SAN ANTONIO – The University of Texas at San Antonio announced the launch of a new college next year.
The College of AI, Cyber and Computing will begin classes in the fall of 2025 with an estimated enrollment of more than 5,000 undergraduate and graduate students.
According to a news release, the college will have four specialized departments: computer engineering and artificial intelligence, computer science, information systems and cyber security, and statistics and data science.
It will help students prepare for high-demand careers and solidify the university’s reputation for research, the release said.
“Our newest college is at the epicenter of the digital convergence that will shape the future, as it focuses on thought leadership, new innovations, transdisciplinary collaboration and future applications of AI, computing and data science,” UTSA President Taylor Eighmy said in the release. “Moreover, this first-of-its-kind college reinforces our position as a leader across disciplines, driving the workforce and economic development that our city, state and nation need.”
According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, job growth in data science and cybersecurity alone is projected to exceed 35% by 2031, with millions of positions opening worldwide in these and related fields.
The new college will also utilize research centers to help students. The UTSA AI Consortium for Human Well-Being and Open Cloud Institute will help expand interdisciplinary research, the university said.
The program will also aim to unite three research centers under one home to address challenges in American society and drive technical achievement.
UTSA Provost and Executive Vice President for Academic Affairs Heather Shipley said, “By integrating and aligning these centers, the new college will amplify UTSA’s ability to secure competitive funding, foster transdisciplinary partnerships and deliver real-world solutions.”
According to UTSA, a search for the dean will begin in January 2025 and college leadership will be in place by August 2025.