Regents University Affairs Committee advances proposals for three new degrees

Plans for three new degrees and received approval from the Regents University Affairs Committee during its March 19 meeting, held via Zoom.

The proposals are scheduled to be included on the consent agenda at the next meeting of the full Board of Regents, set for April 11-12 at CU Denver.

A proposed master’s degree in financial technology, or FinTec, at the CU Denver Business School would be the first FinTec program in Colorado, said Dean Scott Dawson. It will be possible for students to complete the multidisciplinary program entirely online.

Also at CU Denver, a bachelor of applied science – professional studies is designed to meet growing demand among Colorado students, said Richard Allen, associate dean for teaching, learning and curriculum in the College of Letters, Arts and Sciences. The program’s stackable credentials would all be fully online, adding value for working professionals.

The College of Arts and Sciences at CU Boulder plans a bachelor’s degree in public health, which students have been requesting since 2014.

The committee also received notification of planned name changes of two degrees. At CU Boulder, the atmospheric and planetary sciences bachelor’s in astronomy will become the bachelor’s in astrophysical and planetary sciences. At UCCS, the computer science Ph.D. in security will become the Ph.D. in cybersecurity.

Other presentations at last week’s meeting included an annual update on the PreCollegiate Development Program (PCDP) by Chris Pacheco, system PCDP coordinator. The program is currently service over 2,600 first-generation students and their families across the state.

Academic leader from the campuses also presented a “deep dive” into how new degrees are developed and approved. While the process varies across campuses, all emphasized that faculty provide the impetus for all proposals.

The next University Affairs Committee meeting is scheduled for June 4.