Valley home to first all-digital degree program in U.S.

​​​​BROWNSVILLE – The new University of Texas-Rio Grande Valley (UTRGV) is making headlines, as it becomes the first university in the nation to offer an all-digital degree program.

Students enrolled in the school’s biomedical sciences degree program will pay a $350 fee each semester that includes use of an iPad and all content needed for coursework.

All of the course content is accessible to students on their iPads via a mobile application. The app, TEx (Total Educational Experience) provides online access and support to students from both faculty members and "success coaches" and is designed to keep students on a structured academic track.

The digital program was a natural fit for the biomedical sciences program, according to UT System officials. With UTRGV preparing to open its medical school, they already were working on structuring educational avenues that would lead to a student competency-based track to medical school.

If successful and early indicators are that it will be, the program could become a blueprint for similar programs in other universities throughout the country. It could also lead to a new educational model for meeting the academic and personal needs of students seeking careers in high-demand industries.​