UBT: Debut of new degree programs

This fall brought news of several new degree programs that will pave the way toward more career readiness for UB students in an uncertain world.

Among these is the B.S. in bioinformatics and computational biology, approved this past November and housed in the College of Arts and Sciences. Provost Elizabeth D. Capaldi says the new degree program "is the first one of many that will allow students to be educated at the cutting edge of life sciences. Other programs will be broader and more general and this group of educated students will be a huge asset for companies seeking employees in the life science economy we hope to build in Western New York."

In the School of Management, a new M.B.A. concentration in biotechnology management will provide a strong foundation of business principles vital to building a successful career in the biotechnology field.

And, in an innovative approach to matching curriculum with marketplace needs, the School of Nursing-in partnership with the Catholic Health System and the Kaleida Health System-is launching a fast-track program that allows persons who hold a bachelor's degree in another field to receive a bachelor's of science in nursing in just 12 months. The primary goal is to prepare well-qualified registered nurses to enter the workforce in the most expeditious manner possible. It also opens up new career opportunities for college graduates in a tight job market.