Finish at Fisher: New Program at St. John Fisher University Helps Adults Complete Their Degrees
The School of Business at St. John Fisher University is launching a new flexible, fully online bachelor’s degree in business administration tailored to help adults return to college to complete or advance their education through an undergraduate degree experience.
The business administration program is exclusively for adults five years or more removed from high school who have attained some college credit but have not yet completed a bachelor’s degree. Dr. Dan Connolly, dean of the School of Business, said the program was designed to meet students where they are and take them where they want to go.
The University’s reputation as a transfer-friendly institution—for more than a decade, Fisher has been named to the Phi Theta Kappa Transfer Honor Roll—ensures that students will have a seamless experience as they return to the classroom and that previous college credits will count toward the degree program. In an effort to broaden access and provide affordability for working professionals seeking a baccalaureate degree, the program will be offered at a competitive and affordable tuition rate. Accredited by the Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business (AACSB), the School of Business built the degree program in alignment with its learning objectives of core business knowledge, communication, collaboration, ethical decision making, and critical thinking. The University will enroll its first cohort of students in fall 2025, with future cohort start dates in spring, summer, and fall semesters.
“Fisher has a long institutional history of preparing graduates for the world of work, and in particular, the business sector, and this program follows in that tradition,” said Connolly, who added that the program also meets the region's need for workforce development. “It has a practical and tangible focus on business strategies and practices that will position students to be successful in their current and future professional lives.”
Courses will explore technology-driven business, business analytics, principles of accounting, managing team and organizational behavior, and marketing, among others. Coursework will be offered in an accelerated, online format in seven-week modules to meet the needs of working professionals.
Students in the program will have access to many of the support systems available to all undergraduates, including resources at Lavery Library, career services, academic advising, and accessibility services, among others. In addition, the University has developed a new orientation program specifically for online students to familiarize them with campus facilities and resources, policies, and programs, as well as an introduction to the faculty, advisors, and administrators they will work with throughout their educational journey.
The University has offered academic programs in business disciplines since its inception, with members of the pioneer Class of 1955 earning degrees in general business and accounting. In 1983, the Master of Business Administration became the University’s first graduate program, and in 2002, the School of Business became Fisher’s first professional school. Today, the School has grown to include undergraduate degree offerings in accounting, finance, marketing, and management. This new bachelor’s degree is demonstrative of the vital role Fisher plays in educating the next generation of the area’s workforce; and was strategically designed to meet the needs of the business community. More than 33,000 alumni live in the Greater Rochester region, and graduates of this program will join this strong network and contribute to the substantial professional and civic impact they make – particularly in the business sector. Alumni of the business programs go on to work for Fortune 500 companies, start their own ventures, or find success in the local, national, and international business landscape.
“We know that adult students are busy people looking for a flexible program that fits into their life and is one they can complete in a timely way. This new program checks those boxes and will position graduates for career advancement,” said Dr. Kevin Railey, provost.
For more information, email the Office of Admissions at transfer@sjf.edu or visit the business administration program website.