DENTON (UNT), Texas — The University of North Texas is debuting innovative programs in fall 2021 from health care to construction to information technologies.
B.S. IN ADDICTION STUDIES
A new Bachelor of Science in addiction studies will respond to a growing need for counselors in the United States and provide the required courses for licensure in the state of Texas.
In 2019, the National Survey on Drug Use and Health reported that about 20 million people in the United States indicated struggling with a substance abuse disorder the prior year and that only 1 in 10 people received the help they needed for addiction. The NIH reports the cost of substance abuse in America is greater than $740 billion per year.
UNT’s new program, which will be housed in the College of Health and Public Service’s Department of Rehabilitation and Health Services, will blend education, research experience and professional clinical experience to provide a unique learning environment.
The degree prepares graduates for future careers as counselors in hospitals, community agencies, schools, the justice system, state and federal government organizations, recovery supports, recovery homes, detoxication programs and private and public treatment programs. This degree provides the required education component needed for LCDC, the license in addiction counseling for the state of Texas.
Ph.D. IN BIOMEDICAL ENGINEERING
A new doctorate in biomedical engineering will offer students two tracks: a traditional research track that will help those progressing toward their academic career goal and a one-of-a-kind health care start-up management track in collaboration with the G. Brint Ryan College of Business.
The program will offer possible concentrations in materials science and engineering, mechanical and energy engineering, and electrical engineering.
Students pursuing graduate degrees within the College of Engineering’s Department of Biomedical Engineering will use their knowledge and skillset to create practical applications in health care and within their communities. Current and past students have applied their learning to increase patients’ physical mobility, diagnose and cure cancer and develop bioresorbable implants for surgeries.
Graduates of the degree are prepared for future careers in health care or health care research.
M.S. IN INFORMATION SYSTEMS AND TECHNOLOGIES
A new Master of Science in information systems and technologies offers students an extensive base of STEM knowledge that will allow them to get today’s demanding IT jobs and help organizations better utilize their information technology assets.
The program, housed in the G. Brint Ryan College of Business’ Department of Information Technology and Decision Sciences, will focus on areas including cloud computing, cyber security, software development, data management, IT management, project management, business analysis, business intelligence, and more.
Students pursuing the degree will learn to work with organizations to design, architect, develop, implement, operate, manage, and modify the information systems, data assets, and computer and network infrastructures to improve enterprise performance and problem solving.
Graduates will be prepared for future careers as business systems analysts, software developers, cloud developers and architects, IT security analysts, project managers, business intelligence engineers, network administrators, data administrators, and more..
B.S. IN GEOGRAPHIC INFORMATION SYSTEMS AND COMPUTER SCIENCE
A new Bachelor of Science in geographic information systems and computer science will respond to a growing industry need to for combined expertise in geography and computer science.
Cloud computing, big data and the Internet of Things have dramatically impacted how organizations view and use geospatial data to develop analytics and gain insights into business processes. Increasingly, businesses are looking for professionals who understand the complexities of geospatial data and are able to leverage modern computing techniques to convert such data into meaningful information.
UNT’s new program, housed in the College of Liberal Arts and Social Sciences’ Department of Geography and the Environment, will teach students how to apply geographical perspectives to complex data-related geospatial processes, understand computing principles, program using various languages including C++ and Python and use complex databases effectively. Additionally, specializations such as remote sensing, enterprise geographic information systems, computer networks, security, data mining, graphics and artificial intelligence will be available.
The degree will prepare graduates for future careers as GIS engineers, GIS systems analysts, GIS solutions engineers or GIS application programmers in a variety of fields including local, state and federal governments, real estate, logistics, defense and energy.
B.S. IN EVENT DESIGN AND EXPERIENCE MANAGEMENT
A new Bachelor of Science in event design and experience management is the first and only event and experience related Bachelor of Science degree in the state of Texas.
Students in this program will earn event-related certifications, work with innovative event technology, create real-life events in class and connect with industry leaders and organizations through a variety of industry event experiences and study tours.
The new program, housed in the College of Merchandising, Hospitality and Tourism’s Department of Hospitality and Tourism Management, will prepare students for careers in event management and design, a field estimated to see a nine percent growth rate between 2019 and 2029.
Graduates will be prepared for careers as wedding or event planners, conference center managers, tourism officers, community relations managers or marketing executives in a variety of fields including local, state and federal governments and hospitality.
B.S. IN CONSTRUCTION MANAGEMENT
A new Bachelor of Science in construction management combines engineering and business management to prepare students for roles as project managers to serve in leadership positions in the ever-growing field of construction.
Students will learn best practices for appropriating construction materials, how to estimate costs and quantities and evaluate materials for construction projects, how to manage a construction project, how to be an effective member and leader of a technical team, fundamentals of communication in technical and non-technical environments and principles of construction management, law and ethics.
UNT’s new program, housed in the College of Engineering’s Department of Mechanical Engineering, will prepare students to manage projects of all sizes, from residential housing to office buildings to roads and other local, regional and national construction projects.
B.S. IN INDUSTRIAL DISTRIBUTION
A new Bachelor of Science in industrial distribution, offered at UNT at Frisco, combines engineering and logistics to give students and innovative degree plan that synthesizes contemporary issues and entrepreneurship with critical, systemic and creative thinking.
The program applies mathematics, science, engineering technology, business, data processing, communications, quality, and supply chain management to industrial and commercial products, incorporating the application of mathematics, science, engineering, business, and data to the traditional logistics degree.
Graduates will benefit from innovative and industry-focused experiential learning, broad-based technical expertise, professional development and communication, team leadership and collaboration strategies, and engineering and business data systems competency.
B.S. IN APPLIED PROJECT DESIGN AND ANALYSIS
A new Bachelor of Science in applied project design and analysis gives students an opportunity to apply transfer credits toward a unique degree that offers job-ready skills through dynamic coursework and built-in industry engagement.
Housed in UNT at Frisco, the program provides skills in three core areas: project, design and analysis.
The project core will focus on project management, collaborative thinking, communication, global design and leadership. Students will learn how to use common workplace tools and technologies to lead teams and accomplish key tasks toward big-picture organizational goals.
The design core will encourage out-of-the-box thinking in areas such as creative and organizational design. Students will learn how to solve difficult problems and navigate complex business processes to deliver new products and services.
The analysis core will teach students to use data to make informed business decisions, with a focus on applied probability and statistics, forecasting, modeling and data analytics.
Graduates will gain the skills they need to pursue careers in a variety of fields, and the relevant, hands-on learning experiences to give them a competitive edge in the job market.