Miguel Ramos, associate vice chancellor of curriculum and learning initiatives, said the new three proposed degrees are designed to expand student opportunities in business, information technology and health care, building on the college’s recent success with its inaugural bachelor’s programs in Artificial Intelligence and Healthcare Management launched in fall 2023.
“As we get feedback from the community and board of trustees, we're going to try to build the best programs possible and mirror artificial intelligence and health care management [programs] towards that long-term success,” Ramos said.
The proposal
Ramos said degrees were selected based on input from faculty, industry leaders and the labor market as fields that would give students long-standing, well-paid careers.
New proposed degrees include:
- Bachelor of Science in computer information systems, to include specialties like cybersecurity artificial intelligence and provide students to support the growing need for tech professionals across industries
- Bachelor of Business Administration, a program with a focus on finance, marketing and real estate and management to corporations like the Texas Medical Center
- Bachelor of Science in nursing, which prepares students for licensure as registered nurses through coursework in health sciences and hands-on clinical training to meet the health care industry labor market needs
The proposal comes nearly two years after HCC launched its first bachelor program offerings in fall 2023, becoming the first community college in the state to offer a Bachelor of Applied Science in health care management and Bachelor of Applied Technology in artificial intelligence.
In 2017, Gov. Greg Abbott signed Senate Bill 2118, granting the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board the authority to allow public community colleges to offer bachelor's degrees in applied science, applied technology and nursing, Community Impact reported. This effort was expanded in 2021 with the signing of House Bill 3348, which increased the number of bachelor's degree programs community colleges can offer to five.
Andrea Burridge, vice chancellor of strategy, planning and institutional effectiveness, said the proposed degrees are expected to be affordable, workforce-aligned and accessible to people across the Greater Houston area, with estimates for the final cost for the artificial intelligence degree coming down to $15,000.
She said top factors of students selecting HCC include ”high-quality programming,” affordability and the accessibility of location, serving as “critical information” for the institution moving forward.
What’s next?
Community Impact reached out to HCC officials to ask about when the programs would be implemented, but the information was not received by press time.
