Throughout its history, University of Maryland Global Campus (UMGC) has strived to offer quality programs that transform students’ lives. As UMGC prepares to start its Fall 2025 term, several new programs will launch to prepare students in some of the fastest growing fields.
“UMGC’s Bachelor of Science in Artificial Intelligence [AI] redefines career preparation with its dual-track design, marrying strategic vision and hands-on technical mastery to meet real world demands,” said Calvin Nobles, dean and portfolio vice president of the School of Cybersecurity and Information Technology at UMGC.
According to Bank of America, AI could boost the world economy by up to $15.7 trillion by 2030, and Forbes magazine says the AI market is projected to reach more than $1.3 trillion in revenue by 2030.
UMGC introduced an undergraduate certificate in artificial intelligence foundations in 2024. This fall’s new bachelor’s degree in AI deepens that learning opportunity by teaching skills applicable to a variety of industry sectors, including business, management, cybersecurity, IT, health care, criminal justice, education, social sciences, journalism and natural sciences.
The bachelor’s degree offers two tracks for students to choose from: AI Applications and AI Developer.
“Through the AI Applications track, students learn to harness AI ethically and innovatively across industries, while the AI Developer track forges the deep engineering skills needed to build tomorrow’s intelligent systems,” Nobles said. “Delivered fully online with flexible pacing, this program empowers diverse learners to step confidently into leadership roles at the forefront of the AI revolution.”
UMGC’s School of Business has also expanded its offerings, combining two successful degree programs into one robust program in the highly competitive business arena. The new bachelor’s degree in business administration and management will equip students with crucial skills in data analysis, marketing, business development, problem-solving, decision-making, finance, accounting and managerial strategy.
The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics projects about 1.2 million job openings in the management industry annually from 2023 to 2033. There are more than 13 million employed professionals who hold a business degree.
“With the new combined degree, graduates can obtain a career as a business analyst, management analyst, marketing manager, human resources manager, management consultant, general manager, product manager and much more,” said Kimberly Holiday, professor and portfolio director for the Undergraduate Business Administration program at UMGC.
Also, within the School of Business, a new bachelor’s program in sustainable value chain will kick off this fall. The program will prepare undergraduate students to work on logistical and supply chain operations, building the skills needed to add value to products, services and processes in a sustainable way within an organization. The interdisciplinary program demonstrates how sustainable operations, data analytics, machine learning, environmental health and safety, global marketing, organization leadership and project management are interrelated and can be used to create value that is sustainable all along the entire supply chain.
“These fields are growing and changing every day, with new advances in analytics and data transformation opening up fresh opportunities for folks well-versed in value chain dynamics,” said Pam Carter, dean and portfolio vice president of the UMGC School of Business.
UMGC is also unveiling two new certificate programs this fall: a graduate certificate in teaching cybersecurity and an undergraduate certificate in drones and autonomous systems.
The teaching cybersecurity certificate will instruct current educators on the newest applications and prevention strategies in cybersecurity. The drones certificate, meanwhile, enables undergraduate students to explore an array of technological advances that allow drones to do everything from delivering life-saving medicines to conducting search and rescue missions.
“Our own students might say, ‘I never thought about a potential career in this sector at all. Maybe this is something I'd want to do,’” said Brian Powers, associate professor and portfolio director for UMGC’s Homeland Intelligence and Emergency Management programs. “That's the outcome we're looking for.”