UTA Fort Worth expands offerings for busy professionals
The University of Texas at Arlington’s Fort Worth Center continues to strengthen its relationship with the city of Fort Worth, with new program offerings and the first cohort of city employees set to graduate from the Master of Public Administration (MPA) program.
"The city of Fort Worth's cohort journey through the MPA program is a testament to UTA's commitment to public service excellence,” said Kelly Baggett, innovation coordinator with the city of Fort Worth Economic Development Department. “With every skill acquired throughout the program, we're not just advancing our careers; we're elevating the standards of public administration by setting new benchmarks for responsive governance.”
The inaugural MPA cohort program at UTA Fort Worth, which launched three years ago, will graduate 34 city employees in May.
“My experience with the UTA Master of Public Administration Cohort program with the city of Fort Worth has been transformative,” said Evan Roberts, development services assistant director and building official with the city of Fort Worth Planning and Development Department. “In my 20+ years of government service, it has made the most significant impact on how I lead my team and collaborate with peers and stakeholders alike. I am better able to serve the communities of Fort Worth because of my time and training in the cohort.”
Innovative programs and the graduating class of Fort Worth city employees showcase UTA’s dedication to driving positive change and growth in the region. Conveniently located in the heart of one of the fastest growing cities in the nation, UTA Fort Worth offers flexible daytime, evening, and weekend class schedules to support full-time working professionals, while smaller classes create the atmosphere needed to learn from professors and peers.
“We're truly excited about the remarkable progress underway at UTA Fort Worth,” said Michael Wollman, director of UTA Fort Worth. “Our inaugural graduating cohort from the MPA City Cohort partnership with the city of Fort Worth, coupled with the successful launch of our new graduate engineering programs in spring 2024, are examples of UTA Fort Worth’s collaborative efforts with our community and industry partners.”
Additionally, UT Arlington’s Institute of Urban Studies (IUS), the principal research center for the College of Architecture, Planning, and Public Affairs, recently relocated to UTA Fort Worth. The IUS’ mission is to conduct research and provide technical assistance to local governments and nonprofits, such as assisting in the development of northeast Fort Worth’s economic development strategic plan.
“Being here in Fort Worth not only puts us physically closer to the communities we serve but allows us to truly be a part of them,” said Alan Klein, director of the IUS.
UTA Fort Worth also launched two new engineering master’s degree programs this spring, thanks to a partnership between UTA and the North Central Texas Council of Governments. A sizable number of students in the new Master of Software Engineering and Master of Science in Engineering Management programs are Lockheed Martin employees. These programs were developed using an Agile Curriculum Development Model where faculty meet directly with engineers from regional defense and aerospace companies to map the curriculum to specific company needs.
UTA Fort Worth has also expanded several other services over the last several years. This includes establishing a Go Center, which helps high school students navigate the college admissions process. The campus also houses a Tarrant To & Through Partnership office, which focuses on serving Tarrant County students and families by informing them about college and career pathways.
The campus also offers several other degree programs:
- RN to BSN: The RN to BSN on-campus program is exclusively offered at UTA Fort Worth. Classes meet once a week in downtown Fort Worth, and students enrolled full-time can complete the degree in two semesters. UTA’s College of Nursing is the largest producer of baccalaureate educated nurses in the state, and nationally, we are the largest not-for-profit college of nursing.
- Master of Science in Real Estate: Exclusively offered at UTA Fort Worth, the Appraisal Institute, home to the largest group of real estate property valuers in the United States, has recognized the program as up-to-standard and allows graduates to become licensed appraisers in a shorter amount of time.
- Bachelor of Social Work (BSW) and Master of Social Work (MSW): Both social work degrees are among the best in the nation and speak to the partnership UTA Fort Worth has with the community. There are more than 40 agency partnerships for BSW and MSW fieldwork placement in Fort Worth alone.
- Executive MBA: The Executive MBA is exclusively offered at UTA Fort Worth. The 17-month program offers Saturday-only classes, and graduates have reported a 24% salary increase 2.5 years after completion. A recent partnership with Leadership Fort Worth provides members and alumni access to a tuition discount, and the EMBA program is offering a $15,000 tuition reduction scholarship to the Rotary Club of Fort Worth Minority Business Award Winners in April 2024.
- Master of Science in Health Care Administration: This program, exclusively offered at UTA Fort Worth, is accredited by both the Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business and the Commission on Accreditation of Healthcare Management Education (CAHME). The CAHME accreditation is a benchmark for the University, as it signals to employers that students will be well-prepared to lead in health care management.
