University of New England launches a school aimed at the future of technology

Aerial view of college campus in Biddeford

Courtesy / University of New England The University of New England has campuses in Biddeford, shown here, and Portland, as well as overseas in Tangier, Morocco.

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By Alexis Wells

The University of New England has launched a technology-focused division, the School of Computer Science and Data Analytics.

The new school is designed to meet the growing demand for professionals with skills in emerging technologies and to prepare Maine's students for the future of tech, UNE said.

“As we embark on this new venture, we are mindful of the critical role our graduates will play in shaping the future, and specializations in computer science and data science are increasingly sought after in today's job market,” said Gwendolyn Mahon, UNE’s provost and senior vice president of academic affairs.

“The launch of this school aligns with UNE’s mission to empower our graduates with the expertise required to drive innovation and address the world’s complex challenges.”

The school will comprise UNE’s existing majors in applied mathematics and data science plus two new majors in computer science and statistics. There will also be coursework in computer architecture, software engineering and computational theory.

Enrollment for the new majors will begin in the fall of 2025.

The university said the curriculum is intended to equip students with necessary skills for jobs across various fields, including health care, financial services, biotechnology and cybersecurity. The school will also provide students with hands-on experience through internships.

UNE is home to Maine's only medical and dental colleges, in addition to offering other health care degree programs. The university is currently relocating its College of Osteopathic Medicine from the UNE Biddeford campus to the one in Portland, where a health sciences center is being built.

More than 4,000 UNE students attend classes at the campuses in Biddeford, Portland and Tangier, Morocco, and online.