Academics

Personalize your program.

Every year we help students put together personalized academic programs catered to their goals.

“Saint Peter’s really helped me find myself. I came in with a major but really, I was still undecided. Now I can go overseas and help people run a business.
I went through several majors – I came in as psychology but I switched to sociology to get into social work. My advisor saw that I was testing the waters and said, why not take a business class? So, I did and I loved it. My favorite class so far is International Management, which is a hybrid class.”

-Fatoumata “Fatima” Drame ’16

If you’re not sure what to study, you can start as an Undecided major which allows you to earn your core credits while trying out classes in different majors and minors. There are so many areas of study to explore. Once you find out what best matches your interests and abilities, you can declare your major.

First-year students are advised by full-time faculty members who have received extensive academic advising training, and offer expertise in a variety of major disciplines. This relationship is further enhanced by enrollment in the Freshman Seminar, which all first year students are required to take during the fall semester. These special course sections are taught by the first-year faculty advisors, and are limited to first-year students only. They are also restricted in size so to enhance the faculty-student relationship. After the first year, students receive academic advising from an advisor in their major department, or if undeclared, students are advised by a faculty or professional advisor who specializes in advising undecided students.

Special Academic Programs

The Honors Program

Dr. Rachel Wifall, Director
Dr. Jeanette Wilmanski, Assistant Director, Academic Advisor

The Honors Program provides superior students in the CAS/SBA at the Jersey City Campus with an opportunity to take more challenging courses and do extensive scholarly research. The program includes research seminars, colloquia, and special seminars in place of certain courses in the core curriculum. For more information consult the Honors Program section.

Health Sciences Articulation Programs with Professional Schools

Dr. Leonard J. Sciorra, Department of Applied Science and Technology
Dr. Katherine Wydner, Chairperson, Health Sciences Advisory Committee

A number of combined degree programs are available to students through a series of articulation agreements with area colleges and universities. These programs are coordinated through the Department of Applied Science and Technology and the Health Careers Advisory Committee. For more detailed information, see the separate program sections for Pre-Med/Pre-Dental, Clinical Laboratory Sciences (cytotechnology and medical laboratory science), and Pre-Professional Health-Related Programs (pre-physical therapy, pre-pharmacy, and pre-physician assistant). Students interested in these programs need to plan their academic course of study with the assistance of a member of the Health Careers Advisory Committee to ensure fulfillment of requirements for admission to the various professional schools and to prepare to take the necessary required examinations, such as the MCAT or DAT.

Pre-Law Program

Dr. Alain L. Sanders, Advisor

Information and guidance regarding law school and law-related careers, including requirements, application procedures, and preparation for the Law School Admission Test (LSAT), are available through consultation with the advisor of the Pre-Law Program. Exceptional high school students and first-year University students interested in an accelerated program, leading to both a Bachelor’s degree in political science and a professional degree in law in six years rather than the normal seven years, may apply to the Joint B.A./J.D. Program that Saint Peter’s University offers in conjunction with Seton Hall University School of Law. The selective Joint Program is optional and is not required to apply to, or attend, law school. For more information on pre-law preparation at Saint Peter’s University, as well as the Joint Program, see the Pre-Law section.

Bachelor of Arts in cursu classico

Stressing its liberal arts and Jesuit traditions, a Bachelor of Arts degree in cursu classico is offered with a major in Classical Languages or Classical Civilization. Requirements for the majors can be found under the Modern and Classical Languages and Literatures section.

Accelerated Dual Degree Programs

Saint Peter’s University offers accelerated programs in business, accountancy, public administration and education. Students must apply for a master’s degree during their junior year and be accepted into the program in order to schedule graduate courses during their senior year. The number of graduate credits permitted while an undergraduate student varies per program. Please contact the director of the desired graduate program for more information regarding program requirements and policies.

The following programs are offered as dual degrees, so you can earn your Bachelor’s and Master’s in a total of five years:

• BS to MSA Accountancy
• BS to MBA Business Administration
• BSBA to MSA Accountancy
• BSBA to MBA Business Administration
• BS/BA to MS Cyber Security
• BS to MS Data Science
• BA to MA Education
• BS to MPA Public Administration

The Composite Major

In instances where students wish to meet some special educational or career objective, they may undertake a Composite Major (e.g., Comparative Literature) which is designed in consultation with the appropriate academic dean and mentored by an advisor appointed by the dean. Before meeting with the dean, students should prepare a written proposal which indicates the name of the proposed major, the objective of the proposed major, and the proposed list of courses to be taken. A composite major should consist of 30 to 60 credits depending on the number of departments and programs from which upper-level courses will be selected. A minimum of one half of the credits to be ap­plied to the major must be taken at Saint Peter’s University.

Earn credit for real-world experience

Cooperative Education and Internship experiences offered through the Center for Career Engagement and Experiential Learning are available for students in any ma­jor as well as for those who are undecided about their major field of study. Students interested in participating should register with the Center for Career Engagement and Experiential Learning during the semester preceding the work experience. Those interested in a summer and/or fall placement should register with the Center no later than the preceding March. Students who wish to work during the spring semester should register no later than the preceding October. All credit-bearing experiences offered through the Center for Career Engagement and Experiential Learning must be approved by the instructor, the appropriate Dean’s Office, and the Center for Career Engagement and Experiential Learning.

Special Academic Resources

The Center for Academic Success and Engagement 

Dr. Nicole DeCapua Rinck, Assistant Vice President for Academic Affairs
Tracy Louisse S. Chacon ’13 ’17, Associate Dean Academic Engagement and Student Success

The Center for Academic Success and Engagement supports students with academic advising, programming, tools and resources to successfully manage the college experience and achieve their academic goals. Exploratory advising services are offered to all students interested in declaring or changing academic majors. Advisors provide information regarding the academic programs at Saint Peter’s University and help students choose a major that best aligns with their goals. With the support of other campus partners and faculty members, major exploration programming is offered throughout the year.

Freshman advising and the First-Year Experience Program provides the opportunity for first-year students to become active in the Saint Peter’s University community, develop a clear sense of identity, and articulate their personal and academic goals as they learn to become men and women for others. First-year students are advised by full-time faculty members who have received extensive academic advising training, and offer expertise in a variety of major disciplines. This relationship is further enhanced by enrollment in the Freshman Seminar, which all first year students are required to take during the fall semester. Students who do not have a declared major are registered in the Emerging Scholars Learning Community and their seminar is taught by undeclared academic advisors. After the first year, students receive academic advising from an advisor in their major department, if a major is declared.

Transfer students and upperclassmen who have yet to declare a major are advised by a professional advisor who specializes in advising undecided students.

In addition to a student’s assigned advisor, students can visit faculty and professional advisors who staff the Center for Academic Success and Engagement. Advisors in the Center for Academic Success and Engagement provide students with additional assistance regarding major exploration, class scheduling, registration, course guidance and general academic questions.

STEM Engagement Center

Jenna Cook, Director of STEM Engagement Center

STEM Field Tutoring, Advising, and Resources

The STEM Engagement Center seeks to increase undergraduate retention and graduation rates, as well as empower students to achieve their academic and career goals, using a holistic approach that addresses the unique needs of our student population.

The STEM Engagement Center supports the following fields of study: biochemistry, biology, biotechnology, chemistry, computer science, mathematics, physics, and psychology.