Elizabeth City State University announced Tuesday plans to create “new pathways for students seeking flexible, career-focused educational opportunities” by expanding its academic programs this fall.
The university is adding a Bachelor of Science degree in data science and entirely online bachelor’s degree options in history and social work.
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ECSU’s announcement framed the new Bachelor of Science in Data Science program as setting students up for success in a booming industry.
“Data science is one of the fastest-growing fields in the world. It is the practice of collecting, analyzing and interpreting data to help organizations make data-driven decisions for real-world problems,” stated Dr. Mohamed Elbakary, associate professor of electrical and computer engineering and coordinator of the university’s Engineering Technology Program.
The new degree will cover programming, statistics, machine learning and data visualization tools to uncover trends and findings from large amounts of information, according to the announcement. “Graduates will be prepared for careers as data scientists, data analysts, data engineers, artificial intelligence specialists, quantitative analysts, healthcare analytics specialists and business intelligence analysts. Those career opportunities span industries including technology, healthcare, finance, government, education and nonprofit organizations.”
Elbakary touted the new program’s affordability, location, mission and strengths in coding, statistics and machine learning.
“Data Science could position ECSU as a leading institution for solving challenges facing rural, coastal and underserved communities,” he said.
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In addition, ECSU said it is expanding access to two existing programs through fully online learning options.
The university’s history program will now offer students the opportunity to earn a bachelor’s degree completely online. “The program combines the strengths of a liberal arts education with modern teaching methods and digital skills, encouraging students to apply historical inquiry to contemporary challenges and opportunities. Students can pursue concentrations in digital and public history and race, gender and ethnicity studies. The online option provides greater flexibility for students balancing education with professional and personal responsibilities,” according to the announcement.
ECSU’s Bachelor of Social Work program will also be available as a fully online degree option beginning this fall. Officials said the program emphasizes addressing the needs of rural and developing communities.
As one of four North Carolina Promise institutions, ECSU provides affordable access to higher education. In-state tuition is $500 per semester, while out-of-state tuition is $3,500 per semester.
Students interested in the history program may learn more online at https://ecsu.edu/academics/programs/history/ or contact Dr. Charles Reed, chair and associate professor of history, at cvreed@ecsu.edu for additional information.
Questions about the social work program may be directed to Dr. Kim Downing, professor and program director, at ksdowning@ecsu.edu, or visit the Social Work website.
Information about the new data science degree is available online. Students interested in the program should contact Mohamed Elbakary at melbakary@ecsu.edu.
