HOUSTON, TX – The University of Houston-Victoria will offer new degree concentrations in the latest technologies including cybersecurity, artificial intelligence and data science beginning this fall.
Students pursuing a bachelor's degree can choose concentrations in data science or cybersecurity, while those pursuing a master's degree will be able to select concentrations in data science, cybersecurity and artificial intelligence.
Explaining the reason why the university offers those new concentrations, the chair of the University of Houston-Victoria (UHV) computer science division and professor of computer information systems, Yu Wan, said, "There is a shortage of college graduates equipped with these skills, which are in high demand across almost all industries. Our students will benefit greatly by adding these skills to their resume."
Karla DeCuir, UHV Katy senior director of enrollment management and external affairs, said that discussion about the new concentrations started after executives at companies in the software technology, oil and gas, and technology retail industries were interested in opening locations in West Houston. They wanted to make sure there would be a large enough labor pool with those skills.
DeCuir further explained that the skills offered with those concentrations would help students to find a job after graduation since the skills could be implemented in any industry. In addition, the skills would be also beneficial for students and employers.
Before taking the new concentrations, students need to know about four elective courses for each concentration. Among the courses include “Predictive Analytics”, “Data Science Using Machine Learning”, “Applied Cryptography”, “Network Security”, “Natural Language Processing” and “Advanced Topics in Artificial Intelligence.”
Students will attend the concentration courses on virtual platforms or in person at the Victoria campus and UHV Katy.
To get more information about the undergraduate concentrations, please send an email to Amjad Nusayr at nusayra@uhv.edu. Those who want to ask questions about the graduate concentrations can contact Qi Zhy at zhuq@uhv.edu. For students majoring in computer information systems at the UHV interested in adding a concentration, they should contact their advisor.