New Programs
Decoding tomorrow: Mount launches new Data Science and AI major
Photo by Lee Ferris
Recognizing the impact of emerging technologies on the global workforce, the Mount is proud to announce the launch of its new undergraduate major: the Bachelor of Science in Data Science and Artificial Intelligence (AI).
Housed within the School of Arts, Sciences, and Education (SASE) in the Division of Mathematics, Media, and Computing Sciences, this 53-credit interdisciplinary STEM program is designed to meet the growing demand for data-driven expertise.
The curriculum combines rigorous technical coursework in programming, mathematics, statistics, and machine learning, with a deep focus on the ethical and societal reflections required to design responsible AI applications.
“In today’s rapidly shifting technological landscape, AI literacy is no longer just a technical skill – it’s a foundational necessity for the modern professional in any discipline,” said Jen Bready, Dean of the School of Arts, Sciences, and Education and a professor of Mathematics at the Mount. “By integrating these programs into our curriculum, we are ensuring our students don’t just use these tools, but lead the conversation on how to implement them ethically and strategically within their chosen fields.”
The new major comes at a time of rapid growth in the field. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, roles for AI and machine learning specialists are among the fastest-growing occupations. In the Hudson Valley region specifically, job growth in healthcare analytics, finance, and educational technology highlights a critical need for graduates who possess both technical skills and applied experience.
In addition, the college continues to offer its innovative Interdisciplinary Applied AI minor to ensure all students are prepared for an AI-integrated future. Unlike traditional technical minors, this program is open to students in any major, not just those in IT or Computer Science. The minor provides a foundational understanding of AI tools and ethics, allowing students in nursing, education, business, and the arts to add a layer of technological proficiency to their degree.
Inside the game: Mount launches Sports and Exercise Psychology Minor
The Mount’s undergraduate minor in Sports and Exercise Psychology is officially open for enrollment, giving students a direct path into the mental side of athletic performance and human movement.
This 18-credit program, offered through the Division of Social Sciences, is designed to provide students with a deeper understanding of the psychological principles that influence performance and well-being in sports.
The minor is an ideal complement for students majoring in Psychology, Exercise Science, and Sports Management, but it’s also available to all majors.
Core courses for the minor include Sports Psychology, Principles and Techniques of Interviewing and Counseling, Communicating with Patients and Professionals, Care and Prevention in Athletic Injury, and Coaching Skills. Students are also required to take two additional electives to complete the program.
“This new minor addresses a growing need in the sports industry for professionals who understand the intersection of mental health and athletic performance,” said Evan Merkhofer, Vice President for Academic Affairs. “We are excited to offer a program that will equip our students with the foundational skills necessary for careers in coaching, personal training, psychology, and physical therapy.”
New 18-Credit Minor Focuses on Maternal Health
The Mount's new 18-credit Maternal Health minor is designed to equip students with the skills needed to advocate for the health and safety of women globally.
The Mount’s Division of Social Sciences developed this program to identify and eliminate preventable maternal mortality through policy and practice.
The Maternal Health minor integrates perspectives from Human Services, healthcare advocacy, Psychology, and Sociology. By focusing on the systemic issues surrounding maternal care, the program prepares students to enter professional fields like nursing, social work, and public policy with a deep understanding of the diverse factors that influence health outcomes for mothers.
The 18-credit minor requires the completion of five core courses and one elective from the sociology department.
Core Courses: Health Psychology, The Psychology of Birth, Communicating with Patients and Professionals, Cultural Diversity in Healthcare, and Human Sexuality.
Sociology Elective: Students may choose from Social Problems; Sociology of the Family; Social Class, Power, and Inequality; Race, Gender and Society; or Community Action.
While the minor is open to all students regardless of their major, it’s specifically designed to complement the advocacy components of the Human Services and Psychology majors, the clinical training in the Nursing program, and the pre-health preparation found in the Biology major.
The minor prepares students for essential roles in service professions, including careers as healthcare advocates, counselors, doctors, nurses, and social workers. By fostering an environment of critical thinking and advocacy, the Mount aims to contribute to the international decrease in maternal mortality rates.
Criminology concentration tackles mental health
Photo by Lee Ferris
To better prepare future law enforcement and legal professionals for the realities of the field, the Mount has introduced a specialized Mental Health and Crime concentration into its Criminology major.
