Whether you just graduated college or are already deep into your career, you can benefit from a graduate degree. The advantages are obvious: Employees with a master's or doctoral degree can expect higher salaries compared to employees who only have an undergraduate degree. In a highly competitive job market, a graduate degree shows you've acquired the skills employers want and helps you stand out in a sea of other applicants. The big question is: What graduate school should you pick?
The University of the Incarnate Word gives you the chance to earn a graduate degree that will elevate your future, whether you want to find a new career you'll love or level up the career you already have. Here are five reasons why a master's or doctoral degree at UIW will help you unlock your potential and embark on the next step of your career journey.
1. UIW graduate degrees give you an advantage in rapidly growing Texas industries.
Location, location, location: When choosing a college for your graduate degree, consider the local job market and how the school's graduate programs align with the opportunities in the area. Luckily, San Antonio is flourishing in many 21st-century industries, including bioscience, healthcare, IT and green technologies — and UIW is right in the middle of it all.
Graduates with any of UIW's business or organizational-related graduate degrees will find bountiful opportunities nearby in the San Antonio area's vibrant market. Students who graduate with a Master of Business Administration or Professional Master of Business Administration will be prepared to thrive in San Antonio's growing business environment, which has been ranked among the top 10 fastest-growing in the nation. The marketing MBA is perfect for the many local startups, and finance MBA graduates can find a home in the city's expanding financial sector, which includes headquarters for both USAA and Frost Bank.
Furthermore, you can find more than 400 headquarters and major operations for global companies in the San Antonio metropolitan area. As you can imagine, large, complex organizations will benefit from someone with the organizational knowledge gained in UIW's Master of Science in Organizational Development and Leadership or the Master of Arts in Administration.
UIW also offers the city's only MBA and M.S. in Sport Management, ideal in a state that loves sports like no other.
You will find plenty of opportunities with a Master of Health Administration from UIW as well. One out of every six San Antonians is employed in either the biosciences or health industry, which contributes approximately $42 billion to the regional economy. The thriving healthcare sector includes the University Health System, CHRISTUS Health System, and the South Texas Medical Center, among many others, and they all need knowledgeable employees to function.
Students who graduate with a Doctor of Philosophy in Education will also find abundant opportunities in San Antonio. Local school districts, nonprofit organizations and other institutions continue to establish schools in the area, which can provide a home for would-be administrators. Moreover, the degree equips students with skills and credentials useful for those who would like to effectively lead organizations and innovate within various enterprises. Doctoral students not only get the chance to find a career, but the opportunity to grow with the city.
2. UIW graduate and doctoral programs emphasize hands-on learning.
Real-life experience is the best teacher of all, and graduate programs at the University of the Incarnate Word offer many opportunities for hands-on learning. The MBA program at UIW gives you access to a finance lab with professional-level technology, including a Bloomberg Terminal (in fact, students can get Bloomberg Certified at UIW, conferring a big advantage to graduates who want to work in finance — especially on Wall Street). The Startup Challenge lets participants design a business model with real stakes, and in your Capstone Experience, you'll work directly with a business or nonprofit in the community.
Other graduate programs at UIW embrace the same philosophy. The Master of Science in Accounting program gives you the option to take a Tax track or an Assurance and Financial Reporting track, so you can focus on more specific, concrete accounting-related career paths. As part of the MSA program, you can obtain the credentials you need to sit for the Certified Public Accountant licensing exam. Students also get free access to Becker CPA Exam Review prep materials (those who use the organization's materials report a pass rate of 94 percent).
In the Master of Communication Arts program, you not only learn from well-connected faculty, but can also work with the Emmy-award-winning UIWtv. In the Master of Game Development program, you create games and projects of your own — essential for an industry where employers want to see your work even more than they want to see your degree.
The Master of Science in Applied Pharmaceutical Sciences centers hands-on learning in their curricula as well. In addition to an educational approach that emphasizes real-life situations, the Applied Pharmaceutical Sciences master's includes an internship that offers students practical experience. Similarly, those with an M.S. in Vision Science learn by serving the community at the Bowden Eye Care and Health Center, which provides healthcare to underserved members of the San Antonio community.
Oftentimes, UIW graduate programs draw strength from other resources available at the University. UIW's strong athletics program dovetails with both the Master of Science in Athletic Training and the Master of Science in Kinesiology. Both programs provide opportunities to work closely with some of UIW's 23 NCAA Division I teams in 14 sports. Furthermore, students benefit from collaborating with several of UIW's five health professions schools.
