fixed schedule of courses and an adviser sets up a schedule for you, which I really disliked. If you wish to make any alterations to the pre-fixed schedule, you would have to talk to your adviser."