This forward-thinking track bridges the gap between behavioral science and criminal justice, giving students a crucial edge in an evolving legal system.
Students pursuing this concentration are required to complete PSY 1010 General Psychology as a prerequisite. This requirement grounds their criminological studies in a formal understanding of human behavior and mental processes.
The Mental Health and Crime concentration provides specialized expertise, rooted in the Mount’s broader commitment to a human-centric Criminology curriculum. Rather than focusing solely on statutes and violations, the program adopts a holistic perspective.
The Mount’s Criminology program moves beyond the standard study of law and crime to offer a more comprehensive perspective. This approach ensures that students understand the complex consequences of crime as they relate to the offender, the victim, and the broader community. This philosophy encourages students to move beyond the “what” of criminal activity to investigate the “why.”
The Criminology major at the Mount is designed for immediate engagement, with students beginning core coursework in their freshman year. The 45-credit curriculum emphasizes that learning should extend beyond the classroom. Recent student initiatives have included a collaboration with local police departments to create sensory boxes, designed to de-escalate stressful encounters for individuals on the Autism spectrum.
Students are also encouraged to pursue internships with local agencies such as the New York State Police, Orange County Victim Services, and Treatment Alternatives for Safe Communities (TASC). These experiences, combined with a senior capstone project, ensure that graduates are prepared for diverse careers in forensic psychology, probation, parole, and victim advocacy, or for further pursuit of law school.
Mount, D’Youville announce interview pathway for medical school
Mount Saint Mary College and D’Youville University College of Medicine (DYU-COM) have recently signed a cooperative agreement that provides a direct pathway for Mount pre-medical students to pursue their Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine (DO) degrees.
The new agreement creates an opportunity for up to three Mount students to be nominated annually by their faculty to receive a guaranteed interview with DYU-COM. Located in Buffalo, N.Y., DYU-COM is dedicated to preparing graduates to serve patients across diverse settings while addressing the future needs of healthcare. Through this agreement, nominated Mount students will have the chance to showcase their clinical potential to a program known for its hands-on training, strong mentorship, and deep commitment to community health.
To be eligible for the guaranteed interview, students must satisfy DYU-COM’s specific admission requirements and be nominated by Mount faculty members. While the interview serves as a significant advantage in the competitive medical school landscape, it does not guarantee admission. Students must still meet all rigorous academic and professional standards set by the D’Youville University College of Medicine.
This partnership aligns with the Mount’s longstanding commitment to health and wellness. By providing students with internships, externships, and clinical hours in hospital settings and direct paths to graduate education, the Mount continues to bridge the gap between classroom theory and professional practice.
Students interested in the D’Youville University pathway are encouraged to meet with their academic advisors to discuss the nomination process and ensure they are meeting all necessary benchmarks.
Knight Program fast-tracks college success for local high schoolers
The college experience is starting early!
Through the innovative Knight Program, the Mount is bringing its classrooms directly into the hallways of nearly 20 high schools across the region.
The Knight Program has proven popular, and has grown exponentially in just a few years. By offering college-level coursework in local high schools, the Mount is providing a low-cost jump start on bachelor’s degrees while simultaneously meeting high school graduation requirements for more than 1,700 local students – a number that’s steadily climbing.
The Knight Program’s footprint extends across the Hudson Valley, serving public and private institutions. Partnered school districts include Beacon, Burke, Chester, Goshen High School, Lakeland School District, Middletown, Millbrook Central School District, Newburgh, Oakwood Friends School, Orange-Ulster BOCES, Our Lady of Lourdes, Pine Bush, Port Jervis, Suffern, Valley Central, Wallkill, and Warwick Valley High School.
“The Knight Program is a cornerstone of our commitment to the Hudson Valley,” said Evan Merkhofer, Vice President for Academic Affairs at the Mount. “Bringing a Mount Saint Mary College education into local high schools not only helps students save time and money, but also ensures that they possess the confidence and skills required to thrive in the next chapter of their lives.”
By engaging in high-level coursework, participants develop essential academic life skills – including critical thinking, time management, and effective study habits – that significantly ease the transition to the demands of a four-year institution. Students also gain a valuable preview of college culture, expectations, and academic expectations, allowing them to graduate high school with a college transcript and a mindset to match.
If you’re a high school teacher or administrator who would like to learn more about the Knight Program, email knightprogram@msmc.edu or visit www.msmc.edu/knight-program
