The coming decades will be shaped by the rapid integration of artificial intelligence, the increased hiring of professionals with specialized degrees and a soaring healthcare and biosciences sector.
The University of Texas at San Antonio is preparing for the next generation by offering the most comprehensive range of educational opportunities available in the state. UT San Antonio students receive a high-quality, career-focused education while becoming versed in cutting-edge technology — gaining critical skills that are filling the state’s industry demands, improving its health outcomes and defining its economic landscape.
Here are eight ways that UT San Antonio is building the professional workforce that Texas will need in the 2030s and beyond:
Leading the charge in cybersecurity
From learning platforms to municipal utilities, cyberattacks are increasing in frequency and severity. UT San Antonio graduates have been defending these threats on the frontlines for more than two decades. As one of the top cyber universities in the nation, UT San Antonio offers award-winning degree programs at the undergraduate, graduate and doctoral levels. Top employers consistently seek out UT San Antonio cybersecurity graduates, who gain hands-on expertise in programs that align with industry needs, including digital forensics, threat analysis and risk management.
Founding the College of AI, Cyber and Computing
As the world prepares for the rippling effects that AI will have on cybersecurity and advanced computing, UT San Antonio has created the nation’s first College of AI, Cyber and Computing, developing professionals with expertise where those fields converge. Launched in 2025, the college serves more than 5,300 students and offers 11 undergraduate programs and 12 graduate programs. The university is growing its Downtown Campus, which serves as home base for the college and places students near business, government, military and community partners in San Antonio’s growing tech corridor.
Pioneering education in medicine and AI
AI has already left its mark on healthcare, improving efficiency in hospital systems and expediating administrative functions. But graduates of a first-of-its kind dual degree program at UT San Antonio are uniquely positioned to lead in the practical use of AI to improve diagnostic and treatment outcomes. The university’s Doctor of Medicine (MD)/Master of Science in Artificial Intelligence (MSAI) provides graduates a top-tier medical education alongside training for the medical field’s future in data analytics, computer science and intelligent and autonomous systems.
Addressing pressing public health issues
The university’s Kate Marmion School of Public Health focuses on issues that affect the quality of life in communities across South Texas — from disease prevention to access to care. The nationally-acclaimed school is confronting these regional health challenges and building the workforce to address them. In addition to its current Master of Public Health (MPH) and MD/MPH dual degree programs, the school will soon offer a doctoral degree.
Meeting the state’s medical needs
In Texas, more than 80% of counties are designated as mental health shortage areas, and about 40% fall short of fulfilling primary care needs, which affects more than 6 million residents. At UT San Antonio, 61% of new physicians remained in Texas for residency training. Likewise, 94% of bachelor’s-level nursing graduates, 88% of doctoral-level nursing graduates, 81% of dental graduates and nearly 90% of allied health graduates stayed in the state, ensuring that more than 1,000 practice-ready clinicians enter the Texas workforce each year.
Bolstering the biosciences boom
The healthcare and biosciences sector is becoming a massive economic engine for Texas, and no city has seen that impact quite like San Antonio. The $43 billion healthcare and biosciences ecosystem is the largest regional economic contributor to the nation’s seventh-largest city. The sector accounts for a whopping one out of every five jobs in the Alamo City — many of which have been created at UT San Antonio. The university has more than 10,000 employees connected to the health and biosciences fields, and has been named a “Champion Employer” by the City of San Antonio for its commitment to growing the local workforce.
Engineering cutting-edge creations
UT San Antonio’s degree programs in biomedical, civil, electrical and mechanical engineering have long been held in high regard, but as the advanced manufacturing sector grows in Texas, so too has the demand for specialized training in the field. That’s why the university now offers a bachelor’s degree in industrial and systems engineering as well as master’s degrees in advanced materials engineering and advanced manufacturing and enterprise engineering.
Cultivating increased tourism, arts and culture
Texas’ iconic cultural attractions will always make the Lone Star State a top destination for visitors — and that includes the entertainment industry. Over the next decade, $1.5 billion in film incentives will be up for grabs across Texas. As more visitors and projects pour into the state, seasoned UT San Antonio graduates are ready to work with them. In recent years, the university has launched competitive degree programs in hospitality and events management, film and media studies, and dramatic arts.
