[This article first appeared on the Kennesaw State University website, republished with permission]

Kennesaw State University (KSU) continues to be a state leader in the rapidly growing field of artificial intelligence, with the addition of a bachelor’s degree in AI approved Tuesday by the Board of Regents of the University System of Georgia. KSU becomes the first institution in Georgia to offer both bachelor’s and graduate degrees in artificial intelligence.

The Bachelor of Science in Artificial Intelligence will launch in Fall 2026 on the KSU Marietta Campus and online. Housed in the College of Computing and Software Engineering, the degree will help meet the increasing demand in Georgia and nationwide for professionals with expertise in artificial intelligence.

The new degree builds on Kennesaw State’s existing AI offerings, including an artificial intelligence concentration within the Bachelor of Science in Computer Science and a Master of Science in Artificial Intelligence launched in 2024.

“With AI driving innovation across industries including healthcare, manufacturing, logistics, public safety and business services, our new degree is structured to help meet Georgia’s expanding need for a highly skilled workforce,” said Ivan Pulinkala, KSU’s provost and executive vice president for academic affairs. “Students will gain the training necessary to enter careers that support the state’s economic competitiveness and respond to employer demand for professionals who can build and apply AI-driven technologies.”

Experiential learning is built into the program, including a first-year experience course, a writing intensive course tailored to computing and an applied AI capstone in which students work with industry partners in their minor area. Students may also pursue internships or undergraduate research for academic credit, gaining hands-on skills that prepare them for employment after graduation.

“The interdisciplinary nature of the degree, including the core foundation in computing and the required minor in a field where AI applications are growing, will equip our students to maximize the limitless potential of artificial intelligence,” said Yiming Ji, interim dean of the College of Computing and Software Engineering. “At a time when technology is transforming business and industry at an extraordinary pace, our graduates will be prepared to apply artificial intelligence ethically and effectively in real world settings.”

According to a Georgia Chamber of Commerce report last year, AI will be a major driver in Georgia adding 186,000 new STEM jobs over the next five years, and more than 60% of Georgia executives say they plan to increase investment in AI technologies over the next three years. Additionally, the Bureau of Labor Statistics projects that employment of computer and information research scientists, including AI professionals, will grow 21 percent between 2021 and 2031.