HIGHER EDUCATION Houston Community College to o er rst bachelor’s programs
2023 HIGHER EDUCATION GUIDE
JOB OUTLOOKS Houston Community College is o ering two new bachelor’s programs starting in the fall. According to the college system, there are thousands of job openings in the region for graduates of these programs.
Applied Technology in Arti cial Intelligence and Robotics
Applied Science in Healthcare Management
BY JACK DOWLING
years after Gov. Greg Abbott signed Senate Bill 2118 into law in 2017, which allowed the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board to authorize public junior colleges to o er bachelor’s degrees in applied science, applied technology and nursing. According to HCC Director of Com- munications Zen Zheng, HCC was the rst college in Texas to o er an asso- ciate degree in arti cial intelligence. Zheng said arti cial intelligence has gained a foothold across industries, stating that the 2021 National Security Commission on Arti cial Intelligence recognized AI as “already ubiquitous in everyday life” and claimed that AI is “turning once-fantastical ideas into realities across a range of disciplines.” “The new Bachelor of Applied Technology in Arti cial Intelligence and Robotics will address a growing and critical need for skilled workers in a rapidly evolving technical eld,”
For the rst time in the system’s his- tory, Houston Community College will o er bachelor’s-level degree programs starting in the fall. The new four-year programs are Applied Technology in Arti cial Intelligence and Robotics, and Applied Science in Healthcare Management. “We are continually exploring ways to provide relevant programs and instruction that serve the needs of students and employers in our service area,” HCC Chancellor Cesar Maldo- nado said. “With these two inaugural bachelor’s degree programs, we give students an opportunity to start and complete their four-year education on the same HCC campus.” The college received state approval in December as a Level 2 baccalaure- ate-granting institution, allowing the college to grant bachelor’s-level degree programs. The approval came ve
• Program teaches industry-level knowledge in machine learning, arti cial intelligence and robotics • 2,586 annual relevant job openings in Gulf Coast region • $97,200 starting median annual salary
• Program teaches skills in management and industry-level knowledge of health care systems • 1,700 annual relevant job openings in Gulf Coast region • $64,000 starting median annual salary
For more information about HCC programs, go to www.hccs.edu. SOURCE: HOUSTON COMMUNITY COLLEGE COMMUNITY IMPACT
Zheng said in an April 12 news release. He said graduates of the Arti cial Intelligence program will enter a pro- fession with 2,586 annual job openings in the Gulf Coast region and a starting median annual salary of $97,200. Meanwhile, the Bachelor of Applied Science in Healthcare Management is intended to prepare students for career advancement or entry-level health care managerial positions. HCC o ers a few health science
programs, such as respiratory ther- apy, radiography and sonography. A Healthcare Management graduate will have access to about 1,700 annual openings and a starting median annual salary of about $64,000, Zheng said. Both degrees are o ered to students who attend HCC as well as students from other community colleges or universities whose rst two years meet the background requirements of the degrees.
Ownwell Makes Property Tax Protests Easy Protest with Ownwell and get more savings with lower fees.
86% success rate $1,148 average customer saving
Pay nothing up-front Pay just 25% of final tax savings
5-star customer reviews Sign up in under 5 minutes
Scan before May 15 to get your free savings estimate. Get started today!
Sign up at Ownwell.com/Impact
27
SUGAR LAND MISSOURI CITY EDITION • APRIL 2023
Powered by FlippingBook