US colleges push new AI degrees, but program content varies widely

In short: Colleges across the US are rushing to offer AI degrees and certificates, but what students actually study can be very different from school to school.

What's going on

Colleges from North Dakota to New Jersey are branding more programs as “AI.” Some are full bachelor’s and master’s degrees. Others are shorter certificates, minors, or a concentration inside a computer science or data science degree.

In North Dakota, the University of North Dakota says it will launch a Ph.D. in Artificial Intelligence in fall 2025 through its College of Engineering and Mines. A Ph.D. is the most advanced degree and it usually centers on doing original research, not just taking classes.

In New Jersey, several schools now advertise AI programs. Kean University promotes a Bachelor of Science in Artificial Intelligence, described as the state’s first undergraduate AI major. NJIT offers a Master of Science in Artificial Intelligence with a set plan of courses and strict math and programming requirements, like calculus and linear algebra.

What “AI” means can vary a lot. Some programs look like a standard computer science degree with a few machine learning classes. Machine learning is a way to teach computers by showing them many examples, like training a spam filter using lots of emails. Other programs go deeper into math, research, and topics like “trustworthy AI,” meaning how to make AI systems safer and more reliable.

What to watch

Students comparing “AI degrees” may need to look past the name and read the course list. Key clues include the math requirements, whether there is a capstone project or thesis, and whether the program includes ethics and real world impacts.

Source: NYTimes