Saint Joseph's University expands offerings to Lancaster County

Joseph DiAngelo, dean of the Erivan K. Haub School of Business at Saint Joseph's University in Philadelphia, is excited about what the school can bring to Lancaster County residents as the organization looks forward to merging with the Pennsylvania College of Health Sciences, 850 Greenfield Road, Lancaster, in January.

"Several years ago ... our strategic planning was looking to expand into health care," recalled DiAngelo. "We were interested in affiliating with programs that are already accredited, and we were interested in nursing." After a successful partnership with Lancaster General Hospital, providing business courses for doctors and senior administrators, strategists saw possibilities in the Pennsylvania College of Health Sciences, but DiAngelo sees the acquisition as bringing opportunities to Lancaster residents.

"Nothing is going to change in Lancaster," said DiAngelo. The goal, rather, is to embrace what exists and offer more. "We are one of the largest business schools in Philadelphia," DiAngelo pointed out, adding that the school offers the largest food marketing program in the country, along with health administration, insurance, and hospitality programs. "We think there are some natural niches there for us," said DiAngelo.

The dean pointed out that the school's redesigned stackable Master of Business Administration program allows students to earn the degree or certificate that meets their needs and the needs of their employer. "Our programs are synchronous, so students interact with faculty members and not just the computer," said DiAngelo, who added that students can go back and watch a previous class, which works better for people who travel or work hours that do not allow them to be in class each week. "Courses can be taken at their leisure," he explained. "Students can get credentials along the way for their companies."

DiAngelo pointed out that while Saint Joseph's is the largest of the Jesuit-sponsored schools in the U.S., which are overseen by members of an apostolic Roman Catholic community, one need not be Catholic to attend. "The Jesuits pride themselves on excellence," he noted. "The Jesuit principles of caring for the individual person and making the world a better place apply. Those are things we emphasize." DiAngelo said that in the business school those principles are held high. "We have a focus on ethics - especially business ethics," he said.

According to DiAngelo, representatives of the school have been in contact with the Lancaster Chamber of Commerce. He pointed out that there are four hospital systems surrounding Lancaster County. "We are looking to offer health administration programs and programs in business for doctors so they can run their practices and hospitals better."

For more information on programs offered by Saint Joseph's Haub School of Business, readers may visit http://www.sju.edu/haub-school-business.