UTSA, Tec de Monterrey welcome inaugural students to binational cyber program

AUGUST 27, 2024 — One master’s program. Two universities. Two countries. Two degrees. Students from UTSA and Tecnológico de Monterrey (Tec de Monterrey) in Mexico are swapping campuses, as the two universities jointly launch a unique new degree program this fall.

The collaborative program offers students the distinctive opportunity to take high-quality courses at both institutions and earn two degrees: a Master of Science in Information Technology with a concentration in cybersecurity from UTSA and a Master in Cybersecurity from Tec de Monterrey.

The program will enable students to advance their cybersecurity knowledge and skillset through a binational lens, giving them a competitive edge to enter the workforce with a greater understanding of cybersecurity in the United States and in Mexico.

“The double degree plays to the strengths of each university and allows the students to work on projects that are international and receive classes from faculty with different areas of expertise, and industry experts.”

“UTSA and Tec de Monterrey have a long-standing relationship in terms of collaboration for research and for teaching,” said Raymond Choo, the Cloud Technology Endowed Professor at UTSA. “With this specific program, students will spend their first year at their home institution and their second year at their host institution. At the end of the two years, students will have two degrees. It's a two-for-the-price-of-one opportunity.”

The graduate students enrolling in the master’s program must complete 18 hours of required courses at UTSA, 18 hours of courses at Tec de Monterrey and a research project that will be jointly advised by faculty members from both institutions. Students will learn how to protect critical data and systems, gather and examine digital evidence, perform security risk assessments, develop secure software and protect computer networks.

Courses in digital forensics, cyber law and strategic management of information technology are among several offered as part of the program. 

Jorge Rodríguez-Ruiz, Tec de Monterrey’s program director of the master’s in cybersecurity, said both institutions share a reputation for excellence and quality education, and this program stands to benefit students on both sides of the border.

“Cybersecurity is an area that is growing at an increased rate worldwide with more companies getting attacked each day,” Rodríguez-Ruiz said. “Since there is a need for more professionals in the area, it is necessary to join efforts so we can cover more ground. The double degree plays to the strengths of each university and allows the students to work on projects that are international and receive classes from faculty with different areas of expertise, and industry experts, which strengthens their knowledge and capabilities.”

Jorge Maa, who has been working toward his master’s degree in cybersecurity at Tec de Monterrey, will spend the fall semester learning at UTSA.

“I’ve seen and believe that UTSA is a very accomplished school regarding cybersecurity and new emerging technologies, which is something that will definitely help me a lot in both my personal and professional growth, making me a more complete professional with better tools to make a positive change in the tech and security industry,” he said.

Maa, who will be graduating from Tec de Monterrey in Fall 2025, understands the importance of the partnership between the two institutions. He notes that San Antonio is known as a multicultural city. He also notes its proximity to Mexico.

“The interaction in both the classroom and outside of it is a really enriching experience that contributes to both the personal and professional growth of students due to the exchange of ideas and principles of every culture,” Maa said. “This ends up adding and extra layer of experience and value to the program since it helps to open students’ minds and is something that definitely needs to continue to be explored.” 

The new dual master’s degree program is one example of the intentional investments that UTSA is making to improve the economic prosperity and quality of life of residents in the South Texas Triangle, a region that includes 47 Texas counties, extending from Greater San Antonio south to the U.S.-Mexico border, and includes the Mexican states of Nuevo Leon and Tamaulipas.

“UTSA’s partnership with Tec de Monterrey is central to our role as a competitive economic leader within the South Texas Triangle, which also contributes to U.S. economic competitiveness,” said Lisa Montoya, UTSA vice provost for global initiatives.

UTSA and Tec de Monterrey have enjoyed a relationship dating back to the first affiliate agreement signed between the institutions in 1997. UTSA’s current collaborations with Tec de Monterrey span three UTSA colleges, 10 academic departments, the university’s core research labs, the School of Data Science and the UTSA Institute of Economic Development.

The two institutions’ joint work addresses important questions in data science, cybersecurity, quantum, health and biology, advanced materials, and economic development. Through their partnership, the institutions are priming the next generation of leaders in these fields in both the U.S. and Mexico.

“Because of our long history of working so well together, this program was a natural progression,” said Choo. “It will enhance and strengthen the collaboration between both institutions while providing international exposure for students as well as potentially benefiting the workforce from both countries.”

— Michelle Gaitan