New UTSA degree programs to strengthen workforce development

AUGUST 24, 2021 — UTSA is expanding its academic offerings this fall with three new courses of study, including one undergraduate and two graduate degree programs in science and engineering.

The new curricula will further prepare UTSA students to succeed in the high-wage, high-demand jobs of the future, while filling the pipeline of San Antonio’s highly qualified workforce.

“By providing signature academic programs in in-demand fields, UTSA is preparing our students to join the educated and skilled workforce our city and state need to continue to attract businesses and entrepreneurs,” said UTSA Provost and Senior Vice President for Academic Affairs Kimberly Andrews Espy.

This fall, the UTSA College of Sciences will offer a new Master of Science in cybersecurity. This master’s program, based in the university’s Department of Computer Science, will prepare students for careers in research, industry or software development.

“UTSA is preparing our students to join the educated and skilled workforce (needed) to continue to attract businesses and entrepreneurs.”

Students will develop research skills, choosing from a wide array of specializations such as artificial intelligence, machine learning, cloud computing, analysis of algorithms, developing secure systems and software and applied cryptography. Teaching and research assistantships will be offered to help students round out their educational experience.

Additionally, the College of Sciences will offer a Bachelor of Arts in environmental studies for the first time this fall. The new undergraduate program, offered by the Department of Environmental Science and Ecology, will provide students with a multidisciplinary educational approach to environmental issues that fosters system-thinking skills.

This program will prepare UTSA students to tackle complex environmental challenges such as global climate change, threats to natural resources and the resulting social and economic impacts through an integration of disciplines.

At the same time, the College of Engineering and Integrated Design will offer a fully online M.S. in facility management to educate and equip facility management students with advanced knowledge and specialized skills to keep buildings healthy and functional for the people who work in them.

Students who earn the Master of Science degree in facility management will become fully qualified practicing facility managers who will serve from mid-level to senior and chief facility officers running facilities operations and maintenance organizations for large and small corporations.

Each of these new academic programs will offer students varied opportunities to gain hands-on experience before they graduate. Studies have shown that experiential learning is particularly effective in preparing students to succeed in their chosen careers.

Also, this fall, UTSA will be offering five new certificate programs.

Among them, the university will launch its first undergraduate and graduate certificates in data science, expanding UTSA’s nationally recognized offerings in cybersecurity, cloud computing and analytics, providing a new option for working professionals, postbaccalaureate students and transfer students to acquire the necessary skills to understand how to gather, analyze, interpret and visualize data. Both certificate programs will be offered through the University College.

UTSA has long been recognized as a leader in cybersecurity, cloud computing and analytics. It is the only Hispanic Serving Institution in the nation with three Center of Excellence designations from the U.S. Department of Homeland Security and the National Security Agency.

UTSA continues to support its goal to provide solutions for students facing challenges in completing a degree and is building a bridge to bring them back into the education pipeline.

With this in mind, the UTSA Department of Architecture is launching its undergraduate certificate in design communication and fabrication this fall to provide students with a strong theoretical basis that integrates creative problem-solving skills with an understanding of the aesthetic, technological, and behavioral aspects of design. These aspects are increasingly informing the changes within the practice of architecture and interior design.

The UTSA College of Engineering and Integrated Design is also launching two new graduate certificate programs in its efforts to fill the gap and keep up with the current demand for engineering educators. The college has recently launched the graduate certificate in engineering education and a graduate certificate in career technology and engineering teaching.

The graduate certificate in engineering education places an emphasis on engineering curriculum development, instruction, and assessment methods for student learning outcomes. This certificate program provides a platform for engineering educators to improve their teaching skills.

The graduate certificate in career technology and engineering teaching provides guidance and training for the technology and engineering educators who teach dual-credit basic engineering courses. Upon completion of this certificate, students will be eligible to teach these courses in high schools or community colleges.

— Ingrid Wright