UL Lafayette launches Louisiana’s first applied computing Ph.D.

• The University of Louisiana at Lafayette has launched a new Ph.D. program in applied computing and information sciences.
• This program will focus on how users interact with technology and how information moves through organizations.
• It will emphasize practical applications of AI, data science, cybersecurity, and machine learning in business contexts.
• Courses will be offered both on campus and fully online starting in the Fall 2026 semester.

For those interested in a Ph.D. in applied computing and information sciences, the University of Louisiana at Lafayette announced yesterday the launch of the new program. 

According to UL Lafayette, the program is the first of its kind and will prepare students to make strategic, research-based leadership decisions and improve business efficiency. 

“Unlike programs that focus solely on computer science or computer engineering, the applied computing and information sciences program examines technology from a user’s perspective — how people interact with systems and how information moves through organizations,” said Dr. Azmy S. Ackleh, dean of the Ray P. Authement College of Sciences, said. 

The program also will emphasize the practical application of computing technologies, including artificial intelligence, data science, cybersecurity and machine learning, with a focus on organizational and business contexts. 

UL Lafayette’s Graduate School said it is currently accepting applications for the program. Courses are set to begin with the Fall 2026 semester, both on campus and 100% online. 

Dr. Mary Farmer-Kaiser, dean of the Graduate School, said the new Ph.D. program’s online delivery will allow students to enroll from anywhere in the country while maintaining their careers in the field.  

Students complete the same curriculum, work with the same faculty, and meet the same degree requirements whether they attend online or on campus, according to Farmer-Kaiser. The program emphasizes advanced research, project management and problem-solving skills that prepare graduates for careers both inside and outside academia, while allowing working professionals to apply what they learn to real-world challenges, UL Lafayette said. 

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“A Ph.D. is no longer preparation for a single career path,” Farmer-Kaiser said. “It builds the depth of knowledge and transferable skills that are increasingly essential across today’s business, government and nonprofit sectors.” 

Learn more about UL Lafayette’s new applied computing and information sciences Ph.D. program on campus and online.