When Hannah Garza crossed the Commencement stage this May, she became the first in her family to obtain an advanced degree. She also became the first student to complete a multidisciplinary studies (MDST) master’s degree at UTSA.
Introduced in Spring 2024, the MDST master’s program provides students like Garza an opportunity to build a customized degree plan by combining two graduate certificates. With over 40 graduate certificate programs offered across UTSA’s seven academic colleges, students have hundreds of options to configure a degree that are tailored to their interests, academic strengths and career goals.
Garza chose to combine certificates in cybersecurity and intelligence studies to create her custom M.S. degree plan. After earning a bachelor’s degree in criminal justice with a public administration minor from UTSA in 2023, Garza felt that pursuing a master’s degree was the natural next step for her educational and professional aspirations.
“We are proud of Hannah’s hard work and academic excellence, and we are excited for her to be the first graduate of our program.” — Michael Newell
“I enrolled in the multidisciplinary studies program because it allowed me to combine my passion for cybersecurity and intelligence with my background in criminal justice,” Garza said. “I’ve always had a broad range of interests within national security, and this program allowed me to build a degree that reflects who I am and what I want to contribute to the world. It was the perfect blend of flexibility and rigor.”
Garza began the program in Fall 2024 and hit the ground running. Juggling six courses during her final term, she was able to successfully complete her degree in just two semesters.
“Hannah truly challenged herself, finishing our program in record time,” said Michael Newell, professor of instruction and graduate advisor of record for the MDST master’s degree. “We are proud of Hannah’s hard work and academic excellence, and we are excited for her to be the first graduate of our program.”
With the help of library resources, regular visits to the university Writing Center to polish research papers, and the encouragement of her professors and academic advisors, Garza developed a strong support network that allowed her to thrive, even with a courseload that was twice the amount of a typical full-time graduate schedule.
“It definitely required discipline and strong time management,” Garza said. “I reminded myself every day that the finish line was near and that this challenge would prepare me for high-pressure roles in the workforce.”
Garza also credits her professors for delivering impactful and engaging courses that helped her build analytical thinking skills and develop a strong understanding of human behavior and intelligence analysis. With plans to work in either a government agency or the corporate cybersecurity sector after graduation, the technical knowledge she gained in these courses will make her a competitive candidate for many roles in the cybersecurity field.
“My professors treated us not just as students, but as individuals with unique perspectives. Their passion for the subjects made the classroom environment truly inspiring,” Garza said. “They also brought in guest speakers from relevant sectors whose stories gave us real-world insight and made each class feel meaningful and memorable. As someone new to those fields, I found their experiences incredibly motivating.”
