The Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board (THECB) marketable skills initiative is part of the state’s 60x30TX plan. 60x30TX was launched in 2015 with a clear and bold vision: to be among the highest-achieving states in the country. 60x30TX is a roadmap to help Texas reach that future through higher education.

60x30TX has four goals to achieve by 2030:

60×30: EDUCATED POPULATION

At least 60% of Texans ages 25-34 will have a certificate or degree. The updated strategic plan, Building a Talent Strong Texas, raises the bar even higher by expanding the goal to include 25-64-year-old Texans.

COMPLETION

At least 550,000 students in that year will complete a certificate, associate, bachelor’s, or master’s from an institution of higher education in Texas.

MARKETABLE SKILLS

All graduates from Texas public institutions of higher education will have completed programs with identified marketable skills.

STUDENT DEBT

Undergraduate student loan debt will not exceed 60% of first-year wages for graduates of Texas public institutions.

Marketable Skills

Marketable skills include interpersonal, cognitive, and applied skill areas, are valued by employers, and are primary or complementary to a major. Marketable skills are acquired by students through education, including curricular, co-curricular, and extracurricular activities. These skills can include both hard skills (technical or discipline-specific) and soft skills. The marketable skills goal was designed to help students articulate their skills to employers as students who can effectively market their skills to potential employers can secure employment that pays competitively.

Examples of Hard Skills

  • Project Management
  • Computer Programming
  • Web Design
  • Mathematical Problem Solving
  • Financial Analysis
  • Construction Scheduling
  • Curriculum Development

Examples of Soft Skills

  • Interpersonal Skills
  • Communication
  • Conflict Negotiation
  • Teamwork
  • Work Ethic
  • Integrity
  • Adaptability
  • Cultural Competency
  • Time Management

Marketable Skills at PVAMU

Prairie View A&M has identified marketable skills for all of its degree programs in the PVAMU Academic Catalog. For additional information, please visit PVAMU Academic Catalog Academic Programs and Degree Plans and search by college for program-specific marketable skills.