University of Pittsburgh at Bradford (UPB)

In each program, students are inspired by professors who are experts in their field and committed to giving students the attention they need to succeed. The programs feature some of the most in-demand subjects and career paths to help students gain the confidence they need to make a bold impact on the world.

Each program provides students with the opportunity get hands-on experience and apply what they learned in the classroom through field experiences, internships and research.

Students must complete 120-128 credit hours (requirements differ slightly among programs) to earn a bachelor's degree and 60-70 credit hours to earn an associate degree.

Pitt-Bradford's newest program is emergency medicine, where students can earn a bachelor's degree that prepares them to become a certified paramedic.

The most popular programs are accounting, biology, business management, computer information systems and technology, criminal justice, early level education, exercise science, forensic science, history/political science, nursing, mechanical engineering and psychology.

Accounting students learn from faculty who have worked in the industry and will prepare them for careers as accountants, auditors, actuaries, budget analysts and financial controllers. The program also will prepare students to get certified and become a certified public accountant.

The biology program prepares students for many careers. Most students study biology who are interested in medicine, dentistry, optometry, pharmacy, osteopathy, optometry, physical therapy, occupational therapy, podiatry, chiropractic medicine, veterinary medicine, pre-clinical dietetics and nutrition, and health and rehabilitation sciences.

Business management students are taught by professors who are award-winning researchers, former entrepreneurs and professionals in the field who will provide hands-on training and support. Students will work on case studies, simulations and professional analyses while also exploring a wide range of business-related topics.

Students who choose computer information systems and technology learn programming and software development, computer networks and cybersecurity, and data analytics and database management. Students also learn systems analysis and project management, cloud computing and virtualization, deep learning, and Artificial Intelligence.

The criminal justice program provides opportunities for hands-on learning in the Crime Scene Investigation House where students solve mock crime scenes and on internships with local and regional police departments, county courts and probation offices, and a federal prison.

The early level education pre K-4 and secondary education majors prepare students for careers as teachers. Education graduates have general knowledge and specific content knowledge, as well as sound theory and practice.

Exercise science students study anatomy, physiology, biomechanics, exercise prescription, and nutrition. Students also get many opportunities to apply what they've learned in the classroom, on a virtual dissection table, in labs and on internships.

Students in forensic science learn about forensic chemistry, DNA analysis and forensic toxicology in labs and put their studies to work in the CSI House, where they'll collect evidence, investigate crimes and profile criminals. Students also use the advanced gas chromatography-mass spectrometer to find traces of drugs, poison and explosives and conduct an autopsy on a virtual dissection table.

Pitt-Bradford's offers bachelor's and associate degrees in nursing. Students in the associate degree program are guided by their instructors and have diverse clinical experiences to prepare them to take the national licensure exam to become registered nurses and work in a hospital or another health care setting. Students pursuing a bachelor's degree in nursing learn more advanced skills to prepare them for leadership roles in health care.

Mechanical engineering students identify a challenge, propose a solution, work with a team and test an idea in one of the spaces in the George B. Duke Engineering and Information Technologies Building, including the strengths of materials labs, the machine shop, the makerspace and the fluid mechanics lab.

Psychology students learn the scientific and theoretical aspects of psychology as well as the application of this knowledge. When students graduate, they're prepared for graduate work or employment in social service agencies, mental health centers, industries, and not-for-profit and governmental agencies.

Students may relocate to another university campus to complete academic programs not offered at Pitt-Bradford. They may earn no more than 70 credits before transferring. All students in the arts and sciences may relocate provided they are students in good standing with a minimum GPA of 2.5. Engineering students may relocate if they maintain a GPA of at least 3.0.

Visit www.upb.pitt.edu/majors-minors to learn more.

The University of Pittsburgh at Bradford “is a cozy campus nestled in rural Pennsylvania” that has “the small town feel with the big city name” and “a friendly environment that encourages students to stay.” At UPB, “Education comes first. No matter the school activity, exceptions are made in order to complete school work.” Students rave about the familial atmosphere, which is “friendly, welcoming, and accepting of all types.” “My school is all about bringing everyone together and making them feel like family,” says one Criminal Justice major. This cozy campus is small enough that “you never get lost and you have a very good way to access your professors if needed.” UPB’s “small learning community” is a place “where you know almost everyone and the people are very friendly.” The small sizes of classes “are a major strength.” “The professors at this university are extremely well versed in their specific fields of study” and “are very easy to engage in for help.” One student reports that “Professors recognize when students try and reward them appropriately no good deed goes unnoticed.” The teaching methods are “interactive” and students feel “a part of the learning rather than just a fly on the wall.”