Every day, discoveries change how disease is understood, diagnosed, and treated. New technologies revolutionize how problems are researched and solved. Artificial intelligence is an increasingly ubiquitous force transforming all aspects of human life.
As the world changes, so does what students need to learn. That’s why the University of Rochester has added to its 200-plus programs of study with new offerings that build on existing strengths and respond to emerging fields, evolving industries, and societal needs.
Here are 11 programs debuting at URochester.
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Out-of-body experience
Since pioneering the biopsychosocial model in medicine nearly half a century ago, URochester has shown that rarely is a person’s health only a matter of what’s happening inside their body. Medical anthropologists provide that broader view by examining how culture, politics, and social conditions shape how people experience illness as well as how they perceive and access care. The new BA in medical anthropology will train URochester students to use that lens to understand and analyze the complexities of human health and healthcare. When completed, students will have the critical skills and knowledge to pursue graduate studies in medicine and health-related fields as well as careers in public policy, social work, and administration.
Something to bear in mind
According to the US Bureau of Labor Statistics, it’s a great time to consider becoming a psychologist or psychological scientist—career paths that are expected to grow at a faster-than-average rate over the next 10 years. URochester’s MS in psychological science offers students a hard-to-match experience to prepare them for science-oriented PhD programs in psychology or related fields. In a program focused on producing and disseminating high-level research, students can immerse themselves in scientific activities with mentors and instructors who are at the top of their fields.
fast-track passion
Want to earn a URochester bachelor’s and master’s degree in just five years? If you’re an undergraduate in the School of Arts & Sciences, check out the 4+1 Master’s Program at the Warner School of Education & Human Development. The new program was designed exclusively for the school’s students who are seeking a streamlined, cost-effective route to a career in education or human development. Warner School Dean Melissa Sturge-Apple ’92 took a similar path as a student, which led to work as a school counselor early in her career. Sturge-Apple says, “That experience is one of many reasons I am thrilled that Warner is now offering this dedicated 4+1 program, which will empower students to pursue their passions with purpose.”
certified real intelligence
Generative AI isn’t going to replace teachers for the same reason calculators didn’t put an end to math class. But like any powerful tool, its value depends on knowing how—and when— to use it. That’s exactly why the Warner School launched the advanced certificate in artificial intelligence for educators. The 10-credit graduate program is designed to empower educators and students by teaching them how to use AI as critical and effective users. Bonus: The certificate was also built to complement existing Warner programs, meaning you may be able to add this credential with only a few additional credits.
Two turntables and a new degree
Dennis DeSantis ’05E (DMA), an associate professor of music and technology, wants to bring a new kind of student to the Eastman School of Music: individuals who prefer to express themselves musically through technology. So, if your instrument of choice is a laptop or a modular synthesizer, you’ll want to apply for the BM in music creation and technology program. Starting in fall 2027, the hands-on program will invite students to explore how music is imagined, built, and experienced in the rapidly evolving technological landscape through opportunities to create original electronic music and sound art, using a range of tools and approaches.
let’s talk business
Simon Business School has created a program specifically for students without a business background. The new MS in management is designed for students looking to build that foundational business knowledge. The one-year, cohort-based program provides a comprehensive understanding of core business principles by covering key areas such as finance, accounting, operations, managerial economics, AI, and business communication. You’ll graduate with versatile skills that help you adapt and lead—and even prepare you to circle back to earn an MBA.
work smarter
For the professionals looking to sharpen their business acumen, the Simon School also offers an online graduate certificate in artificial intelligence in business. Through three faculty-led, online courses, participants will learn the hands-on skills and strategic fluency to apply generative AI to their workflows immediately. Everyone takes the Introduction to AI in Business course. From there, you’ll choose one of three pathways—AI strategy and decision-making, Python and applied AI, or generative AI using Python—to get the learning experience that best fits your career plans.
Classic no-pressure, high-pressure opportunity
Designed for students from a range of academic backgrounds looking to expand their knowledge in an emerging field, the advanced certificate in high-energy-density science (HEDS) is a “first-of-its-kind program,” says Cody Phillips, the graduate program administrator in the Department of Mechanical Engineering. Many schools teach one or two areas of HEDS. But only at URochester will you have an expansive HEDS curriculum that also covers the discipline’s many applications, including astrophysics and inertial confinement fusion. Not to mention, adds Phillips, you’ll learn from some of the only faculty members in the country actively engaged in front-line HEDS research through URochester’s Laboratory for Laser Energetics. If that isn’t enough, you can complete the 16 course credits in person or synchronously online.
How to speak health analytics
Last year, the Hajim School of Engineering & Applied Sciences announced its new online MS in healthcare data science and AI. The new advanced certificate begs the question: Besides requiring half as many courses, what’s the difference? Program director Bernard Ricca, a professor of instruction at the George Institute for Data Science and AI, explains: It’s like the difference between knowing how to speak a language and being fluent in a language and the surrounding culture. The advanced certificate is for healthcare professionals who want to use AI to augment their work while understanding the potential negative effects.
Don’t sleep on anesthesiology
Anesthesiology is one of the most in-demand subfields in the healthcare industry, reports the American Association of Nurse Anesthesiology, citing current and growing shortages of anesthetists that are projected to hit rural communities hardest. The School of Nursing has stepped up to address the urgent need with the DNP Nurse Anesthesia Program. Welcoming its inaugural cohort in the summer of 2027 (pending accreditation by the Council on Accreditation), the program is designed for registered nurses seeking advanced preparation in nurse anesthesia and acute care management of adult and older adult populations. Graduates will be prepared to deliver high-quality, evidence-based care in operating rooms, intensive care units, emergency departments, and specialty surgical services.
Behind the diagnosis
Meet one of healthcare’s essential and unseen professions. Histotechnologists work at the intersection of lab science and patient care, preparing and delivering the tissue specimens that make the early diagnosis of disease possible. When it launches next fall, the advanced histotechnology certificate program will be one of only two programs in New York training histotechnologists. In an accelerated nine-month, 32-credit program through the Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, students will develop competencies in basic and advanced histological and histochemistry techniques, identify cell structures and tissues of the human body to inform the diagnosis, prognosis, and disease management in clinical and research settings.
