University of Utah board approves state’s first AI bachelor’s degree
The University of Utah’s board of trustees this month approved the creation of a bachelor’s degree in artificial intelligence.
The program, if approved by the Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities, would make it the first such program offered in the state, according to KSL.com.
In a press release, Mary Hall, director of the university’s computing school, said Utah has “always been at the forefront of computing education. In 1964, we were one of the first programs in the nation to offer a B.S. in Computer Science. Utah faculty were pioneers in computing technologies, from the internet to computer graphics, and beyond. It’s imperative to train students to develop and manage the technology that has disrupted all aspects of society.”
The program would offer computer science and mathematics courses before including AI material, such as lessons on machine learning, data analysis, natural language processing, computer vision and robotics.
Such offerings have seemingly become de rigueur among higher education institutions, which are perpetually seeking to adapt to workforce and cultural trends. A New York Times report last December found that AI courses are increasingly popular among students. And universities have responded by making such courses available; among the recent additions was a new AI curriculum heading to the University of Dayton, where administrators last April said students will have the choice of two new units: one centered one AI fundamentals and use, and another looking at the ethical and social implications of the technology.
