Michigan Technological University will launch a new Bachelor of Science in Artificial Intelligence degree program this fall, making it one of a select group of institutions nationwide to offer a dedicated undergraduate program in the field.
Michigan Tech's new bachelor's degree program in AI doubles down on the University's commitment to what is regarded as the central science of the digital age. Approved by the Michigan Tech Board of Trustees, the degree now moves on to the final stage of the establishment process — review by the Michigan Association of State Universities.
The new Bachelor of Science (BS) signals a broader institutional shift toward AI instrumentalism, a strategy designed to prepare students for an evolving job market where AI is not just a tool, but a fundamental requirement for professional proficiency.
"AI is one of the most — if not the most — disruptive technological advances in a generation," said Dennis Livesay, Dave House Dean of Computing. "As such, we definitely felt the urgency to respond quickly, which we've done. The BS in Artificial Intelligence and the new Applied AI concentration in our Information Technology (IT) degree ensure that Michigan Tech will be training the next generation of AI developers and superusers."
The new 120-credit degree is housed within the College of Computing and administered jointly by the Department of Computer Science and the newly established Department of Data Science. In addition to the AI and IT concentration degrees, a minor in artificial intelligence is also slated to begin this fall.
The groundwork for the bachelor's in AI program was laid by analyzing projected industry needs and benchmarking AI undergraduate degree programs currently being offered by higher education institutions. The degree proposal, which also takes Tech's breadth of expertise and resources into account, was developed by the data science and computer science departments' respective chairs, Laura Brown and Zhenlin Wang, and Yu Cai, associate dean of the College of Computing and associate director of Tech's Institute for Computing and Cybersystems.
"This is a pivotal time in the age of AI," said Wang. "The BS in AI program will prepare our students with the critical technical skills needed in this rapidly evolving field, while fostering interdisciplinary thinking, ethical responsibility, and the ability to translate AI advances into real-world impact."
Brown said Tech's rigorous core curriculum in AI is complemented by technical tracks in theory, data centers, business, human-computer interaction and more.
"The addition of this program to the existing suite of College of Computing degrees means that Michigan Tech offers a complete ecosystem for computing that allows students to find their niche," she said. "We are giving Huskies the freedom to choose how they want to shape their future."
Beyond the Hype: Building Intelligent Systems
Unlike traditional computer science degrees that focus on broad computing foundations, the BS in AI focuses specifically on designing, developing and deploying intelligent systems that can learn, adapt and act.
"We're past the point of asking if AI is 'the next big thing,'" Livesay said. "It is the new electricity — critically woven into the fabric of every industry, every screen, and every interaction."
The curriculum requires 57 credits in AI core studies, including machine learning, deep learning and algorithm design, alongside six credits dedicated specifically to the ethical and social impacts of automated culture.
The launch of the new degree coincides with several other academic additions designed to infuse AI literacy across the University, including a new Applied AI concentration within the BS in Information Technology degree program. Housed in the Department of Applied Computing, the concentration is for students focused on the practical implementation of AI tools in business and industry. A minor in artificial intelligence provides a flexible option for students in other disciplines, such as business, engineering or forestry, to gain a technical foothold in the field.
Livesay said deep AI integration is already taking place in other College of Computing degree programs.
"We are adopting an 'all of the above' strategy with respect to AI," Livesay said. "Yes, we're developing new degrees and degree concentrations, but we're also making sure that every program in the College of Computing has embraced AI and infused it deeply into our other programs."
"Whether through the new AI major, new AI minor, or our new AI concentration in IT, we're making sure every student in the College of Computing — and across campus — is ready to master the digital age."
Degree Designed to Meet Market Demand
The program arrives at a critical time for the computing industry. A job market analysis conducted as part of AI degree program development indicates that while entry-level roles in traditional programming have seen fluctuations, demand for AI-specific skills in U.S. job postings has grown more than threefold over the past decade.
"The launch of our bachelor's degree in AI is the next step in our curriculum to ensure our graduates are at the forefront of the broad landscape of AI innovation," said Brown. "There's a need for professionals to not just use AI systems but understand how to build them. We're excited to empower our students to navigate and shape these innovations."
Livesay expects the new program to follow the successful trajectory of the College's cybersecurity and data science degrees, which are tailored to meet the urgent needs of Michigan's manufacturing, defense and automotive sectors.
"Huskies have never been afraid of new technology; we master it," Livesay added. "We're not training students for the entry-level jobs of today. We're equipping them with the agility and the expertise to lead the evolution of the workplace."
Enrollment for Michigan Tech's BS in Artificial Intelligence will be open for the fall 2026 semester in July. For more information, visit the College of Computing website.
Michigan Technological University is an R1 public research university founded in 1885 in Houghton, and is home to nearly 7,500 students from more than 60 countries around the world. Consistently ranked among the best universities in the country for return on investment, Michigan's flagship technological university offers more than 185 undergraduate and graduate degree programs in science and technology, engineering, computing, forestry, business, health professions, humanities, mathematics, social sciences, and the arts. The rural campus is situated just miles from Lake Superior in Michigan's Upper Peninsula, offering year-round opportunities for outdoor adventure.
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