With careers in the healthcare and technology sectors in high demand, the Texas A&M University-Texarkana College of Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics is working to address those needs with the addition of three new degree programs in fall 2016.
The university will offer Bachelor of Science degrees in biotechnology, chemistry and kinesiology starting this fall, said Dr. Donald Peterson, dean of the College of STEM.
“Biotechnology is the application of the biological sciences for the development of new and enhanced products for other industries,” Dr. Peterson explained. “The Bachelor of Science in Biotechnology at A&M-Texarkana is focused on the medical and healthcare aspects of biotechnology and will prepare students for careers in research and development, quality assurance and quality control, production, sales and marketing, administration and technical support.”
Chemistry is the science that studies the composition and properties of substances and elementary forms of matter.
“The Bachelor of Science in Chemistry at A&M-Texarkana prepares students for careers as chemists, physical scientists, and technicians in quality control, quality assurance, research and development, and production departments of industries,” Dr. Peterson said.
“Chemistry students can also become highly qualified applicants for medical and pharmacy schools, graduate programs in chemistry, biology, biotechnology and/or environmental science,” he said. “And, through the Teacher Certification Option in the Chemistry degree program, students will be prepared to become highly trained chemistry teachers.”
The Bachelor of Science in Kinesiology at A&M-Texarkana allows students to study human movement and physical activity.
The program focuses on the study of addressing human health problems associated with human performance, physical rehabilitation, and sport and exercise psychology and features two options: pre-therapy – occupational or physical – and teacher certification in early childhood through 12th-grade physical education and/or athletic coaching.
“The program prepares students for careers in clinical and fitness settings and in research and industrial environments with population groups including athletes, children, the elderly, and with persons with disability, injury or disease,” he added.
