UHV’s computer science program ranked by national website
The University of Houston-Victoria’s undergraduate computer science program recently received recognition as one of the best online programs of its kind in the nation because of its affordability, quality and satisfaction of its students.
Edsmart.org listed the UHV Bachelor of Science in Computer Science in its Top 34 Best Online Computer Science Degree Programs list. The website used four categories to create a score for each university. The categories included affordability, academic quality, student satisfaction and students’ return on investment. UHV’s score was 88.6 out of 100 possible points.
“Computer science is an integral part of today’s world, and UHV’s program offers students an affordable, accessible option,” said Beverly Tomek, interim dean of the school. “This ranking is a welcome acknowledgement of the program’s quality and our faculty and staff’s commitment to offering the best education for our students.”
The first category the website considers is affordability, and UHV is one of the most affordable public universities in Texas, according to data from the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board. An undergraduate Texas resident taking 15 credit hours at UHV in fall 2020 will pay $4,447 in tuition and fees. In addition, UHV serves populations that are historically considered underserved by higher education. UHV was named a Hispanic-Serving Institution in 2013 by the U.S. Department of Education Office of Postsecondary Education. In addition, UHV has received grants to encourage more students, especially females, to enroll in computer science and computer information systems programs.
When it comes to academic quality, UHV owes much of its success to excellent faculty members who are professionals with experience in their fields, as well as dedicated staff and administrators who are focused on helping students succeed, said Yun Wan, UHV professor of computer science and director of the computer science and computer information systems programs. In addition, small class sizes allow faculty to focus their attention on working with individual students and giving direct feedback on their work.
“Everyone at UHV cares and wants to give students every opportunity to learn and move forward,” Wan said. “Whether students are taking classes on campus or online, the program is built to accommodate their needs and provide an excellent learning experience.”
Another way that UHV’s program offers academic quality also ties in to student success after graduation. The faculty members work with UHV Career Services to reach out to companies and find internships and future employment opportunities for students. In addition, the faculty also has worked with industry partners to offer training to company employees. After graduation, UHV’s students have found positions everywhere from small local companies to NASA and Garmin, an international technology company that sells products including GPS systems.
“Computer science is in every aspect of today’s economy,” Wan said. “Our faculty is exploring several exciting areas, such as cybersecurity and artificial intelligence. As the field grows, UHV constantly works to ensure its students are equipped to succeed in a world with constantly developing technology. There’s a lot of potential in this field.”
To learn more about the computer science program, contact Wan at wany@uhv.edu.
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.
