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ӣ����Ƶ of California on November 26 announced the launch of an innovative new degree program that pairs a liberal arts or pre-professional degree with a Coding and Software Design minor. The program’s curriculum, developed with input from leading employers including Facebook, Lyft, and LinkedIn, is designed to equip graduates with hard and soft skills to compete in an increasingly digital world of work.

“We don’t believe that students should have to choose between the long-term benefits of a college degree and the technical skills that will support career success,” said Dominican President Mary B. Marcy. “This new program will enable our diverse student body to tap the insight and expertise of practitioners at the world’s leading tech firms without sacrificing the holistic student engagement that is a hallmark of a great liberal arts education, and indeed the hallmark of the Dominican Experience.”

According to , “human skills” developed through the liberal arts, such as leadership, communication, and problem-solving, are among the most in-demand in the U.S. labor market. Employers, especially in high-growth industries like software development, are increasingly seeking workers who can combine technical knowledge with the skills traditionally associated with such programs.

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Beginning in 2019, ӣ����Ƶ students, regardless of major, will be able to infuse computer science skills into their educational experience through the new minor program, offered through a unique incubation partnership with Make School, a pioneer in computer science education based in San Francisco. As part of the partnership, a new Bachelor’s degree program in Applied Computer Science will be offered at Make School’s campus in San Francisco.

“For decades, the most successful entrepreneurs, executives, and investors in tech have combined the sort of deep and critical thinking that is the hallmark of a liberal arts education with a command of the latest technical skills,” said Doug Carlston, former ӣ����Ƶ Trustee and founder of iconic software developer Broderbund. “This is about preparing students for careers during a period of unprecedented change, but also ensuring that they have the practical, hard skills to succeed in their first job.”

• Request information about Dominican’s undergraduate programs.

Founded in 1890, ӣ����Ƶ of California offers undergraduate and graduate degrees in the liberal arts, health sciences, education, and business to a highly diverse student body. Through the Dominican Experience, students receive personalized coaching; build meaningful relationships with professors, staff, and community partners; pursue self-directed work; and create digital portfolios that prove they’re ready for what comes next.