Colleges and universities in Tarrant County are launching new degree and certificate programs in aviation, social work and pharmaceutical sciences in coming semesters.
The programs are each designed to place students into in-demand fields.
Texas Christian University announced last week that the school will offer a Bachelor of Science degree in professional aviation. Students in the program will choose between a concentration in aviation administration starting in fall 2026 or professional pilot concentrations in fall 2027.
“Expanding aviation education at TCU aligns with the momentum across the booming North Texas region and the growing demand for well-trained talent in this key industry,” Chancellor Daniel Pullin said in a news release.
TCU will also offer an aviation minor that will allow students to earn a remote pilot certificate from the Federal Aviation Administration, enabling them to fly drones.
Aviation is a major industry in the Dallas-Fort Worth area, with numerous airports, airlines and aerospace companies calling the region home.
Tarrant County College trustees approved a new air traffic control program last month that will be presented to the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board for approval.
The program will prepare students for careers in a high-wage, in-demand field. The average annual pay for an air traffic controller in the Dallas-Fort Worth metropolitan area was $172,250 in 2024.
The college plans to offer the program for the first time in spring 2027 and enroll cohorts of 20 to 25 students, TCC Northwest President Zarina Blankenbaker told trustees last month.
The University of Texas at Arlington is launching a program to prepare social work professionals for careers in education administration after approval from the coordinating board last week.
The program is intended to meet a workforce need by preparing professionals for advanced practice, teaching and leadership roles in healthcare and higher education, said Kirk Foster, dean of UTA’s School of Social Work, to the coordinating board.
“The demand for doctoral-level social work professionals continues to grow across Texas, particularly in higher education and clinical leadership,” he said.
The part-time program will be entirely online, allowing working professionals to participate. The first class will enroll an estimated 30 students, with enrollment expected to reach 191 in five years.
Average annual earnings for postsecondary social work instructors is $106,121 in Tarrant County, according to a board report.
UNT Health Fort Worth was approved by the coordinating board to offer a doctoral degree in pharmaceutical sciences.
The program will build on UNT Health’s current pharmacy offerings, said Christopher Ray, senior vice president and provost.
“The goal of this is not to create something new from scratch, but extend existing research and graduate education capacity to an area of clear regional and national need,” he told the coordinating board.
The program will be DFW’s first and the only such program within 150 miles of UNT Health. The area is home to numerous pharmaceutical and biotechnology companies, presenting opportunities for innovation and research collaboration and student internships, College of Pharmacy Dean Evan Robinson told the coordinating board.
An estimate from the U.S. Bureau of Labor statistics reflected that pharmaceutical science jobs will grow 19% from 2019 to 2029. The projected yearly average earnings of program graduates in Texas is $100,000, according to a board report.
McKinnon Rice is the higher education reporter for the Fort Worth Report. Contact her at mckinnon.rice@fortworthreport.org.
The Fort Worth Report partners with Open Campus on higher education coverage.
The Report’s higher education coverage is supported in part by major higher education institutions in Tarrant County, including Tarleton State University, Tarrant County College, Texas A&M-Fort Worth, Texas Christian University, Texas Wesleyan University, the University of Texas at Arlington and UNT Health Science Center. Atthe Fort Worth Report, news decisions are made independently of our board members and financial supporters. Read more about our editorial independence policy here.
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