UTRGV College of Engineering and Computer Science Receives Approval for New Ph.D. Program in Computer Science
Photo above: UTRGV President Guy Bailey and university leaders addressed the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board today in Austin as the group moved forward with the approval of the second Ph.D. degree for the College of Engineering and Computer Science. The new Doctor of Philosophy in Computer Science with Interdisciplinary Applications will offer rigorous, fundamental training in computer science and the application of computational methods to other disciplines, including science, business, medicine, healthcare and engineering. (Photo by Dr. Ala Qubbaj)
Staff Report
Edinburg, TX, January 27, 2024 — In a groundbreaking achievement, the UTRGV College of Engineering and Computer Science reached a historic milestone today with the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board’s approval of its second Ph.D. program. The newly sanctioned Doctor of Philosophy in Computer Science with Interdisciplinary Applications is designed to equip graduates for roles as faculty at research-intensive universities or to establish impactful research careers in various industries.
This innovative program will provide rigorous and comprehensive training in computer science, along with the application of computational methods across diverse disciplines such as science, business, medicine, healthcare, and engineering.
Following the approval of the college’s first Ph.D. program in Materials Science and Engineering in July 2023, which welcomed 18 doctoral students in the fall of 2023, this latest endorsement underscores UTRGV’s commitment to expanding academic opportunities at the doctoral level.
UTRGV President Guy Bailey expressed excitement about the approval, stating, “This milestone showcases UTRGV’s unwavering dedication to expanding academic opportunities for our students, especially at the doctoral level. The addition of this program will provide our students with cutting-edge opportunities and produce leaders and innovators in the field of computer science. We look forward to welcoming students to this exciting new program and witnessing their contributions to the Rio Grande Valley and beyond.”
The newly approved program is currently awaiting final approval from the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC), the regional accrediting body for degree-granting higher education institutions in the Southern states.
The introduction of the Doctor of Philosophy in Computer Science with Interdisciplinary Applications marks UTRGV’s 14th doctoral program and the 10th doctoral program approved since the university’s establishment in 2015. UTRGV has introduced a total of eight new doctoral-level programs in the last three years, demonstrating a commitment to expanding doctoral-level offerings.
The list of approved doctoral programs since UTRGV’s inception in 2015 includes:
Doctor of Medicine (Fall 2016).
Ph.D. Clinical Psychology (Fall 2018).
Doctor of Occupational Therapy (Fall 2021).
Ph.D. Mathematics and Statistics with Interdisciplinary Applications (Fall 2021).
Ph.D. Physics (Spring 2022).
Doctor of Nursing Practice (Fall 2022).
Doctor of Podiatric Medicine (Fall 2022).
Ph.D. Human Genetics (Fall 2022).
Ph.D. Materials Science (Fall 2023).
Ph.D. Computer Science with Interdisciplinary Applications (Fall 2024).
The development of the Computer Science Ph.D. program was a collaborative effort involving faculty from seven departments across six UTRGV colleges and schools, including the College of Engineering and Computer Science, the College of Sciences, Robert C. Vackar College of Business and Entrepreneurship, the College of Health Professions, the School of Mathematics and Statistical Science, and the School of Medicine.
Dr. Ala Qubbaj, dean of the College of Engineering and Computer Science, expressed pride in the achievement, stating, “This is a landmark achievement for our college, university, and RGV community. The new Ph.D. program builds upon our track record of success in educating Hispanics at the undergraduate and master’s levels, and now expanding to the Ph.D. level. Our students deserve this opportunity; they are the future of Texas and our nation.”
For more information about the UTRGV College of Engineering and Computer Science and its degree program offerings, interested individuals can visit www.utrgv.edu/cecs/index.htm.