UWEC will offer AI majors starting in fall 2025

The Universities of Wisconsin Board of Regents on Feb. 7 approved the bachelor of arts and bachelor of science majors in the department of computer science. The majors will provide students with knowledge and experience in evaluating and applying AI models and algorithms used in industries, says Dr. Michael Carney, interim provost and vice chancellor for academic affairs.

“These majors in artificial intelligence, along with a minor and certificate, are necessary as artificial intelligence becomes integrated into all areas of society,” Carney says.

The programs will evolve from existing campus expertise as all faculty in computer science, along with faculty from affiliated departments, have expertise to teach in the majors and to adapt curriculum as the field of study continually evolves, Carney says.

UW-Eau Claire estimates the program will have 165 students by the end of the fifth year, with 70 students graduating from the program.

Dr. Alex Smith, department chair of computer science and professor of mathematics, says the new AI offerings align with a 2023 report from the U.S. Chamber of Commerce’s Commission on Artificial Intelligence Competitiveness, Inclusion, and Innovation that emphasizes the need to expand AI education across K-12 and higher education to prepare students for developing AI and machine learning systems.

“Artificial intelligence is inherently a multidisciplinary field, requiring expertise across various domains,” Smith says. “These new academic programs will equip our students with the essential skills and knowledge to collaborate effectively in workplace teams dedicated to developing innovative AI-driven solutions to complex challenges.”

The new AI programs are designed to equip students from diverse academic backgrounds such as STEM, business, humanities and social sciences with the “skills and knowledge to navigate and contribute to current and future AI advancements,” Smith says.

Students will take courses in mathematics, data science and AI and choose from coursework in a variety of areas, including computer science, economics, geography, business and philosophy, says Dr. Mary Hoffman, associate vice chancellor for academic affairs and dean of graduate studies. The coursework, along with applied learning experiences like internships and collaborative research, will prepare students to work in a range of fields, thinking critically and creatively about the impact of AI, Hoffman says.

“Applications of artificial intelligence are emerging in almost every field and these majors are designed to put UWEC graduates on the leading edge in understanding, building and implementing those applications,” Hoffman says. “Students with interests in almost any area know they will benefit from a focus on artificial intelligence — that’s why we are not only introducing new majors, but also a new minor and certificate, so almost any student can take coursework in AI.”