MARCH 26, 2021 — A trio of UTSA degree programs have received national praise and recognition from Intelligent.com and MPH Online, both online resources dedicated to helping students find their perfect program match.
UTSA’s B.S. in computer science came in at No. 6 overall and No. 2 among all bachelor’s programs in Intelligent.com’s national ranking of the top 50 cybersecurity degree programs. UTSA’s in-state cost per credit was also the second-lowest among the list of the top 50 schools, contributing to the university earning the designation as “Best in the South.”
Intelligent.com’s list highlighted B.S. and M.S. degrees in cybersecurity and cyber defense, as well as security-related certificate programs, offered online, in-person, and through blended-format cybersecurity courses by accredited colleges and universities across the nation. The programs were then evaluated on flexibility, faculty, course strength, cost, and reputation.
At UTSA, undergraduate students can earn a B.S. degree in computer science offered with optional concentrations in cybersecurity, data science, cloud and systems, software engineering, or the highly specialized cyber operations track. The National Security Agency designated UTSA’s Department of Computer Science as a Center of Academic Excellence in Cyber Operations Education in 2018. UTSA is one of only 20 institutions to receive this designation, which recognizes institutions that prepare workforce-ready professionals to protect the nation’s information infrastructure.
Intelligent.com also evaluated UTSA’s online cybersecurity degree program, ranking it No. 26 in the nation in its list of the top 66 online cybersecurity degree programs and fourth overall in Texas. The online program also earned the “Best Academic Support” designation.
For this ranking, Intelligent.com compared 362 programs based on reputation, course strength, flexibility, and cost. The list highlights both bachelor’s and master’s degree programs that can be fully completed online with some programs offered in an asynchronous format. Some of the bachelor’s programs featured on the list are geared toward those who have previously completed college coursework or an associate’s degree.
UTSA’s unique online cybersecurity program contextualizes the role of cybersecurity within the greater business landscape. By building a general knowledge of business alongside highly marketable cybersecurity skills, graduates are better able to protect and defend valuable information, data, and assets. Plus, with a comprehension of the dynamic relationship between cybersecurity and an organization’s greater goals, they are prepared for active involvement in building and sustaining the future.
Computer science and cybersecurity students at UTSA will be emboldened by the university’s new School of Data Science and National Security Collaboration Center, which broke ground in January. The new school is the only one of its kind in Texas, and is focused on producing the cybersecurity experts, data scientists, analysts, and researchers of tomorrow that are needed to fill gaps in emerging technology fields.
A third UTSA degree program was also recognized this week. The dual MBA/Master of Public Health (MPH) program, a collaborative effort between the UTSA Carlos Alvarez College of Business and University of Texas School of Public Health, was recently ranked No. 24 nationally and No. 1 in Texas among the top 30 dual master’s degrees in business administration and public health by MPH Online, an independent online resource for public health students.
To rank the top dual MBA/MPH programs, MPH Online editors sought out all institutions offering a combined business and public health degree, whether on-campus, online, or in an executive/accelerated format. From there, the programs were ranked according to three factors: tuition cost, student satisfaction, and job placement rate, using data from the Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System, Niche, and College Scorecard.
MPH Online not only commended UTSA and UTSPH for their curriculum and resources but also their approach to teaching: “Faculty members work hand in hand with students as they make their way through their courses, helping them to overcome obstacles and take the steps they need to continue to build their career on a solid foundation.”
The joint MBA/MPH program prepares students to integrate business and public health skills into their professional lives, whether they would like to be practitioners, researchers, or administrators. Students who enroll in the program can complete the degree simultaneously, at UTSA and UT Health San Antonio, saving up to one year and approximately 25% of the cost of pursuing the degrees independently.
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