UHV to Offer Master of Science Degree in Economic Development and Entrepreneurship, First of Its Kind
State officials have made economic development a major goal in Texas, and the University of Houston-Victoria has responded to this call by creating a unique new Master of Science in Economic Development and Entrepreneurship degree program. Approved this week by the University of Houston System Board of Regents, the new program will start enrolling students to begin classes in fall 2006.
The primary goal of this degree program is to teach the knowledge and skills necessary for success in an economic arena that is increasingly integrated and globally competitive. Classes will be conducted completely online, allowing for access to students from across the state of Texas and the nation.
“This innovative degree will meet a growing need for professionals who understand job creation and the increasingly competitive economic development economic process and who are competent, globally aware entrepreneurs,” said UHV President Tim Hudson, who has extensive experience in economic development as a program director and development consultant.
Research conducted while developing the degree plan indicated that while other universities in Texas and the United States offer degrees in economic development or entrepreneurship, the UHV program will be the first to combine the two into a single course of study.
Entrepreneurship involves starting and developing new businesses, and economic development focuses on attracting existing businesses to a particular area. The unique combination of these two disciplines will allow students in UHV’s program to get a complete, holistic understanding of the forces in economic growth.
“Students who have a combined understanding of both economic development and entrepreneurship will have a distinct advantage benefiting both themselves and the areas they serve,” said Charles Bullock, dean of the School of Business Administration at UHV.
To develop the degree plan, UHV consulted with members of the university and business communities, including local leaders in commerce and the Texas Economic Development Council. The result is a program which combines a sound conceptual framework with the knowledge and skills of working business professionals.
The launch of the program is pending approval by the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board this summer. Those interested in receiving more information about the program and degree requirements should call the School of Business Administration at (361) 570-4321 or visit www.uhv.edu/bus.
The University of Houston-Victoria, located in the heart of the Coastal Bend region since 1973 in Victoria, Texas, offers courses leading to more than 80 academic programs in the schools of Arts & Sciences; Business Administration; and Education, Health Professions & Human Development. UHV provides face-to-face classes at its Victoria campus, as well as an instructional site in Katy, Texas, and online classes that students can take from anywhere. UHV supports the American Association of State Colleges and Universities Opportunities for All initiative to increase awareness about state colleges and universities and the important role they have in providing a high-quality and accessible education to an increasingly diverse student population, as well as contributing to regional and state economic development.
