Students at the Illinois Institute of Technology will soon be able to pursue a degree in artificial intelligence, making the school one of the first in the country to offer a degree solely focused on AI.
Illinois Tech announced Thursday that students will be able to earn a Bachelor of Science in Artificial Intelligence starting this fall. Illinois Tech is the first university in the Midwest to offer an undergrad degree in AI, the school said.
Many colleges offer AI tracks within computer science degrees, such as the University of Illinois, Northwestern University and the University of Michigan. But Illinois Tech's program is specifically focused on providing learning in artificial intelligence, giving students the tools they need to succeed in the growing field.
“AI is the future. We want to train a workforce that can tackle the challenges and opportunities of the future, which includes AI and machine learning,” Aron Culotta, the director of Illinois Tech’s Bachelor of Science in Artificial Intelligence program, said in a statement.
Carnegie Melon was the first school to introduce an AI undergrad program in 2018.
Illinois Tech said the degree will prepare students for careers in software development, drug discovery, autonomous vehicles, robotics and other sectors that rely on AI.
Artificial intelligence has the potential to dramatically change how we work and live. But there are major societal concerns with the rise of AI, as many fear the new technology could be a threat to humanity. Elon Musk has said AI is humanity’s “biggest existential threat,” and Steven Hawking once said development of full AI "could spell the end of the human race."
Illinois Tech's AI curriculum "deeply integrates ethical thinking" and will "emphasize ethics and social impact," the school says.
“The growing impact of AI on society demands that graduates are capable and ethical collaborators, able to ensure the safe and effective adoption of new technologies across domains,” Culotta added.
