Bauer Launches Katy Courses

Bauer College is open for business in Katy, offering undergraduate and graduate courses at the University of Houston Katy campus for the first time this fall. 

The new academic offerings will meet many students where they’re at. As C. T. Bauer College of Business Dean Xianjun Geng explains, about 30 percent of UH’s student body has a zip code assigned to Katy. While the courses will cut back on commute times for some students and faculty, it also will give them a different educational experience than what is possible online. 

“By having our presence in Katy for students, we are going to be able to serve our existing students with more in-person experiential learning, which is a hallmark of the Bauer experience and a critical way that we serve industry as well,” Geng said. “And at the same time, we can potentially cater to a student population that would otherwise not even consider of UH because of the distance issue.” 

At the undergraduate level this fall, UH students can take Bauer courses in personal finance, entrepreneurship, and management and organizational behavior while in Katy. At the graduate level, the college is offering its popular Healthcare Leadership Certificate, a natural fit for the region, Geng says. 

“We have a lot of forward-looking industries — healthcare, real estate development, supply chain, high-tech, to name a few — within the Katy area,” Geng said. “It's an area with a tremendous amount of potential, and Bauer College looks forward to being a partner in Katy's strategic growth.” 

Located near the corner of Grand Parkway and Interstate 10, the University’s Katy campus is a short drive away from Houston’s Energy Corridor, home to some of the city’s largest employers. Proximity to this energy hub is another reason Geng cites as an opportunity for expanded education, especially with the fast-changing nature of the energy landscape. 

“This is an industry that is also going through a tremendous amount of change,” Geng said. “Sustainable energy, energy transition, but also artificial intelligence at this moment is really changing a lot in that industry, and many current workers in that industry need to either reskill or to upskill.” 

As Katy continues to develop, there is a desire from the business community for education to expand as well. Bauer leadership will work with businesses in Katy and the surrounding area to support growth in the region, Geng said. 

“We want to be a strong partner that can elevate both the business in that region serving the student population, and building an even stronger tie,” he added. “This university serves this city, and this business school intends to do everything to make the business stronger in the Katy area.” 

Fall enrollment is now open. Interested students can browse all of Bauer’s upcoming courses in Katy through their PeopleSoft account.