Major trouble: USF majors being sunset

As of next year, the University of St. Francis (USF) is sunsetting four majors: political science, English, theology and substance abuse counseling, a decision that has left many USF students frustrated, confused and unsure about their academic future.

For Noah Daufenbach, a double major in psychology and substance abuse counseling, the news felt abrupt. He had never imagined that the program he chose, which is one rooted in service and community impact, would be on the chopping block. 

“ I didn't think originally that it was gonna be stripped away,” Daufenbach said. “It felt like a sudden thing.”

His reaction reflects the feeling of many students who also were not given early warning signs that their majors were at risk. Instead, the news arrived quickly, without a warning, leaving them to deal with the uncertainty of how the closure might affect their long-term goals. 

The substance abuse counseling major specifically holds a unique place at USF, being one of the few majors that directly prepares students to enter such a competitive field. With addiction and mental-health crises continuing to rise, students and faculty have argued that the program serves an important social need. 

Daufenbach believes that this value has been overlooked in the university’s decision-making process. 

“I mean, we’re helping people,” he said. “Our whole goal is just to help as many people as we can.”

For him, the substance abuse major is not just part of his academic track, but a pathway to a meaningful career and life-changing work. Losing it sends a discouraging message about the importance of mental-health and addiction-recovery professions at a time when they are needed the most. 

Beyond the theoretical concerns, students are also struggling with the immediate challenges of the university’s decision-making. One of the most pressing issues is the loss of faculty. With the program shutting down, several substance abuse counseling professors will not be returning next year. 

“We are losing one or two of our substance abuse professors, which ultimately sucks,” Daufenbach said. “By losing them, we ultimately don’t get the overall experience.”

Faculty departures means not only fewer specialized courses but also fewer opportunities for students to gain the hands-on training that the field requires. For students who chose USF specifically for this program, this change can feel like a disruption to the educational experience they were promised.

The closures also raise broader questions about the university’s academic identity. Political science, english and theology, which are three of the other majors being shut down, are foundational disciplines in liberal-arts education. Their removal shows a shift in the institution's priorities, one that some fear may narrow the university’s academic environment. 

For now, the university has stated that current students will be supported through the completion of their degrees, but for many, the reassurance feels insufficient. Support is not just about finishing coursework, but about preserving the quality and mentorship that made their majors meaningful in the first place. 

Daufenbach hopes the administration will listen more closely to the students who are directly affected.

“I hope the school continues to see that this is a beneficial thing,” he said. “It ultimately makes people's lives better, not just the students, but people out there experiencing drug use.”

As USF moves forward with the closures, students like Daufenbach continue to advocate for the value that their programs bring, not only to the university but to the communities they hope to serve in the future. Whether the administration will reconsider or adjust their approach remains to be seen, but it is clear that the impact of these decisions will be felt long after the majors themselves are gone.