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University of Utah to Launch States First Bachelors Degree in Artificial Intelligence
In a move that positions Salt Lake City at the forefront of AI education, the University of Utah announced it will offer the state’s first undergraduate degree in artificial intelligence. The program is slated to open for enrollment this fall, pending final approval from the Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities, the accrediting body that oversees the university’s degree offerings.
The decision was approved by the university’s board of trustees in a unanimous vote. The announcement followed a presentation by Associate Professor Vivek Srikumar of the Kahlert School of Computing, who highlighted the university’s long history in AI education. Srikumar showed the board a photograph of the university’s 1973 course catalog, which listed a class numbered 667. The catalog description noted that the course covered “problem solving, theorem proving, question answering, machine learning, pattern recognition, game playing, philosophical and social issues.” The presentation underscored that the university has taught AI concepts for nearly five decades.
The new degree will be the first of its kind in Utah. While the university has offered courses that touch on AI topics, this is the first time it will provide a dedicated, standalone bachelor’s program focused on the field. The program will be housed within the university’s College of Engineering, and it will draw on faculty expertise from the Kahlert School of Computing.
The university is a public research institution founded in 1850 and located in Salt Lake City. It is the flagship university of the Utah System of Higher Education and is classified as an R1 research university. The institution has a history of pioneering work in computer science and related disciplines.
The board’s approval of the new major is a formal step in the university’s process for adding new degree programs. After the board’s vote, the university must receive final sign‑off from the Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities. Once accredited, students will be able to register for the AI major beginning in the fall semester of 2026.
The announcement was reported by Courtney Tanner in the Salt Lake Tribune and published through the Utah News Collaborative, a partnership of news organizations that cover statewide news.
The new program is expected to provide students with a curriculum that covers foundational AI topics, including machine learning, natural language processing, computer vision, and robotics. It will also address ethical, social, and philosophical considerations that accompany the deployment of AI systems. The curriculum will be designed to prepare graduates for roles in research, industry, and public service.
The university’s decision to add an AI major follows a broader trend of higher‑education institutions expanding AI offerings. However, the University of Utah’s program is unique in that it is the first undergraduate AI degree in the state.
The board’s unanimous vote signals strong institutional support for the program. The university’s leadership has indicated that the new major will be part of its ongoing commitment to advancing research and education in emerging technologies.
Students interested in the program should monitor the university’s website for updates on accreditation status and registration deadlines. The program’s launch will be a milestone for Utah’s higher‑education landscape and for the broader AI community.
The University of Utah’s AI degree will be the first undergraduate program of its kind in the state, and it will be the first to be offered by a public research university in Utah. The program’s launch will provide a new pathway for students interested in pursuing careers in AI and related fields.
The university’s AI program will be the first undergraduate AI degree in Utah, and it will be the first to be offered by a public research university in the state. The program’s launch will be a milestone for Utah’s higher‑education landscape and for the broader AI community.
The decision was approved by the university’s board of trustees in a unanimous vote. The announcement followed a presentation by Associate Professor Vivek Srikumar of the Kahlert School of Computing, who highlighted the university’s long history in AI education. Srikumar showed the board a photograph of the university’s 1973 course catalog, which listed a class numbered 667. The catalog description noted that the course covered “problem solving, theorem proving, question answering, machine learning, pattern recognition, game playing, philosophical and social issues.” The presentation underscored that the university has taught AI concepts for nearly five decades.
The new degree will be the first of its kind in Utah. While the university has offered courses that touch on AI topics, this is the first time it will provide a dedicated, standalone bachelor’s program focused on the field. The program will be housed within the university’s College of Engineering, and it will draw on faculty expertise from the Kahlert School of Computing.
The university is a public research institution founded in 1850 and located in Salt Lake City. It is the flagship university of the Utah System of Higher Education and is classified as an R1 research university. The institution has a history of pioneering work in computer science and related disciplines.
The board’s approval of the new major is a formal step in the university’s process for adding new degree programs. After the board’s vote, the university must receive final sign‑off from the Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities. Once accredited, students will be able to register for the AI major beginning in the fall semester of 2026.
The announcement was reported by Courtney Tanner in the Salt Lake Tribune and published through the Utah News Collaborative, a partnership of news organizations that cover statewide news.
The new program is expected to provide students with a curriculum that covers foundational AI topics, including machine learning, natural language processing, computer vision, and robotics. It will also address ethical, social, and philosophical considerations that accompany the deployment of AI systems. The curriculum will be designed to prepare graduates for roles in research, industry, and public service.
The university’s decision to add an AI major follows a broader trend of higher‑education institutions expanding AI offerings. However, the University of Utah’s program is unique in that it is the first undergraduate AI degree in the state.
The board’s unanimous vote signals strong institutional support for the program. The university’s leadership has indicated that the new major will be part of its ongoing commitment to advancing research and education in emerging technologies.
Students interested in the program should monitor the university’s website for updates on accreditation status and registration deadlines. The program’s launch will be a milestone for Utah’s higher‑education landscape and for the broader AI community.
The University of Utah’s AI degree will be the first undergraduate program of its kind in the state, and it will be the first to be offered by a public research university in Utah. The program’s launch will provide a new pathway for students interested in pursuing careers in AI and related fields.
The university’s AI program will be the first undergraduate AI degree in Utah, and it will be the first to be offered by a public research university in the state. The program’s launch will be a milestone for Utah’s higher‑education landscape and for the broader AI community.
