Graduate Programs

Enhance your success with USJ’s graduate programs.

USJ’s rigorous curriculum helps you hone in on your true passion as you take the first next step towards the rest of your life. All of our graduate programs are designed to fit your busy life schedule, offering both traditional classroom settings and flexible online courses.

Graduate Programs

Graduate Certificate Programs

Doctoral Programs

USJ’s Graduate Programs Offer:

  • Education programs and state-approved Teacher Licensure/Certification programs
  • Flexible course schedules to fit your busy schedule
  • Online programs include: M.S. Biology, M.S. Chemistry, M.S. Biochemistry, M.S. Nutrition, and Doctor of Nursing Practice
  • USJ offers a variety of health care programs, including but not limited to: Nurse Practitioner, Pharmacy, and Physician Assistant Studies program.

Top 10 Reasons to Pursue Graduate School

Graduate school is an incredible opportunity, and the decision to pursue graduate study should not be taken lightly. In a graduate program, you will be tested in more ways than one, confronted with ideas and concepts that you may have never grappled with before, and inspired to seize the opportunity to achieve your goals. There are many reasons that students choose to pursue grad school each year. Whether to achieve career goals, complete a research project, or prove to themselves that they can achieve more than they ever dreamed possible, every decision to apply to grad school is a personal one. 

If you’re unsure if graduate school is worth it for you, here is a list of the top 10 reasons you should consider graduate school.

1. Pursue Your Passion

More than anything else, you should only consider graduate school if you have the drive and the ambition to rise above challenges in pursuit of your passion. But if you have a passion — whether to become the best possible business leader or to develop a deeper understanding of the biomedical sciences — graduate school can help you develop your skill set, build your body of knowledge, and boldly pursue your passion.

2. Develop Your Intellect

Graduate school is a demanding academic environment. You will be pressed to think critically about challenging questions and to posit innovative solutions to new or unusual problems. This is one of the great strengths of graduate school — it presents an opportunity to push yourself academically and develop your intellectual understanding of larger concepts within your field. This intellectual capacity can only help you take on greater leadership or technical roles in the future.

3. Elevate Your Leadership Skills

Should you choose to pursue graduate school, you will have multiple opportunities to develop and practice your leadership skills. From actual courses focused on leadership to research opportunities that require concise, decisive action, every grad school course presents opportunities to develop your leadership potential. Gain confidence in your field and in your own innate abilities so that you can take on greater roles as a leader after graduation. 

4. Grow Your Network

Ask anyone who has ever completed a grad program and they’ll confirm that one of the greatest benefits of graduate schools is the opportunity to develop your professional network. In every class, you are surrounded by like-minded peers who bring different backgrounds and experiences to the table. Networking with your peers allows you to learn from others and build a community of people who can help you in your future career. Additionally, your professors and other members of your department’s faculty may have valuable connections that could potentially help you rise up in your industry or break into a new one. Without a doubt, one of the most important reasons to pursue a graduate degree is to build up a network that can exponentially increase the trajectory of your career.

5. Expand Your Research Capabilities

The ability to develop and execute a research project is among one of the most valuable skills honed in grad school. Even if you are not pursuing a degree that requires a written thesis, most graduate programs still require students to read and understand research papers and studies. Learning how to conduct and interpret research is essential for an academic career but it is also beneficial in a professional career outside of academia. Someone who has the ability to conduct research most likely has developed the tenacity and independence to take on greater roles with increased responsibility within the workplace.

6. Execute a Career Change 

Executing a career change is challenging. Switching industries and changing roles requires a whole new skill set and, at times, building an entirely new network. Earning a graduate degree in your new field can show potential employers that you are serious and dedicated to this career change. Although a graduate degree doesn’t replace years of experience, it can help bolster a resumé. Furthermore, the courses you take and the professors you work with could help you get a much-needed foot in the door.

7. Expand Your Job Opportunities

Even if you aren’t trying to execute a career change, there is no question that earning a master’s degree or higher can bolster your resumé and open the door to new career opportunities. For many professional fields, having a graduate degree can help float your resumé to the top of the pile, get you noticed by the higher-ups, and indicate to prospective employers just how serious you are about the industry. If you feel like you’ve hit a plateau in your career, a graduate degree could be the tipping point to get you that promotion or secure an interview for a much-coveted position.

8. Establish Financial Security

With a promotion, a career change, or added responsibility at work comes additional compensation. Earning a graduate degree can help you secure the promotion or the leadership role that you’ve long been working towards. This can also help you secure greater financial compensation for your work and, in turn, greater financial freedom. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, workers with a master’s degree earn, on average, $500 more per week than the median American worker.

9. Build Your Academic Credentials

In the same way that a graduate degree gives you ample opportunity to develop your research skills, grad school can also empower you to build up your academic credentials through publications and presentations at conferences. Filling out your CV with academic credentials such as publications, articles, and conference presentations can, of course, benefit an academic career. But even those seeking careers outside of academia will impress prospective employers with their list of achievements, illustrating their dedication and determination.

10. Grow Confidence In Yourself and Your Skills 

Most importantly, grad school gives you the chance to push yourself and develop more confidence both within and outside of your career. Throughout grad school, you’ll meet challenges — personal, professional, and academic. In the course of this experience, you may surprise yourself with your grit, tenacity, and resilience. Grad school is a challenging experience, but by the end, you’ll be more confident of yourself and your abilities — ready to fearlessly take on the next phase of your career.

Office of Admissions

Mailing Address:
Office of Admissions
University of Saint Joseph
1678 Asylum Avenue
West Hartford, CT 06117

Location: Mercy Hall, 1st Floor
Phone: 860.231.5216
Fax: 860.231.5744
Email: [email protected]

Office Hours:
M – F: 8:30 a.m. – 4:30 p.m.
W: 8:30 a.m. – 7 p.m.

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