Web Design, Cyber Security Added to Southern Adventist University Programs

By: Janell Hullquist, Southern Adventist University, and Adventist Review

Southern Adventist University has expanded its academic options offered in digital fields such as web design and cybersecurity. Two new degrees and several other concentrations will be available beginning August 2021. These options were developed in response to high demand from prospective students and employers and are included in the academic master plan of the school in Collegedale, Tennessee, United States.

“The new programs will add breadth to Southern’s academic portfolio, allowing us to better meet the needs of our constituents,” Robert Young, senior vice president for Academic Administration, said.

The School of Visual Art and Design will allow students to develop skills in user experience and web design through a new Bachelor of Fine Art in Web and New Media Design.

“This new program is exciting because it builds on our strong graphic design program and combines it with more technical skills needed in this field,” Randy Craven, dean of the School of Visual Art and Design, said. “We anticipate that this combination will be highly desirable.”

Additionally, the School of Computing has added a new master’s degree, the Master of Science in Applied Computer Science, which includes a choice of four certificates: Data Analytics, Computer Science, Cyber Security, and Web Development. At the undergraduate level, two new concentrations — Security and Web Development — are available as part of several different degrees, including the Bachelor of Science in Computer Science.

“Skills in cybersecurity and web development are highly valuable in today’s market,” Rick Halterman, dean of the School of Computing, said. “Southern’s computing graduates have always been desirable to employers, but these options will provide students with skills that companies immediately need for their success.”

About Southern Adventist University

Southern Adventist University was founded in 1892. It is located on a 1,300-acre (526-hectare) campus in southeastern Tennessee, United States. Its stated mission is to equip students to embrace biblical truth, embody academic and professional excellence, and pursue Spirit-filled lives of service. 

The campus currently includes 10 schools and 11 departments. It has 2,390 undergraduate and 348 graduate students from the 50 U.S. states and 37 countries around the world. 

Southern is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC) and the Adventist Accrediting Association (AAA).

The original version of this story was posted on the North American Division news site.