The Puri School of Business

At the PURI School of Business, our scope of study expands beyond our traditional majors: Accounting, Business Administration, Marketing, and Financial Economics. Students and faculty work together to examine the trends of business and organizations; recently we launched 4 new majors: Data Analytics, Digital Marketing, Healthcare Administration, and Supply Chain Management. We also examine the ethical, political, and social issues arising from the workings of our business world.

Our students live and work in globally integrated environments. We help students develop an understanding of the varied business fields, as well as the society in which they live, so that they can become effective participants within the business realm. Creating sustainable, successful careers centered on civic engagement is the ultimate goal of earning a degree from the Puri School of Business at Rockford University.

Our courses are centered on collaborative learning, case studies, community-based learning, and internships. Our faculty are not only recognized academic scholars, but they also bring with them corporate experience. These are opportunities for students to make course lessons their own, to match theory with practice. This blend of theory and practical application allows PURI School of Business students to obtain the tools that are imperative for long-term career success within the business realm.

Dr. Mary Weaks-Baxter is the Director of the Jane Addams Center for Civic Engagement. She has over 30 years of experience teaching in higher education and in college administration, and has worked with students on civic engagement projects on issues ranging broadly from human trafficking and domestic violence to environmental conservation and job equity. 

Elizabeth Kromer is a JACCE student worker who designs advertisements, contributes to the food insecurity program Swipe Out Hunger, and organizes information for the center. She is a kinesiology major with a concentration in exercise science at Rockford University, dedicated to making a difference in her community. 

Sandy Ruiz is a JACCE Fellow dedicated to organizing and presenting events that promote civic engagement and amplify the voices of the community, fostering a deeper connection between campus and local needs. She also is the College Advisor at CFNIL’s IWYT program, a consultant at the Writing Center, and is a monthly visit volunteer for a local Hospice center. She is studying Psychology and English, working to be a resource and aid for the Rockford community.

Master of Exercise Physiology at Rockford University

The Master of Exercise Physiology is designed for individuals interested in personal health and wellness training, health promotion, and physical rehabilitation. If you want to assist clients in reaching their peak physical wellness, then a degree in exercise physiology might be right for you. Exercise physiologists focus on promoting wellness, helping all athletes (non-professional and competitive) reach their top performance, and preventing illness and injury.

What is Exercise Physiology?

Exercise physiology is the study of the body’s response and ability to adapt to physical activity. Exercise physiology, like exercise science, focuses on how physical activity can improve health, wellness, and rehabilitation. Both are fields of human anatomy study that focus on improving the health and wellness of individuals and athletes. Exercise science is broader, encompassing areas such as physical education, strength and training, human performance and sports nutrition.

Career Paths and Opportunities

Student who earn a Master of Exercise Physiology have numerous career opportunities including becoming an exercise physiologist, a cardiac rehabilitation specialist, a clinical research assistant, and a physical therapy aide.

Have Questions?

Graduate admissions counselors are here to help. Please call 815-226-4040 or fill out the form below, and we’ll be in contact with you very soon.

Game Development at Rockford University

Game Development as a major track in Computer Science offers a dynamic and creative pathway for students passionate about the intersection of technology and storytelling. This program equips aspiring developers with a solid foundation in programming while emphasizing the unique challenges of designing interactive experiences. Through hands-on projects, collaborative teamwork, and exposure to industry-standard tools, students learn to bring their imaginative ideas to life, preparing them for careers in a rapidly evolving field. As the gaming industry continues to grow and innovate, this major not only cultivates technical skills but also fosters critical thinking and problem-solving abilities essential for success in the digital age. Majoring in the Computer Science track in Game Development offers a blend of technical and creative skills that can open up a wide range of career opportunities.

What is Game Development?

Game development is the process of creating video games, encompassing a range of disciplines including design, programming, art, and sound. It involves several stages: conceptualization, where ideas are generated; design, where the game mechanics and story are outlined; development, where programmers and artists create the game; testing, to ensure functionality and quality; and finally, release and marketing.

