Beginning in the fall 2026 semester, Alabama A&M University will offer a bachelor’s degree in artificial intelligence. The undergraduate degree is the first of its kind to be offered at an institution in the state of Alabama.
“We are responding to the changing demands of the market,” said Z.T. Deng, dean of the College of Engineering, Technology, and Physical Sciences. “This is the AI age, and if we do not prepare students with strong capabilities, we are not fulfilling our responsibility as an institution.”
Since 2022, Alabama A&M has offered an artificial intelligence concentration within its existing computer science curriculum. Now expanded to a full four-year degree, the artificial intelligence program will include advanced coursework in areas such as deep learning, reinforcement learning, natural language processing, and speech processing, while maintaining a strong emphasis on computing fundamentals and applied problem-solving. Students majoring in artificial intelligence will also develop an understanding of ethical and professional responsibilities in computing.
“I do not believe AI will replace people,” said Dr. Deng. “It will replace those who do not know how to use it. We are training students to understand these systems and to direct them — to tell AI what we want it to do.”
