AI has made headlines regularly lately, with developments seeming to come at breakneck speed. From creating images to generating text to even creating fully animated videos, it remains to be seen just how impactful AI will be in years to come. We’ve written before about the impact of AI in the college admissions process, and we aren’t alone in recognizing its potential.
UPenn recently announced a new major for their School of Engineering, one focused explicitly on Artificial Intelligence. In this article we’re going to cover what this major offers, how to apply to it, and whether or not other schools are going to follow their lead in introducing programs explicitly to study AI (many schools already have courses on AI, but we are looking specifically for majors or minors in this field). Let’s get started!
UPenn’s Bachelor in Science in Engineering in Artificial Intelligence
This new program is jointly administered by the Department of Electrical and Systems Engineering and Computer and Information Science. This program will be offered for the first time in the fall of 2024, with existing students wishing to transfer into it being able to apply to do so. Students applying to enter Penn beginning in 2025 will be able to apply to the major directly.
The curriculum for the major makes sense. It requires a base level of math and computer science knowledge, so that you will able to grasp the fundamental concepts which govern the creation and actions of AI systems. On top of that and elective courses, you can also choose from among the following concentrations:
- Robotics
- Vision/Language
- Machine Learning
- Data/Society
- Health/Systems
There is no separate senior course for AI majors. Instead, seniors wishing to take a senior design course embed themselves in another Penn Engineering major. The goal here is for students to see how AI applies to other areas of engineering, and how the concepts interrelate.
Applying to the Major
UPenn admits students by college; so all students wishing to partake of the AI major must apply to the College of Engineering. In addition, Penn Engineering majors admit directly to the major, so you should apply to AI if you are interested. While it is possible to change majors within a school, it is difficult to change schools into Engineering, since it is so popular.
While you do not need to have prior experience with AI to apply, we recommend showing some enthusiasm for computer science. Taking coding classes at your high school, participating in extracurriculars related to programming, or pursuing the field of computer science in other ways is the best way to prepare for this major. Admissions officers want to see a clear passion for your intended field of study, and high school is the best time to begin this.
Finally, if you have taken a CS course in high school, you should consider getting a letter of recommendation from your CS teacher, especially if you have a good relationship with them. They can speak directly to your strengths within the field, and how your passions shape your interests.
Other AI Programs
While Penn is the first Ivy League school to introduce an AI major, they are not the only college to realize the potential of this new field. Here are some other college programs which allow you to explore this field.
Carnegie Mellon University
CMU offers a major (and an additional major, and a minor) in AI. They were the first school to offer such a program, and have the most developed program. You should apply to the School of Computer Science if you are interested; you will be able to select the AI major once you are there. The curriculum again focuses on math and CS, as those are the core of what AI requires.
Purdue University
Purdue offers a BA in AI through their College of Liberal Arts. This was introduced in 2022, with the aim of introducing students to this new and growing field. Purdue admits directly by major, so students interested in pursuing AI should apply directly to the program. You are able to apply to transfer to the major once you are at purdue, but this is not guaranteed.
University of Florida
While UF does not have a designated major in AI, they do offer an AI Certificate, which may be done in addition to whichever major you are seeking. You must apply for this once you are a student at UF. The certificate requires three courses, two on AI generally, and a third determined by your home college at UF. You should check with your advisor before applying for the certificate.
University of Southern California
The Marshall School of Business, in coordination with the Viterbi School of Engineering has begun offering a combined program: an Artificial Intelligence for Business BS. The goal of the program is to give students the technical background needed to understand AI, along with the business acumen needed to bring these ideas to fruition. Students will take courses in programming, data science, machine learning, finance, accounting, and business. Students interested in the program should apply through USC Marshall, as USC admits by college.
MIT
Introduced in 2022, MIT offers the Artificial Intelligence and Decision Making major. This is offered through its Electrical Engineering and Computer Science school, and gives students a broad background on the math and programming they need to understand the fundamentals of machine learning. Fifteen total courses are required to complete the major. MIT does not admit by school or major, but if you do apply for this, you should demonstrate your skill with and passion for computer science.
Drake University
Drake University’s College of Arts and Sciences offers both a BA and a BS in AI, along with a minor. AI even has its own department at Drake, rather than being part of a larger cohort. Students gaining a degree in AI may take a concentration within that, with areas of focus in business, the humanities, and computer science. This program is a new offering for students who entered Drake in 2023.
Illinois Institute of Technology
IIT offers a BS in Artificial Intelligence as part of the Computer Science department, in the College of Computing. The major is meant to give students a firm technical understanding of the math and programming which underlie AI, and explore the applications of this field. You must be an IIT student to enroll in this major; you should speak with your academic advisor if you are interested in doing so.
Is an Artificial Intelligence Major Right for You?
Not all schools have AI majors yet, but they are becoming increasingly popular; most of the ones which do exist were introduced in the past few years. It’s easy to see why. This is an exciting field, and universities are keen to be on the forefront of development and research in it.
Of course, you don’t need to major in AI to get a job related to AI. After all, none of the people innovating in the field currently have a degree in AI specifically. Whether or not you should major in AI depends on your career aspirations. If you are certain this is the subset of computer science you are interested in pursuing, then it is a great choice of major for you.
Majoring in computer science, data science, or related fields (as we explore in our article on computer science majors) can also go a long way towards preparing you for a career in artificial intelligence. That said, if this field continues to be as fast growing as it is, we expect many more colleges to introduce AI majors in the future.
Final Thoughts
The future is an unknown country, but it seems increasingly clear that AI and its applications are going to have some role in it. If you want a place in shaping those applications, then majoring in AI is a good first step. We hope that this article has given you a solid introduction to the available AI majors, and what each of them can offer you.
Of course, applying to college, even to a very new major, can be quite difficult. If you want advice on how best to prepare in high school for an AI major, or how best to craft your application when applying to these programs, schedule a free consultation today to learn how we can help you. We have a long history of helping students achieve their educational goals, and are always happy to hear from you.
