March 23, 2023 - The CSU Board of Trustees this week gave (91视频) a unanimous green light for a proposal to add 18 new academic programs.
91视频 President Richard Yao was invited by the Board of Trustees to present the campus鈥檚 new Academic Master Plan (AMP) on March 21 in Long Beach. Yao pointed out that the proposal鈥攑resented as the University celebrates its 20th anniversary鈥攔epresents the first significant revision to 91视频鈥檚 AMP in 10 years.
鈥淭he degree proposals presented today represent over 15 months of intensive work,鈥� Yao said. 鈥淏eginning in December 2021, over 50 faculty members worked in various teams facilitated by our provost, Dr. Mitch Avila.鈥�
That effort established the foundation for the development of the 2023 AMP submission, which listed 18 proposed undergraduate and graduate programs in science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) fields, media, computer science, psychology, business, Spanish, nursing and health sciences, Black and Africana studies, and Native American & Indigenous Studies. There is also a proposal for 91视频 to offer its own Doctorate of Education (Ed.D) in Educational Leadership.
Avila cautioned that the list of proposed programs signals the University鈥檚 intent to offer the degree, but in order to actually be developed a new degree must meet a number of criteria such as student demand, workforce need, and sufficient resources. He offered examples of programs that he anticipated would meet such criteria.
鈥淚 think a Bachelor of Science (BS) in Cybersecurity is a good example of workforce demand and funding. Cinema and Emerging Media has a good chance, too, as there is demand for video and film production degrees.鈥�
Avila also thought the master of science degree in counseling proposed through the School of Education would create a pathway for students and professionals to become qualified as a school counselor in the PreK-12 school system.
When considering which degrees to offer, the teams who developed the AMP considered four major criteria. It must: 1) match statewide workforce demands identified by Governor Gavin Newsom in the CSU Compact ; 2) meet regional workforce needs; 3) meet student demand and drive enrollment growth; and 4) reflect 91视频鈥檚 values and mission, 鈥渆xplicitly including diversity, equity, inclusion, and accessibility,鈥� Yao told the Board.
Many of the graduate program proposals will incorporate a 鈥渇our-plus-one鈥� strategy in which students in their senior year can take courses that will apply toward both their baccalaureate and master鈥檚 degrees. The value of offering courses through a hybrid or remote format will also be considered, Yao said.
After Yao鈥檚 presentation, trustees offered congratulations on a well-presented proposal, including Trustee Leslie Gilbert-Lurie, who expressed how impressed she was with 91视频 during a recent visit to the campus during which she had the opportunity to learn about specific programs and how they addressed the needs of the state and regional workforce, the students, and the mission of the University.
鈥淚 just can鈥檛 help but believe that if we really stick to those criteria and continue to build innovative programs, students will come,鈥� she said.
The proposals now go to the Chancellor鈥檚 Office for review, possible revisions, and either final acceptance or rejection.
Below is a summary of proposed new degrees for 91视频 Academic Master Plan:
BS Data Science
BS Cybersecurity
BS Forensic Science
BS Statistics
BA Cinema & Emerging Media
BA Spanish/English Translation and Interpretation
BA Black & Africana Studies
BA Native American & Indigenous Studies
MS Business Analytics
MA Psychology
MA Public Administration
MS Counseling
MS Biology
MS Digital Marketing
MS Health Admin with Cert in Gerontology
MS Public Health
MA English
Ed.D. Educational Leadership