UT System Board of Regents approves two UTSA Ph.D. programs

(August 8, 2002)--The University of Texas System Board of Regents today approved plans for proposed doctoral programs in biology and in environmental science and engineering at the University of Texas at San Antonio. The proposals will now go before the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board for review.

The doctoral program in biology would have an emphasis on cell and molecular biology, complementing the university’s original biology doctoral program’s focus on neurobiology. Biochemical systems, biological developments and genomic systems would be part of the new curriculum. Students must complete 27 hours of coursework, 10 hours of seminars, 35 hours of doctoral research and18 hours for the doctoral dissertation. It’s anticipated that after the third year, the number of graduates will reach 10 per year.

According to UTSA College of Sciences Dean William Scouten, the program would help meet a growing demand for Ph.D. biologists to work in biotechnology and biomedicine in the scientific and industrial communities in and around San Antonio. It would also help to educate under-represented minorities in Texas to become leaders in the biomedical industry.

“This a great beginning for further expansion of UTSA’s science doctoral programs,” said Scouten, “But it is only a start.” He added several other doctoral programs are in various stages of development. “When these are completed the college will meet its goal of being a major contributor to UTSA’s achieving premier research university status.”

The doctoral program in environmental science and engineering would emphasize research on natural resources such as water, land and air and address issues such as water contamination, land restoration and air pollution. Students would be required to complete 30 hours of coursework beyond a master’s degree including doctoral research and a dissertation. Ultimately, this program also would expand to10 doctoral candidates.

"We are very happy that our joint proposal for doctoral program in environmental science and engineering has been approved by the UT Regents,” said Zorica Pantic-Tanner, dean of the UTSA College of Engineering.

“The program will have a great impact since it addresses natural resources (water, land and air) that are of enormous importance for the San Antonio Metropolitan Area, South Texas region and the border region. “The associated research will focus not only on pollution but also on contamination as related to homeland security issues,” she added.

UTSA has seven doctoral degree programs in place covering neurobiology, computer science, educational leadership, culture, literacy and language, business administration, electrical engineering, latin studies.

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UT System Board of Regents approves two UTSA Ph.D. programs
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