The job market asks and UHD answers. Considering another degree? Your alma mater is offering new programs and concentrations to jumpstart your career!

'Alexa—Fill Out My Application!’ Master’s Degree In Artificial Intelligence

In the past decade, cutting-edge technology has become commonplace as digital home assistants landed in living rooms around the globe. This Fall, UHD is paving the way for more artificial intelligence (AI) innovation with a new degree: Master of Science in Artificial Intelligence (MSAI), making the University one of only six graduate-level AI programs offered in Texas. This leading-edge program will combine theoretical knowledge of AI with hands-on training in AI-specific applications through hybrid, face-to-face, and online courses. Topics include knowledge representation and reasoning, machine and deep learning, cognitive systems, computer vision, robotics, engineering of AI systems, AI in biomedical and business intelligence, and more. “More companies are seeking automation and AI-based decision-making approaches in their businesses,” said Dr. Hong Lin, MSAI Director and Professor of Computer Science. “The demands for AI-skilled employees are growing rapidly, and our new program will give our students a prime opportunity to share their knowledge and talents in a number of thriving industries and markets.” The program concludes with a capstone project that allows students to collaborate with faculty and industry partners on real-world AI projects. Graduates of the program will be prepared to join the ranks of AI analysts, engineers, and specialists to explore new ways to use AI to tackle societal issues as diverse as cancer diagnoses and treatment, climate change, and cyber security.

Medical Humanities Comes To Class

This Fall, the College of Humanities & Social Sciences began offering a Medical Humanities concentration for its Bachelor of Arts degree program in Humanities. The new concentration is an interdisciplinary and cross-disciplinary concentration that will have courses from the natural sciences, humanities, health sciences, social sciences, and communication studies. “While not every student will pursue a career in medicine or affiliated health professions, we all, at some point or another, will be involved in some manner with healthcare—as a practitioner or consumer of healthcare or both,” said Dr. Edmund Cueva, Professor of Classics & Humanities. “This degree is meant to investigate how humans experience and interpret illness, disease, health, and disability via art, music, history, literature, religion, architecture, philosophy, and the natural and social sciences. Indeed, the aim is to examine how culture, history, and societies react to and intersect with the parameters imposed by ancient and modern medicine. Medical Humanities is relevant and important to everyone.” 

​​​​​​​New Bachelor’s Program In Human Resource Management 

UHD is the first higher education institution in Greater Houston to host a bachelor’s program dedicated to Human Resource Management that addresses the increasing need for human resource professionals. According to the Texas Workforce Commission, the growth of human resources jobs requiring a bachelor’s degree will increase between 15-20 percent over the next decade. Dr. Julio Canedo, Assistant Professor of Management, said the program is designed in alignment with the Society for Human Resources Management curriculum as well as input from human resource leaders in the Houston area. “There is a great demand for qualified and talented human resource professionals in today’s job market,” Canedo noted. “With our University being located in the heart of Downtown, this new program provides for great networking and future career opportunities in the human resources field.”

Answering The Call: New Master’s In Strategic Communication

A new Master of Arts degree in Strategic Communication (MASC) in the College of Humanities & Social Sciences is a 30-credit hour, fully online program that will equip students with the cutting-edge strategic communication skills, research knowledge, technology competencies, and theories needed to create effective community engagement and messaging with culturally, ethnically, and racially diverse public audiences and stakeholders. While building on students’ strengths, the program will prepare them to be advocates in their communities by focusing on major communication areas: strategic public engagement, stakeholder management, conflict resolution, and crisis communication. Additionally, the MASC has a special emphasis on community engagement to promote community advancement through collaboration and relationship-building by developing students’ abilities to engage diverse communities in organizational, public, corporate, and interpersonal contexts.“This program is targeted to communication studies’ graduates as well as professionals in varied industries. I don’t see limitations to its relevance and importance,” noted Dr. Darius M. Benton, MASC Program Director. “Strategic communication is a unique blend between organizational communication, public relations, and media communications. The community engagement component will enable graduates of the program to grow as advocates to produce effective communication campaigns for spaces, persons, and organizations that are meaningful to them and the communities they serve.” Once again, UHD is answering the call to fulfill the need for such a program. In Texas alone, the employment outlook is strong for strategic communication-related careers. For social and community service managers, the projected growth is 26 %for 2018-2028, and in the U.S., it’s 17 % for 2019-2029. “We realize that there’s a significant need to offer a unique niche with our community engagement component of this program,” added Benton. “UHD is determined to remain relevant to the communities we serve while also building knowledge for our students and scholars beyond their matriculation at UHD