Colleges Adapt to Changing Job Markets with New Degree Programs
In a bid to align with evolving career landscapes, colleges are introducing innovative degree programs such as influencing, AI, and health sciences. These initiatives aim to attract students seeking modern career paths.
Across the nation, higher education institutions are adding majors that prepare students for future job opportunities. These changes address the needs of a dynamic U.S. job market, as reported by Wailin Wong and Ricky Mulvey from The Indicator from Planet Money.
Health Sciences: A Tailored Approach
At the University of Texas at San Antonio, Professor Eddie Hernandez, known to his students as Dr. H, has been instrumental in launching a new health sciences degree program. Dr. H explained that while the existing biology degree was comprehensive, it lacked the specificity needed by the student demographic.
“We have a fantastic biology degree, but it seemed a little broad, and it also seemed like it didn’t reflect our specific population of students,” stated Dr. H.
Students like Case Brown have embraced this new major, which aligns with medical school prerequisites and offers specialized courses geared toward healthcare careers.
Dr. H noted that approximately 500 undergraduates are currently enrolled in the program, emphasizing the potential benefits if graduates choose to remain in Texas for their careers.
Economic Considerations in Program Offerings
The emphasis on sustainable careers has led colleges to reevaluate their offerings. Humanities degrees have seen a 30% decline since 2012, according to the American Academy of Arts and Sciences. At the Savannah College of Art and Design (SCAD), decisions about keeping programs are heavily influenced by job market viability.
Jason Fox, SCAD’s chief academic officer, highlighted the economic rationale behind such decisions. “These are economic decisions as much as they were – either, A, we weren’t delivering on the promise, or B, there was no promise to deliver on because there was no market out there for it,” he explained.
AI: The New Frontier
Recognizing the burgeoning demand for AI expertise, SCAD launched a major in applied AI in September 2025, with NVIDIA as a corporate partner. This program is designed to equip students for careers in AI product and machine design.
Fox emphasized the importance of graduate employment rates, noting that programs without clear career paths are hard to justify. “If you’re offering generalized degrees, especially in a specialty university like ours, it begs the question, OK, what am I going to do next?” he stated.
Currently, around 80 AI majors are available across the U.S., as tracked by Northeastern University, reflecting a broader trend in higher education.
A Glimmer of Hope for Liberal Arts
Despite challenges, liberal arts are finding new expressions. UCLA’s new department of digital humanities is an example, where students leverage digital tools to explore humanistic themes.
As higher education costs rise, students and families are increasingly focused on the return on investment, making program relevance more crucial than ever.
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