UNT launches new Bachelor of Science in AI
UNT launches new Bachelor of Science in AI
Publish Date: 2026-05-22 13:32:00
Source Domain: communityimpact.com
The rise of artificial intelligence is changing how industries operate and how universities prepare students for the workforce. At the University of North Texas, faculty researchers see an economic paradigm shift requiring a complete rethinking of undergraduate education.
This fall, UNT is launching one of the state’s few standalone Bachelor of Science degrees in Artificial Intelligence offered by a public university.
The program expands on the university’s existing Master of Science in AI—Texas’ only standalone program—creating a pipeline from foundational learning to advanced corporate or research roles.
Why an AI degree
For years, AI was part of computer science programs as one piece of a much larger curriculum, but faculty say the field has outgrown that structure.
“When you look at a traditional computer science program, it becomes more difficult to maintain the courses you need for accreditation while also trying to add depth in something as complex as AI,” said David Keathly, associate chair for undergraduate studies in UNT’s Department of Computer Science and Engineering.
Separating AI into its own degree allows UNT to explore machine learning, predictive systems and applied AI development without being constrained by general requirements.
It creates room for interdisciplinary work across campus, supported by UNT’s AI Institute, where computing connects with fields like healthcare, transportation, and social sciences instead of staying siloed inside engineering.University of North Texas College of Engineering students study at Discovery Park. (Ahna Hubnik/UNT)Built around employer needs
The shift toward a dedicated AI degree is driven directly by employers.
“The domain has expanded so much in the last few years,” Clinical Assistant Professor Subharag Sarkar said. “The job requirements nowadays show companies are looking for employees who know how to use these new technologies really well and implement them in day-to-day work.”
That…
