AMERICA LOVES Data SCIENCE THIS YEAR

Have you noticed that practically every college in the country either just introduced, is in the middle of introducing, or is planning to introduce a new academic program in data science? Okay, so that might be a slight exaggeration, but there’s no question that new programs in data science are practically EVERYWHERE these days! And we think it’s a great field, so we are in full support of that.

However, if data isn’t your thing, don’t worry! We have a variety of other new programs to share that are not related to data science in the least. Whether you’re hoping to turn your passion for gaming into a career or become a famous music producer, keep reading for some exciting new options to keep on your radar:

UNC Chapel Hill’s B.S. DEGREE in Applied Sciences

If you’ve always wanted to be an engineer in theory but are worried about studying the hard sciences at such a high level, this brand-new program is for you! It “connects engineering to the liberal arts” and “train[s] students to be problem-solvers with the skills and mindset to address complex, interdisciplinary problems.” This expands on the popular minor program in the same field that UNC introduced in 2020.

Students can choose from two tracks, materials engineering and environmental engineering, and the environmental engineering track will actually be in partnership with the Gillings School of Global Public Health. The environmental engineering choice in particular could be a great option for those interested in environmental science and health — even from a policy standpoint.

UCLA’S B.A. DEGREE IN MUSIC INDUSTRY

Ready for a career in the music industry but also want to make sure that you’re employed at graduation? You have to check out this new degree program at UCLA, which also builds upon a popular existing minor. It combines the liberal arts, business, and music, and offers a “leadership-focused professional degree which prepares students to transform the creative, entrepreneurial, and executive structures of the music industry.”

How cool — and you’d be in such an amazing location! Not surprisingly, the program even incorporates an internship requirement, so that all students are able to gain real-world experience before they graduate.

OREGON’S B.A./B.S. DEGREE IN CHILD BEHAVIOR HEALTH

If you already know that you want to work with children in a therapeutic or wellness setting, you don’t have to go through a traditional four-year program before heading to graduate school to specialize. The University of Oregon recently introduced a pioneering 2+2 undergraduate program in conjunction with the Ballmer Institute for Children’s Behavioral Health — the first of its kind in the entire country!

Students will gain the “knowledge and skills to improve the behavioral health and wellness of youth … [while learning] to equitably deliver evidence-based interventions to promote wellness and prevent mental health problems from developing or worsening in children and adolescents.”

The first two years of the program will take place at the University of Oregon, where students will pursue core requirements and pre-major coursework. The last two years will take place at the Ballmer Institute, and will involve experiential education and a deep level of specialization closer to what one would expect from a graduate program. By the time students graduate, they will already have achieved over 700 hours of field work in Oregon public schools!

SYRACUSE’s B.S. DEGREE IN ESPORTS COMMUNICATION & MANAGEMENT

I need to write this one down for my 7-year-old son, whose career aspirations involve playing video games on YouTube and getting people to pay to watch him (I wish I was kidding!). In all seriousness, though, gaming is a billion-dollar industry and there are many legitimate career opportunities out there. Two of the most renowned undergraduate schools at Syracuse, the Newhouse School of Public Communications and Falk College of Sport and Human Dynamics, have now joined forces to create an interdisciplinary program that “connects innovative gaming environments and technology with the sports media industry” and prepares students for careers in the field.

For the parents out there who might be unfamiliar with the terminology, esports does not necessarily mean electronic versions of athletic sports, like playing tennis on the Nintendo Wii. Esports is simply competitive gaming, in all forms.

Students will develop “industry-specific competencies in event management and marketing, broadcasting/production, communications, content creation, entrepreneurship, strategic communications and esports experience and design.” There are three tracks: Esports Business and Management, Esports Communications, and Esports Media and Design, so students can focus their course of study on their individual interests and career goals. We always say to follow your passions, right?!

WEST VIRGINIA’S B.A. DEGREE IN PROFESSIONAL WRITING AND EDITING

Many students assume that English majors primarily focus on writing, but that’s typically not the case at all: almost all traditional undergraduate programs in English revolve around literature. This can be a disappointment for potential English majors — it’s sort of like thinking you’re taking AP Lang and realizing you signed up for AP Lit instead, for context! And the writing-centric programs that do exist are often geared towards technical writers.

This new program at West Virginia University, on the other hand, provides students with the opportunity to spend their undergraduate years focusing on the art of writing itself. Graduates will be prepared to analyze, problem-solve, and write in nearly any industry, with optional specializations in Editing and Publishing, Creative Writing and Narrative Strategies, and Theories of Literacy and Language. No matter which profession they pursue, this type of degree will be an enormous asset! It also involves a required capstone internship, giving students the chance to use their writing skills in the workplace before graduation.

You might wonder: what’s the benefit of pursuing a brand-new program when others are more established? Well, from a selectivity standpoint, this can be a slightly easier way to get an applicant’s foot in the door, because seats need to be filled and there may be less competition, as the general population may not be aware of the program yet.

For example, our (admittedly non-scientific) anecdotal evidence has shown that business majors at Rice and engineering majors at Wake Forest have had an easier time in the application process in recent years than other candidates. So if you have a profile that otherwise fits the bill, this could be a great path!

But don’t apply for specialized programs like these without some demonstrated interest in the field — admissions committees aren’t stupid, and the president of the high school pre-med club who volunteers at the local hospital every weekend is going to have an uphill battle trying to prove their commitment to the music industry!