Coordinating Board Approves Two New Masters Programs at UTEP
May 01, 2009
The University of Texas at El Paso is expanding its graduate programs with the addition of two new master degrees. The Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board recently approved the new degrees in engineering and computer science.
Master of Science in Systems Engineering (MSSE)
The Master of Science in Systems Engineering is designed to prepare engineers to define, develop, implement and test complex systems of the 21st century. The program is intended for those with an interest in understanding and applying the systematic approach for development of very complex systems.
Dr. Ricardo Pineda, Director of the Systems Engineering program and Head of the Research Institute for Manufacturing and Engineering Systems (RIMES) said there is a tremendous demand for Systems Engineers throughout the US and the region.
“There is great interest in the program from the intelligence community, aerospace industry, and many others, including Fort Bliss and White Sands Missile Range.”
The only program of its kind along the US/Mexico border, MSSE expects more than 30 students to be enrolled this fall. The program consists of 30 semester hours and includes concentrations in electrical and computer engineering, Industrial, Manufacturing & Systems Engineering, manufacturing engineering and computer science. Other areas of concentration are being considered.
“One of the major challenges of the 21st century is to have end-to-end systems thinking to address the increasing complexity of systems,” said Pineda.
”This program will provide interdisciplinary and systems based training to engineers to continuously adapt to societal and geopolitical changes being brought by advances in technology.”
Master of Science in Information Technology (MSIT)
The MS in Information Technology will begin this fall with more than 40 students enrolled in the program.
UTEP is in the only university in the region that offers this program, which combines graduate-level computer science with MBA courses for management skills.
According to Dr. David Novick, Interim Chair of the Department of Computer Science, there is a huge demand for graduates of this program, as companies are always looking for technically educated individuals that can move into management.
The program consists of 30 semester hours. Dr. Luc Longpre is Director of the program.