Universities around the world are promoting new undergraduate AI degrees, believing that this specialized training will help graduates stand out and thrive in a competitive tech job market. 

A notable example is the University of Pennsylvania, which recently announced the launch of a B.S.E in AI degree, becoming the first Ivy League university to offer such a program. 

In a recent news release, Penn Engineering noted “an urgent need for innovative, leading-edge AI engineers who understand the principles of AI and how to apply them in a responsible and ethical way.” To address this demand, institutions have been introducing specialized undergraduate degrees in AI to equip students with skills to tackle complex problems in jobs that may not yet exist in fields that may be completely new or revolutionized by the time they graduate.

Which Universities offer AI undergraduate degrees? 

• Carnegie Mellon University (CMU): In 2018, CMU launched the first AI undergraduate degree in the US. Offered by the School of Computer Science, the Bachelor of Science in Artificial Intelligence places emphasis on using AI for social good, such as improving transportation, health care, or education.
  
• University of Pennsylvania: Jointly administered by the Departments of Electrical and Systems Engineering and Computer and Information Science, students of the Bachelor of Science in Engineering in Artificial Intelligence have the choice of the following concentrations: Robotics, Vision/Language, Machine Learning, Data/Society, or Health/Systems.

• University of Southern California (USC): Bachelor of Science in Artificial Intelligence for Business students will take both core business courses at Marshall School of Business and AI-focused classes at the Viterbi School of Engineering, in an interdisciplinary program designed to develop technical, business, and leadership skills.
  
• Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT): Offered by the Department of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science, the Bachelor of Science in Artificial Intelligence and Decision Making aims to equip students with the mathematical and algorithmic foundations to analyze data, model real-world phenomena, and create technology that benefits humanity.
  
• Purdue University: Purdue offers two routes to earn an undergraduate degree in AI: Bachelor of Science in Artificial Intelligence or the Bachelor of Arts in Artificial Intelligence. The former, from the College of Science, is a traditional Computer Science based AI major, whereas the latter, offered within the Philosophy Department, explores fundamental questions about intelligence and ethics while equipping students with the technical skills needed to develop AI systems.

• Oxford University: The Bachelor of Arts in Computer Science and Philosophy prepares future philosophers to effectively engage with AI issues by looking at questions like how far rationality can be mechanized, or whether qualities as autonomy, free will can be shared by inanimate systems

• King’s College London (KCL): One of the first AI-focused courses in the UK, the Bachelor of Science in Artificial Intelligence has a high entry requirement of A*A*A. 

• HKUST: For students who want to stay in Hong Kong, the Bachelor of Engineering in Artificial Intelligence offered by the Department of Computer Science and Engineering at HKUST emphasizes both the theoretical and practical applications of AI, allowing students the flexibility to explore various AI specializations in depth or breadth. 

What if I don’t want to do a full degree in AI?

Some Computer Science programs have a formal track, concentration, or minor to allow you to specialize in AI as part of your wider CS degree. For instance, Stanford has an AI “track”, Georgia Tech has a Computer and Intelligence “thread”; Duke University has an AI and Machine Learning “concentration”; and Case Western Reserve University has an AI specialization. 

How do I pick between a Computer Science and AI degree? 

Both courses cover fundamental mathematical foundations, programming skills (how to make a computer work for you), and data science skills (how to organize data and analyze it for effective use). 

A Computer Science degree will teach you to build computer systems from first principles, where you will develop skills like designing algorithms for optimisation, software architecture, systems engineering, data engineering, and security engineering. 

An AI degree will teach you to build systems that are centered around data, e.g. robotics, computer vision, natural language processing, machine learning, deep learning, but also to go beyond applications of machine learning techniques, including the ethics of the automatic decisions made by these systems. 

Deciding between these two degrees is not straightforward, and success in each program depends on the student’s strengths, personal interests, and academic and professional goals. As an Admissions Consultant, I work with students to navigate this decision and help them identify the path that aligns best with their abilities and aspirations.

How do I prepare to apply to an AI degree? 

Preparing to apply for any of the above will require a strong foundation in mathematics. Prospective students should aim to take the most challenging level of mathematics at school, i.e. A Level Further Maths, IB Math AA HL, and AP BC Calc. 

Engaging with computer science outside of the classroom to further your interest is very important, as well as participating in projects or competitions related to robotics, engineering, and programming to enhance your application and demonstrate your interest and commitment for the field. 

I ensure that my students stay informed about the latest developments in AI by discussing key concepts related to AI ethics, particularly the implications of automated decision-making on fairness. By reading and referring to real-life examples, students gain a deeper understanding of important topics such as algorithmic bias, accountability, the balance between privacy and surveillance, and the necessity of regulation and oversight.

Quantum Prep is an education consultancy that focuses on placing their students at the best colleges or universities. We boast of diverse results. In addition to the traditional rap sheet of prestigious university acceptances, our consultants like to highlight the different paths they have sent students on. All of our students are different; we are proud of our one-on-one tailored approach towards university counselling. Contact us for a complimentary 30-minute initial meeting, where you can get tailored individualized advice on how to put your best foot forward. Read our reviews to see what our clients think of us.

By Emma Keoy, Admissions Consultant

Published 06-09-2024