UTEP Launches Bachelor’s in Artificial Intelligence
1 of only 3 Texas universities to offer cutting-edge program
EL PASO, Texas (Dec. 10, 2024) – Artificial intelligence is transforming modern life, and computer science students at The University of Texas at El Paso will now have a chance to be at the cutting edge of the technological revolution. Beginning in the spring of 2025, UTEP is launching a new Bachelor of Science in Artificial Intelligence (AI). The program is only the third AI bachelor’s degree offered in the state of the Texas.
“Artificial intelligence is reshaping our world and UTEP is ahead of the curve,” said UTEP President Heather Wilson. “Higher education has an important role to play in the future of AI. The most important contribution we can make is educating graduates prepared to shape these technologies and make the right decisions about them.”
The new program will prepare students to design, test and maintain AI systems. According to data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics and LinkedIn, job openings in the field — such as software engineer, data scientist, and AI researcher — are expected to grow by around 30% over the next 10 years, with salaries ranging from $96,000 to $140,000.
Salamah Salamah, Ph.D., the chair of UTEP’s Computer Science Department, explained that in addition to learning traditional computer science skills, students who sign up for the new bachelor’s degree will learn to apply artificial intelligence, design new AI techniques and understand the social and ethical implications of the technology.
“Artificial intelligence can be used for help or for harm,” Salamah said. “And the field is changing rapidly even now. Our new degree program will equip UTEP students with cutting-edge knowledge in AI, as well as instill principles that can help them make the right decisions when confronted with the next generation of computing challenges.”
Kenith Meissner, Ph.D., dean of the College of Engineering, said that artificial intelligence has been used in research at UTEP since the 1980’s. However, he explained that new generative AI systems like Chat GPT have changed the landscape with their ability to create novel content — such as text, image or video — after being trained on large amounts of data, and it’s important that UTEP engineering students stay ahead of the curve.
“UTEP’s AI curriculum will evolve and keep pace with the rapidly developing field,” Meissner said. “AI is already accelerating a variety of our research efforts — from biology to geology, additive manufacturing and aerospace engineering. I can’t wait to see UTEP undergraduates harness this technology in the coming months.”
Students who are interested in earning a bachelor’s degree in artificial intelligence can learn more here. Those who wish to explore AI in graduate school can take advantage of UTEP’s existing master’s degree in artificial intelligence.
About The University of Texas at El Paso
The University of Texas at El Paso is America’s leading Hispanic-serving university. Located at the westernmost tip of Texas, where three states and two countries converge along the Rio Grande, 84% of our 25,000 students are Hispanic, and more than half are the first in their families to go to college. UTEP offers 170 bachelor’s, master’s and doctoral degree programs at the only open-access, top-tier research university in America.
Last Updated on December 10, 2024 at 12:00 AM | Originally published December 10, 2024
By MC Staff UTEP Marketing and Communications
