The University of Utah will be offering the state's first standalone bachelor's degree in artificial intelligence, building on its long history with the field and addressing a significant market demand. The program includes a focus on ethical AI development and is expected to start enrolling students in fall 2026.
A Legacy in Artificial Intelligence
The University of Utah is set to launch the state's first bachelor's degree in artificial intelligence, yet its involvement with AI dates back to 1973. Vivek Srikumar, an associate professor, highlighted the university's foundational course in AI, which covered problem-solving, machine learning, and philosophical issues. This new degree builds on the U's long-standing leadership in emerging technologies and research.
Addressing Market Demand with Comprehensive Curriculum
Driven by a 'huge market demand' for AI professionals, the new 109-credit program at the University of Utah will encompass core areas such as math, computer science, machine learning, data analysis, natural language processing, computer vision, and robotics. A key component of the curriculum, requested by the Academic Senate, will be a course on responsible AI development and its societal, ethical, and philosophical implications, taught with assistance from the College of Humanities.
Utah's AI Education Landscape
This bachelor's degree will be Utah's first standalone program exclusively focused on artificial intelligence. While other institutions like Utah Tech University and Brigham Young University offer master's programs or specializations in AI, and Utah State University and Southern Utah University provide certificates, the U.'s offering fills a gap for undergraduate students seeking a dedicated AI major. The University also recently approved a master’s degree in workplace writing and emergent technologies, which will integrate AI.
Differentiating AI from Data Science
During the approval process, the distinction between the new AI bachelor's and related fields like data science was clarified. Data science focuses on understanding and utilizing data for decision-making, whereas the AI degree is centered on 'creating intelligent systems that can act, predict or assist autonomously.' This clarifies that the new program is not expected to draw students away from existing computer science offerings but rather cater to a distinct specialization.
Workforce Needs and Program Funding
The new degree is deemed 'current and relevant' for the evolving workforce, with the Utah Department of Workforce Services identifying AI as a high-demand field. The department noted 155 new AI-related jobs in Utah in March 2025 and anticipates 2.9% annual growth. The program has garnered support from industry leaders like Qualtrics and L3Harris and will be funded initially through the 2025 Engineering and Computing Initiative and matching university funds, with tuition from enrolled students expected to sustain it after three years.
