New program offers students real-world career experience in coding, data analytics and marketing with top brands

JULY 24, 2024 — Registration is now open for the Fall 2024 UTSA Global Career Accelerator. The unique program gives UTSA undergraduate students the opportunity to work on real-world projects in coding, data analytics or marketing with leading companies and nonprofits like Intel, Dell, Fenty Beauty, charity: water, and Nike, all while earning college credit.

Administered by the UTSA Global Initiatives division, this fully online, project-based program consists of live interactive class sessions and video lessons taught by industry leaders. During the sessions, students collaborate virtually with undergraduates from over 50 colleges across the country.

“I hope this experience reaches more students. I've found this course to be one of the most meaningful courses I've taken in my college career.”

Students can choose from four different tracks to gain hands-on experience as they prepare for their careers:

• The digital marketing track teaches students how to design and build their own online store from scratch using Shopify, how to optimize advertisements based on consumer demographics and user behavior and how to create a strong brand presence on social media.
• The coding for web track introduces students to web development with HTML, CSS and JavaScript. Students build a portfolio of front-end web applications for mobile and desktop users while learning design and user experience best practices.
• The coding for data track shows students how to delve into large data sets using SQL, the top programming language for storing and processing information in databases; and Python, a programming language that can be used to create and manage data structures. 
• The data analytics track focuses on mastering Microsoft Excel to compile and review real-world data sets and teaches data visualization using Tableau software.

Senior mechanical engineering major Keanu Lane was one of more than 150 UTSA students who registered for the first Accelerator cohort last spring. Lane enrolled in the coding for data track and completed a project for the Grammy Awards with his group. They analyzed raw user data from the official Grammys website — including page views, how long users interact with site content and translated the information into viable strategies that could increase site traffic and improve audience engagement.

“I was introduced to a new skillset that I could apply to a future career,” Lane said. “I hope this experience reaches more students. I've found this course to be one of the most meaningful courses I've taken in my college career.”

Marleth Osuna, a junior studying business analytics, also participated in the spring cohort and completed the data analytics track. Working on data analysis projects for companies like Etsy, she gained experience with creating interactive and insightful data visualizations using Excel and Tableau.

Osuna says this learning-by-doing approach taught her invaluable skills that she is already putting to use.

“The class gave me a solid foundation in data analysis tools,” she said. “These skills are already proving useful in my other courses, and I know they’ll be essential for my future work in data analysis.”

By the end of the program, students have a portfolio of work that will give them an advantage when meeting with future employers. Students also earn up to six hours of UTSA course credit, a certificate of completion, and LinkedIn badges to reflect the software and skillsets learned during their chosen track.

In addition to course-specific content, each of the four tracks includes modules that focus on important career readiness skills, such as intercultural competency, managing bias, conflict resolution and teamwork — competencies that form the foundation for workplace success across a wide variety of fields and job functions.

“This program is a great supplement to the courses our students are already taking at UTSA. It helps them bridge the gap between learning material in class and putting that knowledge to use in real-life scenarios,” said Rhonda Waller, assistant vice provost of global initiatives. “It’s also a more flexible option for students wanting the benefits of a study away experience — including learning with students from around the world, and around the country — but with the convenience of a virtual learning environment.”

Currently, 45% of Roadrunners are first-generation college students and less than a third of all first-generation students across the country complete an internship during their undergraduate studies. The Global Career Accelerator is filling this gap. The program’s hands-on teaching approach is creating graduates who are entering the workforce with a competitive edge. Additionally, there are no prerequisites required, and UTSA undergraduate students of all levels and academic backgrounds are encouraged to apply. Since the program is offered for UTSA course credit, it is also financial-aid eligible.

Additionally, the program supports the UTSA Classroom to Career initiative, which aims to have 75% of undergraduate students participate in some form of experiential learning by 2028.

The UTSA Global Career Accelerator is offered in partnership with Podium Education, a leading developer of online experiences where college students learn in-demand skills, gain work experience and earn course credit. Other colleges and universities that offer the program include UT Austin, Texas A&M University, New York University and Harvard University.

The UTSA Global Initiatives division is committed to providing international experiences for all students, preparing them for success and equipping them to meet the challenges of an increasingly globalized world.

— Chloe Johnson