3. UIW makes it easy to connect with current and future professionals in your chosen field.
Finding a career that you're passionate about often requires more than acquiring the necessary skills; it often comes down to who you know. Some experts suggest that up to 80 percent of jobs are secured through networking.
Fortunately, UIW's small class sizes make it easy to network with the University's faculty. For example, students in UIW's Master of Game Development program can build connections with professors who are either former or current professionals in the industry, including talent from Sony and Naughty Dog — two places that have both become homes for many UIW graduates.
UIW graduate students can also access the networks and local connections built by the University. MHA students can get plugged into the school's Center for Medical Tourism as well as UIW's five health professions schools. The University of the Incarnate Word also shares a deep relationship with the CHRISTUS Health System, which operates five full-service hospitals and 600 centers and works with 50,000 associates and 15,000 physicians. Those who enroll in the M.S. in Nursing Leadership similarly benefit from UIW's many healthcare connections.
Students interested in the Doctor of Philosophy of Education can also take advantage of UIW's wide network of schools, as well as leverage the benefit of the many degree concentrations, including Adult Education, Social Innovation and Entrepreneurship, Organizational Leadership and Evaluation, and Student Services and Higher Education Administration.
Students in the Master of Arts in Pastoral Ministry program can build unique connections with the many Catholic organizations that work with the University of the Incarnate Word. Graduates from the program find many opportunities to serve and make an impact on the world. They can also work with one of several UIW-affiliated Catholic schools, find their calling among the many charities that work with the University's Ettling Center for Civic Leadership and Sustainability, or find a parish or other religious organization in which they can minister. Many people who graduate with UIW's M.A. in Pastoral Ministry also find work in other religiously affiliated programs, both Catholic and those of other faiths.
4. UIW's flexible graduate programs are perfect for the working student.
If you already have a busy life with a full-time job, a family and other obligations, you may think it will be too difficult to add one more thing to your plate. Regardless of the situation, the UIW Mission is committed to providing access to higher education for everyone, no matter their circumstances.
Many of the Broadway campus graduate programs meet once per week in eight- or 16-week terms, while others also offer hybrid classes. Summer classes mean that you can get a master's degree within two or three years. Students driven to complete a degree can complete a 30-credit-hour master's degree in 10 months.
Graduate programs in UIW's School of Professional Studies, which includes the Professional MBA, the Master of Arts in Administration, the Master of Arts in Criminal Justice and the Master of Science in Data Analytics, are specifically geared toward the working professional. Classes are 100% online, and because of the accelerated courses, 50% of graduate students earn their degree in two years or less.
The dedicated staff also understands the challenges faced by graduate students, particularly those from underserved populations. At UIW, you'll have the resources you need to complete your journey to a graduate degree without sacrificing your professional and personal commitments.
5. Military students have a special home in UIW graduate programs.
Located in the heart of San Antonio, the University of the Incarnate Word embraces the spirit of the city — and that includes its identity as Military City USA.
Approximately 21 percent of UIW students are connected to the military. Furthermore, the University has received numerous accolades for its service to active-duty servicemembers, veterans and military dependents. Such honors include the "Best of the Best” award from U.S. Veterans Magazine and being ranked among the Best Colleges for Military and Veterans by Abound. UIW was also ranked No. 1 in the U.S. in 2023 on the Military Times official "Best for Vets Colleges” list!
The University of the Incarnate Word is a Yellow Ribbon school, which means that the University works with the Department of Veterans Affairs to fund the tuition costs and fees that exceed the yearly national cap. UIW will match half of the VA contribution and fund 50% of any tuition or fees left over for eligible students.
Many of UIW's graduate programs work well with military-related careers. The U.S. military is particularly looking for qualified athletic trainers — and what better way to prove one's mastery over the subject than with an M.S. in Athletic Training? The large military presence in San Antonio also offers opportunities for those with graduate degrees in many of our programs, useful for those who want to enter the civil service.
Military students also benefit from UIW's Military and Veteran Center, staffed by military-connected staff who know how to navigate life as a military student; they ensure that those who served will feel right at home at UIW.
Picking and entering a graduate program doesn't have to be difficult! The UIW Graduate Admissions team wants to make the process as easy as possible. Reach out by email at gradadmissions@uiwtx.edu, call (210) 829-6005 or text (210) 899-6181, and someone will be happy to address any questions or concerns. Remember, the support continues after enrollment. UIW wants its students to complete their educational journey and achieve their goals.