Seton Hill University Preparing Students for the Workforce of the Future

At Seton Hill University, a Catholic, liberal arts institution located in Greensburg, PA, students are prepared not just for their first job but for the career changes that will likely occur during their lifetimes.

Seton Hill’s approach to preparing students for the workforce of the future is guided by the university’s mission to, in the words of Elizabeth Ann Seton, “fit students for the world in which they are destined to live.”

Seton Hill prepares its students through strong major programs of study that are aligned with workforce development needs; a liberal arts curriculum that helps students develop the soft skills required by employers; and a career readiness program that provides support to students as they explore professional opportunities during their four years on campus and beyond.

Seton Hill continues to examine the needs of regional, state and national employers as the university develops new academic programs. Through the Office of Academic Innovation and Planning, Seton Hill faculty works with business leaders to conduct market research into workforce development needs.

This model has enabled Seton Hill to bring a number of new academic programs to market quickly in recent years, including undergraduate degrees in Nursing, Cybersecurity, Data Science, Data Analytics, Global Studies and Digital Humanities – all of which are designed to meet both student interests and employer needs.

Seton Hill not only offers traditional undergraduate programs that meet those workforce needs, but the university is committed to providing working adult students with opportunities to expand their career possibilities through the Adult Degree Program, graduate programs and several certificate programs.

Seton Hill’s offerings for non-traditional students have expanded recently to include an RN-to-BSN program; MBA programs in Healthcare Administration and Forensic Accounting and Fraud Examination; and certificates in Addictions and Substance Abuse and Business Leadership.

The programs are built around the busy lifestyles of working adults, with the ability to complete programs completely online, on campus or a combination of both.

As an Apple Distinguished School, Seton Hill has a long-standing commitment to providing equal access to technology for all students. For more than a decade, Seton Hill has provided all students, faculty and staff with MacBooks and educated faculty on how to use this mobile technology to enhance the classroom experience. Through these efforts, Seton Hill has eliminated the digital divide that often impedes student success.

Seton Hill’s career preparation programs are undergirded by a strong liberal arts curriculum that allows students to develop the soft skills employers are seeking. Whether it is writing and communicating effectively, working as a member of a team or developing leadership skills, Seton Hill’s liberal arts curriculum helps students grow to their full potential.

And all Seton Hill students benefit from the services of the Career and Professional Development Center. In fact, Seton Hill’s nationally recognized “Fit for the World” Career Readiness Program is integrated into the curriculum and provides students with meaningful preparation for their future careers starting in their freshman year.

A major component of Fit for the World is a requirement that all students participate in an experiential learning opportunity – an internship, research project or study away trip – that is tied to their major area of study.

These real world experiences enhance the classroom learning and allow students to explore their career paths.

Seton Hill’s Office of Alumni Relations provides Seton Hill students the opportunity to connect with professional alumni at organizations nationwide through the Career Connections program. Students experience one-on-one contact with alumni to network about their chosen profession, hear about experiences alumni have who are working in those career fields, and receive other career-related advice.

Through the Fit for the World and Career Connections programs, Seton Hill students explore their options within specific careers and industries and can better prepare themselves for in-demand careers.

In fact, 95 percent of Seton Hill’s recent graduates are employed or in graduate school within six months of graduation compared to an 86 percent national average placement rate.

Seton Hill’s relevant academic programs for traditional and non-traditional students, its liberal arts curriculum and its career readiness offerings make the university a place where students can prepare themselves for whatever career path they choose.

For more information on Seton Hill University, visit www.setonhill.edu.