The University of Georgia launched their newest school, the School of Computing, on July 1, according to: an article from UGA Today. The new School of Computing will be jointly administered by the university’s Franklin College of Arts and Sciences and College of Engineering.
Elevated from its previous offerings as a branch within the long-standing computer science department, the broadening of this program to its own school was done to parallel the growing role and importance of computer science in a wide range of fields.
The new school will adopt an interdisciplinary learning approach, centering instruction around the future of computer science, and creation stems from the work of a seven-member task force of UGA faculty and academic leaders.
“The University of Georgia is committed to creating synergies across our campus that foster new opportunities for students and educators and better serve communities in Georgia and around the world,” President Jere W. Morehead said in an article from UGAToday. “I am excited about the positive impact the School of Computing will have on research and education in the STEM disciplines.”
The School of Computing will provide bachelor’s, master’s and Ph.D. programs in computer science and a master’s program in cybersecurity and privacy. Faculties working in the School of Computing will also be involved in helping the Institute of Artificial Intelligence, the Institute of Cybersecurity and Privacy, the Georgia Informatics Institutes, and the Center for Cyber-Physical Systems.
The establishment of this school corresponds to the rapid increase in the number of enrollments in computer science courses in recent years, as well as the corresponding increase in student demand for this program.
The College of Engineering is UGA’s fastest growing university.
“The computer science department has grown significantly since its founding in 1984,” Franklin College dean Alan T. Dorsey said in a UGAToday article. “Its new, elevated status as the School of Computing reflects the vital role of computer science in our university and in our world.”
According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, employment in STEM-related careers is projected to grow 8% nationally through 2029, with computer science and engineering among the areas with the highest predicted growth within STEM. This is more than double the 3.4% growth projected for non-STEM occupations.
According to College of Engineering Dean Donald J. Leo, “The establishment of the School of Computing with Franklin College marks the beginning of an exciting new era,” and is one that will help UGA students prepare for an increasingly increasingly digital world.