UTSA introduces new degree programs as 2023-24 school year begins

AUGUST 21, 2023 — The paseos are bustling and the residence halls are full of life, signaling that another school year is officially underway. Today marks the beginning of the fall semester and the first day of classes for nearly 35,000 Roadrunners.

UTSA’s undergraduate, master’s and doctoral students will be pursuing degrees in more than 170 programs that will prepare them to lead the way in the workforce of the future. Six of those academic programs are brand-new to the university in 2023. UTSA is also offering a new graduate certificate program and has changed the name of four degrees at the university to more accurately reflect those evolving areas of study.

Here’s more on the new academic offerings at UTSA:

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NEW BACHELOR’S DEGREE PROGRAMS

• The B.B.A. in Human Resources Management will provide students with a comprehensive understanding of the principles, practices and strategies for managing human capital within organizations. Students who earn this B.B.A. will acquire the skills necessary to recruit, develop and retain employees effectively and to contribute to the overall success of an organization’s workforce.
  
  
• The Bachelor of Social Work (B.S.W.) was created at UTSA to address the significant need for social workers in San Antonio. This unique program will provide students with the skills and knowledge to effectively address challenges at the individual, family, community and policy levels, opening doors to careers focused on making a positive impact on the lives of people who are vulnerable or marginalized.
  
  
• Students pursuing the B.S. in Nutrition and Health will be prepared to tackle a variety of nutrition and sustainability issues in their communities, kicking off grand-scale change at a local level. Students in the program will learn how to teach families to be sustainable through efforts such as creating local gardens. At the same time, the curriculum will provide an emphasis on food safety.

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NEW MASTER’S DEGREE PROGRAM

• The rapidly-paced M.S. in Health, Community and Policy was created as an ideal pathway for students who have a strong desire to serve the community through programs that emphasize health at the individual level, with an emphasis on nutrition and physical activity, and at the community and population level, with an emphasis on advocacy for policies that address health-equity issues.

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NEW DOCTORAL DEGREE PROGRAMS

• UTSA’s Ph.D. in Chemical Engineering will prepare graduates to apply their cutting-edge research to solve the grand challenges in chemical engineering across traditional scientific boundaries and to lead careers in industry, academia or governmental research laboratories. The program gives students the opportunity to pursue high-level multidisciplinary research projects in the broad fields of health, energy, materials and the environment.
  
  
• The first of its kind in the San Antonio area, UTSA’s Ph.D. in School Psychology is designed to address the chronic shortage of licensed practitioners, researchers and faculty within the field of school psychology. The program allows students to pursue different high-need tracks, including behavior analysis, working with non-native English speakers, and research. With an emphasis on mental health and learning challenges, graduates will be prepared to work in a school, clinic, children’s hospital, or pursue an academic career.

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NEW GRADUATE CERTIFICATE

• UTSA’s new Graduate Certificate in Music Theory Pedagogy is for those who want to expand their passion for music education and training. It was designed for the active voice or piano teacher who has an interest in continuing their education through a program that is focused on practical courses in their field.

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DEGREE PROGRAMS WITH A NEW NAME

• Formerly known as the M.A. in Educational Psychology, the now-renamed M.A. in Applied Educational Psychology provides students a foundational education in areas of human development, learning, motivation, research methods, statistics and evaluation. Students then build on these core areas by complementing their required coursework with study from their area of choice, including public policy, sociology, social work and teaching.
  
  
• The M.A. in Geography is now known as the M.A. in Geography and Environmental Sustainability, bringing together the social and natural sciences by studying humanity and the way it interacts with the physical features of the earth. This program gives students the ability to analyze social processes and the physical environment across a range of cultures and historical periods, using appropriate methodologies and data management techniques.
  
  
• The M.S. in Kinesiology has replaced the M.S. in Kinesiology and Health. This degree program is specifically designed for students seeking advanced preparation for careers related to physical activity, fitness, strength and conditioning, health promotion, rehabilitation, sports medicine, athletic training and coaching, as well as those who want to pursue additional training in a Ph.D. or professional doctoral program in kinesiology.
  
  
• The Ph.D. in Cell and Molecular Biology is now known as the Ph.D. in Developmental and Regenerative Sciences. The program prepares graduates for careers in basic research in academia, clinical research in regenerative medicine or applied research in the biotechnology industry or military health sectors. The degree provides new insights into fundamental mechanisms of embryonic and fetal development, into how different cell types form and function and into how diseases develop when normal biological mechanisms are disrupted.

— Shea Conner

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