The student body is growing rapidly. Since fall 2022, enrollment has jumped more than 4 percent. Now, enrollment sits at 12,785, according to TCU’s Institutional Research Report. With more students come more interests, and TCU is making efforts to accommodate this growing diversity through adding more academic programs.

This fall, the expansion includes the new digital culture and data analytics major, a global history minor, a medical social sciences and health humanities certificate program and a master’s program in nutritional sciences.

AddRan Liberal Arts students in Scharbauer Hall have shown a 40 percent increase in interest in digital culture and data analytics.  Photo by Andrew Emery.

The AddRan College of Liberal Arts introduced the digital culture and data analytics major and the global history minor.

The digital culture and data analytics minor was established in 2017, but within the last two years, interest in the program has increased over 40 percent. A survey conducted with current students in the minor revealed that “over 50 percent would switch to the major if given the option,” said Jason Helms, associate professor and director of the center of digital expression.

Jobs in the data science field are expected to increase by 35 percent in the next 10 years. The new digital culture and data analytics major is coming into play at the perfect time “as TCU continues to increase enrollments and students begin to see the interdisciplinary benefits of a major such as this one,” according to the provost’s office.

The global history minor focuses on building global awareness through opportunities like research, studying abroad and public history internships. Having a well-rounded, fundamental understanding of the history of the nations across the world is advantageous to students, particularly to those whose careers could extend into international waters.

Student who earn the medical social sciences and health humanities certificate, “are poised to be holistic health leaders,” said professor Carol Thompson said. Photo by Amy Peterson.

The medical social sciences and health humanities certificate, which requires only 12 hours and is designed for undergraduates in any major, is also offered though AddRan.

Students in the certificate program have the opportunity to learn about the social determinants and impacts on health and how to solve health equity issues in the community.

“Students with this certificate are poised to be holistic health leaders,” said Carol Thompson, professor and chair of the Sociology and Anthropology Department. 

The new master’s program in nutritional sciences will strengthen the academic reputation of the Department of Nutritional Sciences, according to the provost’s office. The program is crucial for graduates because, as of January 2024, the Commission of Dietetic Registration will require all registered dietitians to have a master’s degree.

“Everyone in the program leans on each other, which is so great,” said senior Blayke Anderson, who in the combined undergraduate/master’s program. “Everyone’s super encouraging.”