Game development is a collaborative effort that brings together various disciplines to create immersive and interactive experiences for players. It combines technical skills, creativity, and teamwork, requiring collaboration among designers, artists, and programmers to produce engaging and immersive experiences for players. The field is continually evolving, integrating new technologies like virtual reality and artificial intelligence, making it an exciting area for innovation and exploration.

Why Game Development?

Majoring in Computer Science with a focus on Game Development offers several compelling advantages. Firstly, it provides a robust foundation in programming, equipping students with essential technical skills that are applicable in various fields beyond gaming. Secondly, the Game Development track fosters creativity and problem-solving abilities, allowing students to translate imaginative ideas into interactive experiences.

Additionally, the gaming industry is thriving, offering diverse career opportunities in areas such as game design, programming, art, and project management. By studying Game Development, students can work on cutting-edge technologies like virtual reality and artificial intelligence, keeping them at the forefront of innovation. Furthermore, the collaborative nature of game development promotes teamwork and communication skills, which are invaluable in any professional setting. Ultimately, this major not only prepares students for a fulfilling career but also allows them to contribute to a medium that shapes culture and entertainment.

Career Paths and Opportunities

Career paths in game development are diverse and cater to various interests and skill sets. Here are some key roles:

• Game Designer: Responsible for creating the game’s concept, mechanics, and overall user experience. They design levels, characters, and storylines.
• Game Programmer: Focuses on coding and technical implementation, including gameplay mechanics, artificial intelligence, and graphics programming.
• Game Artist: Specializes in creating visual content, such as character models, environments, textures, and animations. This role often includes 2D and 3D artists.
• Game Animator: Works on the movement and behavior of characters and objects, bringing them to life through animation techniques.
• Sound Designer: Responsible for creating and implementing audio elements, including sound effects, dialogue, and music that enhance the gaming experience.
• Quality Assurance (QA) Tester: Tests games for bugs, glitches, and overall playability, providing feedback to developers to improve the final product.
• Project Manager: Oversees the game development process, coordinating between teams, managing timelines, and ensuring that the project stays on track.
• Game Writer/Narrative Designer: Crafts the story, dialogue, and character development, focusing on narrative structure and player engagement.
• User Experience (UX) Designer: Analyzes player behavior to design intuitive interfaces and improve overall user experience.

Each of these roles plays a vital part in the game development process, and professionals often collaborate closely to create successful and engaging games. The industry also offers opportunities for entrepreneurship, allowing developers to create and publish indie games independently.

Civic Participation

Through the legacy of Jane Addams and as a civic engagement center, the Jane Addams Center provides students with opportunities to develop skills to become effective leaders and active citizens.

This page is part of that effort and provides information for both our students from Illinois and from out of state. Our aim here is to help students become more knowledgeable about the process of voting: how to register, how to best be informed on candidates and policies, and where to vote. This page also includes information about how members of our campus community can be part of the democratic process by becoming an election judge.

Learn About The Issues

Gaining a deeper understanding of the issues that face our society is an important part of being an engaged and thoughtful citizen. Before you vote, it’s important to be up-to-date on current social issues that are happening nationwide, as they often come up when you’re researching candidates or policies on the ballet. To get the best understanding, look for balanced news sources and check their reliability.

Take advantage of the programming and activities on our campus that are intended to foster open communications and dialogue, and that encourage students to decide what they value and to speak up and promote causes that are important to them.

Resource pages on the Jane Addams Center website can help you get started: Anti-Racism Resources, LGBTQ+ Resources, and Land Acknowledgements Resources. Each of these pages are hyperlinked here, but you can also find them on our main page by looking at the tabs under Explore JACCE.

Volunteer

A way to learn about social issues impacting our local community is through volunteering. When you volunteer, you can better see where there is need for change and better understand the stances of political candidates and policies on the ballot.

Making connections in your community and going beyond your comfort zone to serve groups of people you don’t typically interact with is also one of the best ways to learn about the issues that people face in our communities. As Jane Addams said, in a democratic society based on the value of all human beings, we should “all turn out for one another” in our work for the common good.