The University of Tennessee Board of Trustees approved four new academic programs for the University of Tennessee at Martin on June 25 during its first, in-person meeting since February 2020.
Dr. Philip Acree Cavalier, provost and senior vice chancellor for academic affairs at UT Martin, presented the new programs to the board – Bachelor of Science in Cybersecurity, Master of Science in Criminal Justice, Bachelor of Science in Veterinary Science and Technology, and Bachelor of Science in Cell and Molecular Biology. The programs will now be presented to the Tennessee Higher Education Commission (THEC) for consideration and final approval.
“We predict that these programs will bring 200-225 students to us by 2025,” said Cavalier during his presentation to the Board of Trustees.
UT Martin’s Bachelor of Science in Cybersecurity from UT Martin will consist of 120 credit hours and will be taught primarily face-to-face on campus. The program will now seek accreditation via ABET-CAC (Computing Accreditation Commission), which currently recognizes only 18 such programs.
A Master of Science in Criminal Justice will be a 30-credit hour, fully online program that features certificate options in corrections administration and law enforcement, which can be obtained separately or as part of the complete program. The program has received strong external support from entities including the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation, the UT Institute for Public Service Law Enforcement Center, both the International and Tennessee Association of Chiefs of Police, and the Tennessee Law Enforcement Training Academy.
The Bachelor of Science in Veterinary Science and Technology was the first program in the state to undergo an expedited review by THEC, for which only new and high-demand STEM programs are eligible. The new program offers two concentrations in veterinary science and veterinary technology, comprising 120 hours each. The program will serve as a pipeline for students to enter veterinary school or sit for the Veterinary Technician licensing exam and subsequent licensure in Veterinary Technology.
The Bachelor of Science in Cell and Molecular Biology will attract more students and make program graduates more marketable in range in several fields and attractive to graduate schools. Information about all UT Martin academic programs is found at www.utm.edu.
