Applications Open for OU Polytechnic Institute
The new University of Oklahoma Polytechnic Institute on the OU-Tulsa campus recently hit another important milestone. Applications are officially open for the Bachelor of Science in Cybersecurity, OUPI’s first program offering. Recruitment for this exciting new school is underway.
This new cybersecurity degree is a completion program, meaning that students who have completed their first two years of courses may be eligible to apply and finish their bachelor’s degree at the OU Polytechnic Institute. This new school will offer a hands-on, in-person learning experience for students and prepare them for technology positions that are in high demand.
“I like to say that these jobs are the interpreters,” said Dr. Teri Reed, director of the OU Polytechnic Institute. “What we will do here in the polytechnic is apply the theoretical into everyday language. So, these roles become the interpreter of what technology is and what it can do for customers. That’s why industry is so interested in what we are doing at OUPI, because they are the customers. They need this technology to work for them. Not only will OUPI students understand the technical side, but also the social side and how these two work together to make them successful in companies and government alike.”
Working together with industry partners to develop curriculum and keep these technology programs cutting-edge is an important part of the OU Polytechnic Institute. These partnerships are already being developed and will provide students opportunities to work on the latest in industry needs through research projects and senior design projects.
“The interest the industry has is vital,” Reed said. “The ability to get a job with these degrees is just without question. There are leaders in industry and government who are already asking me for these graduates today. How fast can we get there? Fortunately, we’re going to get there fast with a two-year completion degree and building on what other institutions have started. Hopefully, that will help people get into the workforce and help fill needs and jobs gaps as fast as we can.”
Partners for the OU Polytechnic Institute include Tulsa Innovation Labs, Tulsa Community College, OU’s Office of Innovation and Corporate Partnerships, the OU Ronnie K. Irani Center for the Creation of Economic Wealth, Tom Love Innovation Hub and others, along with philanthropic partners such as the George Kaiser Family Foundation, Bank of Oklahoma and Google.
To read more about the OU Polytechnic Institute, click here.
By Bonnie Rucker
