ST. LEO – Saint Leo University is entering the 2026-27 academic year with expanded academic programs, new student resources and a continued focus on becoming the region’s most workforce-oriented university.
“After almost one year serving this community, I am encouraged by the progress we are making and the momentum building across Saint Leo University,” said Jim Burkee, university president. “As we begin a new academic year, our focus is clear: We are preparing students not just for their first job, but for the future of work. We are developing the next generation of leaders, who bring our core values and ethics to every challenge.”
Nearly 850 new students will begin the fall semester at Saint Leo’s residential campus. Classes begin Aug. 24.
Academic innovation
For the 2026-27 academic year, Saint Leo University is introducing new undergraduate and graduate programs in health care, technology, business, criminal justice, education and ministry.
The new offerings, along with revamped experiential learning opportunities, are designed to prepare students for high-demand careers and meet the changing needs of employers.
The university recently received $1.8 million in state funding to expand its cybersecurity and nursing programs. Dewey and Becky Mitchell donated $1 million to launch the Derek J. Mitchell Collegiate Recovery Program, which is currently accepting applicants with the first cohort expected to begin in spring 2027.
Arnie and Lauren Bellini donated $2 million to develop an accelerated graduate program designed to prepare executives for leadership roles in cybersecurity, also planned for spring 2027.
“At the heart of everything we do is a commitment to helping students thrive in a work environment that looks nothing like it did even five years ago,” said Bryan DePoy, provost and vice president of academic affairs. “We’re strengthening the programs our students already count on while introducing new ones, bringing emerging technologies into the classroom and reimagining what experiential learning looks like from day one of a student’s time at Saint Leo University.”
New academic programs for 2026-27 include:
College of Arts, Sciences, and Allied Services
- The college is introducing a new Bachelor of Arts in Medical Humanities with a Pre-DPT concentration and a new Master of Education in Exceptional Student Education: Autism Spectrum Disorder Practices and Intervention.
- Saint Leo also is expanding its forensic science education through a forensics specialization within the Bachelor of Arts in Criminology and a new Doctor of Criminal Justice in Forensic Science.
- A new online Graduate Certificate in Pneumatology and Renewal Leadership provides additional opportunities for graduate-level study in ministry and theology.
College of Health Sciences
- The new Direct Entry Master of Science in Nursing offers a hybrid format for career changers holding a non-nursing bachelor’s degree.
- New degree programs include a Bachelor of Science in Exercise and Sport Science and an asynchronous online Master of Social Work.
- A Doctor of Social Work is planned for spring 2027, pending approval by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges.
Tapia College of Business and Technology
- The newly merged Tapia College of Business and Technology is expanding its offerings with a new Bachelor of Science in Business Analytics, a Bachelor of Science in Finance and a minor in artificial intelligence.
- Other new programs include advanced MBA Advantage tracks in finance and economics and a Master of Science in Applied Business and Leadership that can be applied toward Saint Leo’s existing Doctor of Business Administration.
- A new Cybersecurity Executive Track is planned to launch in spring 2027.
Visit saintleo.edu/academics/academic-affairs/catalogs to view the 2026-27 Academic Catalog.
Connecting classroom learning to careers
As employers increasingly seek AI and digital skills, Saint Leo is putting its university-wide AI training initiative into practice this fall in partnership with IBM. AI and digital fluency training through IBM SkillsBuild is being embedded in every academic program. Saint Leo aims to become the first university in the nation to fully integrate the SkillsBuild platform across all areas of study.
The university also is expanding experiential learning through internships, externships, clinical experiences and employer partnerships, giving students opportunities to apply classroom learning in professional settings.
“We’re also rethinking how we support students beyond the classroom,” DePoy said. “Plans are underway to bring career services, workforce engagement and academic advising together into one integrated model, so students get consistent guidance connecting what they’re learning to where they’re headed.”
The university continues to invest in campus spaces, resources and programs that support students.
LEO 360, a centralized hub for student-facing services, brings together academic advising, accessibility services, career and workforce engagement, the registrar and student financial services in one convenient location.
Other improvements for 2026-27 include new gathering spaces, a new campus store and enhanced dining options.
By the Numbers
- Nearly 850 new students at University Campus
- 10+ new academic programs
- $4.8 million in recent state and donor investments
- 100% of students to receive AI training
