From athletics to STEM: UND adds three new degree programs

New programs are in fields vital to North Dakota’s economic growth, workforce development

On the heels of achieving a Carnegie R1 designation, UND is offering three new degree programs that will help meet the needs of employers in fields experiencing strong job growth.

From athletics to artificial intelligence, the new programs help the University better serve the state by matching students’ interests with the multiple job openings that many employers report.

Artificial Intelligence Ph.D.

UND is launching a new doctoral program in artificial intelligence, a field with major societal implications and one that needs many more experts and scholars than it now has.

UND’s Ph.D in Artificial Intelligence is a 90-credit program offering coursework in data science and visualization, machine learning and autonomous systems.

The program is being offered exclusively on-campus. It is open to applicants holding a bachelor’s or master’s degree in a computing, engineering or other science related field, and a grade point average of at least 3.0 on a 4.0 scale.

Ryan Adams, interim dean of the College of Engineering & Mines, said although existing curriculum offers instruction in artificial intelligence, UND did not have a program solely dedicated to research and instruction in the field.

Adams expressed excitement at the new program’s enormous potential. “The new PhD program in AI is an exciting opportunity for the College of Engineering & Mines to prepare students for research in this new and dynamic discipline,” he said. “This program incorporates depth of understanding in AI from a technological perspective, as well as some of the human aspects of AI – in a way that is multi-disciplinary in scope.”

Adams opined that the program – the only one of its kind in the region – will help boost the state’s workforce in a field with high demand.

“Artificial Intelligence is the topic of research in greatest demand among our prospective students in computing disciplines,” he said. “This new program allows students to investigate AI from a variety of perspectives. Expertise in AI is also in great demand among many prospective employers, and this program will effectively prepare students to work in the field.”

Athletic Administration & Coaching M.S.

UND is introducing a master’s degree program that combines existing and recently developed graduate courses related to sports and is fully delivered online.

The Master of Science in Athletic Administration & Coaching is a 30-credit program bridging topics in sports administration such as ethics, risk management, administration, philosophy and psychology.

The degree will be offered through the UND College of Education & Human Development.

Mark Rerick, assistant professor of Kinesiology and director of the new program, previously spent 21 years in K-12 education and most of those years in athletic leadership positions. First tasked with bolstering the Sports Leadership track of UND’s Doctor of Education program, Rerick and the College saw an opportunity to create a new focus for what were several electives in the EdD program.

“This program uses our existing framework and courses to lead to a very specialized degree that signals expertise to future employers of our students,” Rerick said. “There are hundreds of advanced degrees in sports management out there, but this program prepares people to be leaders in athletic departments at schools — hired to run athletic departments within the academic mission of a university or school district.”

In other words, the Athletic Administration & Coaching degree seeks to develop future athletic leaders, not solely managers. The courses available let students find their interest in sports leadership across several areas.

By offering the program online, Rerick aimed for broad appeal to prospective students, whether they’re entering immediately from undergraduate studies or enrolling as a means of professional development while in collegiate or K-12 careers. Credits can be completed at any pace, which creates flexibility for those already working full-time as teachers and coaches.

“We put a high focus on practical leadership in developing the M.S. in Athletic Administration & Coaching, and students will learn the functional, administrative pieces that go into leading an athletic program,” Rerick said. “I’m excited that we now have a specific finish line for this package of courses.”

Cybersecurity Engineering bachelor’s degree

Another new degree is designed to meet the state and nation’s growing need to protect personal data and business information, as well as the physical systems that rely on digital architecture.

The Bachelor of Science in Cybersecurity Engineering is a 129-credit hour program that provides the knowledge and skills for working in the cybersecurity sector, and can be customized to focus on specific areas in cybersecurity. The degree program also offers hands-on opportunities for students to engage in cybersecurity research.

The program is delivered either in-person on campus or fully online.

“Cybersecurity engineering is now a national priority, with increasing threats targeting everything from personal data to power grids,” said Prakash Ranganathan, director of the Center for Cyber Security Research (C2SR). “This degree is necessary for UND to prepare students for critical roles in protecting digital and physical infrastructure, especially as North Dakota expands its own cyber readiness.

“It aligns with UND’s commitment to addressing real-world challenges, our National Security Initiative and meeting workforce demands in both the public and private sectors.”

Ranganathan said the program was designed with input from industry and government partners to give students exposure to the latest tools, hands-on labs, cyber-informed engineering concepts and emerging areas such as AI security and cyber-physical systems. Graduates from the program will be job-ready, he said, with the option to pursue roles in federal agencies, energy companies and security startups, among other employers — or to continue into advanced research.

The skills gained by students are highly transferable and in demand in North Dakota and throughout the United States.

The new degree program positions UND as a leader in training the next generation of cybersecurity engineering professionals in the Midwest and beyond. UND has also been designated as a National Center of Academic Excellence in Cyber Research (CAE-R) institution by the National Security Administration, a recognition that distinguishes the program from others.

“UND’s cybersecurity engineering degree stands out because it integrates technical depth with a strong understanding of critical infrastructure, especially in energy and rural systems,” Ranganathan said. “Few programs combine academic rigor, applied learning and close collaboration with federal agencies.”