Blab AI
Taylor University Launches Dedicated Bachelor of Science in Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning
In a move that underscores the growing importance of AI in higher education, Taylor University in Indiana has announced a new Bachelor of Science in Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning set to begin next academic year. The private Christian campus will offer a 90‑credit curriculum that builds on a faculty legacy dating back to the mid‑1980s, when the university’s Computer Science & Engineering Department first taught expert‑systems courses.
The program’s core revolves around traditional computer‑science and mathematics courses before branching into specialized upper‑level material. New offerings include a two‑semester machine‑learning sequence that blends theory with hands‑on labs, a Foundation Models and Generative AI course that tackles the current wave of large‑scale models, and a two‑semester research sequence in which students partner with faculty mentors to investigate open questions in the field.
Ethics is woven into the major as a required course. Students explore what AI can and cannot do, the limits of its application, and how it can serve purposes beyond productivity. The curriculum’s design reflects the university’s Christian mission, framing AI as a tool that could accelerate the Great Commission by reaching more people with fewer resources.
"Anyone can learn to use an AI tool. We’re preparing students to build the next one," said Dr. Fola Ayano, assistant professor of Computer Science. "Our curriculum takes students beneath the surface into the mathematics, architecture, and algorithmic design that power modern AI, so they graduate with a deep understanding of how these systems are constructed, not just how they’re applied."
Dr. Art White, a professor emeritus who taught at Taylor for 39 years, highlighted the department’s long‑standing engagement with AI. He noted that the university began experimenting with expert systems in the 1980s and introduced machine‑learning courses in the early 1990s. White said that the availability of the Internet and GPUs later in the decade expanded the department’s capacity to work with larger data sets and more complex models.
The program’s development involved two years of discussion among faculty, board members, donors, alumni, and external advisors. One advisor was Pat Gelsinger, the current CEO of Gloo and former CEO of Intel, who has a history of involvement in AI and semiconductor technology.
Compared with other Christian peer institutions, Taylor’s major dedicates more required credit hours to AI and machine‑learning coursework and is the only one that requires a two‑semester research sequence. The program also includes a Computational Linear Algebra course built specifically for AI training, addressing a gap identified in peer programs.
When evaluated against secular programs at Carnegie Mellon, UC San Diego, Purdue, Penn State, and Illinois Institute of Technology, Taylor’s curriculum is competitive in depth. The Foundation Models and Generative AI course is not required at any of the five secular programs reviewed, and the two‑semester research sequence matches the duration of Penn State’s senior design project.
Taylor’s new degree is a progression from an existing AI concentration within its computer‑science major. The standalone major adds rigor, additional coursework, and a clearer pathway for students aiming for careers in AI research, software development, data science, or graduate study.
The university’s announcement comes amid a broader trend of higher‑education institutions adding AI‑focused programs in response to the visibility of large language models and generative AI tools. Taylor’s approach, rooted in decades of faculty experience and a deliberate design process, contrasts with programs that have been assembled quickly to meet market demand.
As the program opens, students will be able to engage with complex data sets, build models from scratch, and conduct research under faculty mentorship. The curriculum’s emphasis on ethics and Christian values aims to prepare graduates who can build AI responsibly and consider its societal impact.
The launch of the Bachelor of Science in Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning marks a significant expansion of Taylor University’s commitment to AI education and reflects the institution’s long‑standing role in the field.
The program’s core revolves around traditional computer‑science and mathematics courses before branching into specialized upper‑level material. New offerings include a two‑semester machine‑learning sequence that blends theory with hands‑on labs, a Foundation Models and Generative AI course that tackles the current wave of large‑scale models, and a two‑semester research sequence in which students partner with faculty mentors to investigate open questions in the field.
Ethics is woven into the major as a required course. Students explore what AI can and cannot do, the limits of its application, and how it can serve purposes beyond productivity. The curriculum’s design reflects the university’s Christian mission, framing AI as a tool that could accelerate the Great Commission by reaching more people with fewer resources.
"Anyone can learn to use an AI tool. We’re preparing students to build the next one," said Dr. Fola Ayano, assistant professor of Computer Science. "Our curriculum takes students beneath the surface into the mathematics, architecture, and algorithmic design that power modern AI, so they graduate with a deep understanding of how these systems are constructed, not just how they’re applied."
Dr. Art White, a professor emeritus who taught at Taylor for 39 years, highlighted the department’s long‑standing engagement with AI. He noted that the university began experimenting with expert systems in the 1980s and introduced machine‑learning courses in the early 1990s. White said that the availability of the Internet and GPUs later in the decade expanded the department’s capacity to work with larger data sets and more complex models.
The program’s development involved two years of discussion among faculty, board members, donors, alumni, and external advisors. One advisor was Pat Gelsinger, the current CEO of Gloo and former CEO of Intel, who has a history of involvement in AI and semiconductor technology.
Compared with other Christian peer institutions, Taylor’s major dedicates more required credit hours to AI and machine‑learning coursework and is the only one that requires a two‑semester research sequence. The program also includes a Computational Linear Algebra course built specifically for AI training, addressing a gap identified in peer programs.
When evaluated against secular programs at Carnegie Mellon, UC San Diego, Purdue, Penn State, and Illinois Institute of Technology, Taylor’s curriculum is competitive in depth. The Foundation Models and Generative AI course is not required at any of the five secular programs reviewed, and the two‑semester research sequence matches the duration of Penn State’s senior design project.
Taylor’s new degree is a progression from an existing AI concentration within its computer‑science major. The standalone major adds rigor, additional coursework, and a clearer pathway for students aiming for careers in AI research, software development, data science, or graduate study.
The university’s announcement comes amid a broader trend of higher‑education institutions adding AI‑focused programs in response to the visibility of large language models and generative AI tools. Taylor’s approach, rooted in decades of faculty experience and a deliberate design process, contrasts with programs that have been assembled quickly to meet market demand.
As the program opens, students will be able to engage with complex data sets, build models from scratch, and conduct research under faculty mentorship. The curriculum’s emphasis on ethics and Christian values aims to prepare graduates who can build AI responsibly and consider its societal impact.
The launch of the Bachelor of Science in Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning marks a significant expansion of Taylor University’s commitment to AI education and reflects the institution’s long‑standing role in the field.
