Winthrop University has introduced several new degrees this fall to help students prepare for the next generation of jobs in the workforce.
Administrators said by expanding its academic offerings, it will help a broader range of students and align its majors with current and future job market needs.
“By developing new programs, Winthrop will provide innovative new learning opportunities that will meet industry needs and attract a diverse population of high-achieving students,” said Provost Sebastian van Delden.
One degree will offer South Carolina’s first stand-alone artificial intelligence program; another establishes the institution’s first engineering degree (applied software engineering); a third brings in South Carolina’s first stand-alone game design program; and the fourth combines finances and technology – another first in South Carolina. There also are some additions to some concentrations in three majors and an expansion of the M.B.A. program for health care and financial planning.
The Commission on Higher Education has approved each of the undergraduate degree additions and changes during 2025.
Here is a quick summary of the new majors:
B.S. – Artificial Intelligence: This is the first stand-alone undergraduate program in artificial intelligence in South Carolina. Several institutions across South Carolina have AI concentrations in their computer science program or have a graduate program. Winthrop’s program includes coursework in computer science, mathematics and data science. The AI degree program is designed to provide students with a deep and comprehensive understanding of artificial intelligence, encompassing both theoretical foundations and practical applications.
B.S. in Applied Software Engineering: An existing bachelor’s degree in applied software development was reconfigured and renamed to better capture the engineering components of the curriculum. The development of new engineering programs is also part of a larger strategic effort to build out the university’s technology and engineering capabilities. A new entry point for traditional high school students was added to complement the existing York Technical College transfer pathway.
B.A. in Game Design: This new program is an interdisciplinary program for students interested in the game design field. Students learn the fundamentals and principles that factor into game design, including but not limited to world building, character design, programming and development, art history, storytelling and writing, movement and interactivity, user experience, and sound and music design.
B.S. in Financial Technology: This program is designed to build on traditional finance topics and equip students with knowledge of data-driven financial modeling and fintech tools, such as artificial intelligence, machine learning, blockchain, algorithmic trading, robo-advising and others. The program is for students who are interested in understanding both traditional financial models and specialized fintech tools through a blend of coursework in finance and computer sciences.
The Division of Academic Affairs has also fine-tuned some concentrations for three of its majors, said van Delden.
Here is a look at those adjustments:
B.S. in Educational Studies concentration in Youth Impact: This concentration provides foundational knowledge and skills for working effectively with children and adolescents, tailored to individual learner interests. It is designed specifically to serve adult learners who have accumulated college credits but have not yet completed their bachelor’s degree. These students are drawn to education as a field, but require the completion of an undergraduate degree before they can pursue either a graduate initial preparation program such as the Master of Arts in Teaching (M.A.T.) or alternative certification pathway.
B.A. in Sociology with concentration in Pre-Law: The pre-law concentration presents a tailored curriculum and specific guidelines intended to enhance the readiness of students in the bachelor’s degree in sociology program for careers in law. This concentration provides a more specialized pathway than any of the existing programs within the Department of Sociology, Anthropology, and Criminology.
B.A. in Sociology with concentration in User Experience Research: The user experience research concentration is designed for students seeking careers in the field of technology via the mastery of social science research skills. Social science research skills are the core skill set needed to help students provide corporations with the information they need to attract, retain and enhance the online experience of their customers and consumers. This concentration reflects the need for applied sociology in careers and assists students seeking careers in technology outside programming.
Meanwhile, in the graduate school offerings within the College of Business and Technology, the M.B.A. program has expanded to add concentrations in healthcare management and in financial planning. Both are extensions of existing undergraduate business concentrations. In addition, the Commission on Higher Education approved a change in program classification to make Winthrop’s M.B.A. program a STEM designated program. This will create a program with a rigorous, quantitative focus, highlighting a strong foundation in management science and data analytics, and positioning Winthrop graduates for even greater success in a data-driven economy. The STEM designation better reflects the content of the program.
For more information, contact Judy Longshaw, news and media services manager, at [email protected].
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