UNA expands offerings in medical, engineering fields

FLORENCE — The University of North Alabama continues to expand its academic offerings in its effort to ensure a qualified and well-equipped workforce for the Shoals area, the school announced.

“Enrollment indicators for both summer and fall remain positive,” said UNA Provost and Executive Vice President Dr. Ross Alexander. “With increased interest among all constituencies of learners, I am confident that we will continue to see another record enrollment in fall 2023.”

If that happens, it would mark UNA’s 17th consecutive enrollment record term. Helping drive those enrollment numbers are several new degrees beginning in 2023, with more in the works.

This fall UNA will launch bachelor degrees in Respiratory Care and Power Generation Engineering. In addition, the university will begin its first three associate’s degree programs: Mechatronics, Culinary Arts, and Hospitality and Events Management.

The three programs and Power Generation Engineering are part of the College of Arts, Sciences, and Engineering. Respiratory Care is in the Anderson College of Nursing and Health Professions.

This summer, the university’s Board of Trustees will consider these academic programs:

• Doctor of Social Work (D.S.W.) (online), UNA’s fourth doctoral program – Fall 2024
• Bachelor of Engineering (B.Eng.), with certificates in Biological Engineering, Chemical Engineering, Manufacturing Engineering, Power Generation Engineering, and Engineering Management – Fall 2024
• Master of Science (M.S.) in Occupational Safety and Health Management (online), with concentrations in General, Accelerated, Professional Certification, and Safety – Fall 2024
• Bachelor of Business Administration (BBA) in Human Resource Management (in-person and online) – Spring 2024
• Joel R. Anderson BBA major in Innovation and Entrepreneurship, Entrepreneurship concentration, and Agile Management and Leadership concentration – Fall 2023
• Creation of a three-school model in the College of Arts, Sciences, and Engineering, consisting of School of the Arts, School of Humanities and Social Sciences, and School of Natural Sciences, Engineering, and Mathematics – Summer 2023

“We can respond to a market need very quickly here – we could go from a conversation about a new degree program to a new degree program in six months,” Alexander said. “When establishing academic programs, we look at market demand, workforce demand, and the programs our peer institutions are not offering. We do a formal market analysis and consider whether the potential program fits into the university’s strategic plan and vision.”

That focus on market demand is why UNA offers programs that relate directly to workforce needs in the region.

Alexander also said the university is developing other degree programs. They are: 

• Bachelor of Science (B.S.) in Occupational Therapy – Spring 2026
• M.S. in Occupational Therapy (online) – Summer 2026
• B.S. in Speech and Language Pathology – Fall 2027
• M.S. in Speech and Language Pathology (online) – Summer 2027
• B.S. in Medical Laboratory Sciences – Fall 2026
• B.S. in Instructional Technology and Design (online) – Fall 2024

“We embrace our distinction as Alabama’s Workforce University: we don’t launch a program unless there is an acute industry need,” Alexander said. “We work with North Alabama Medical Center, Helen Keller Hospital, Huntsville Hospital, Northeast Mississippi Health System, and other providers, and interact with their leaders and ask if we are producing the graduates they need.

“Other than nursing, the most in-demand positions are in the medical technology and laboratory sciences fields. We have the best nursing program in the state, so now how do we establish the best nursing and health professions college in the state? We’ve done our due diligence in market research and we understand what the state and region need and it’s those medical laboratory scientists, and it’s also speech pathologists and occupational therapists.”

Alexander also said UNA offers every level of higher education program.

“Beginning in the fall, we will be the only university in the state and one of the only in the nation where a learner can earn a microcredential, a certificate, an associate’s degree, a bachelor’s degree, a master’s degree, and a doctoral degree,” he said. “That’s a vision that we’ve had as an academic enterprise, to engage a learner throughout a lifetime.

“Whatever your educational preference or need, we can serve you.”