The University of Utah plans to offer its first bachelor’s degree program in artificial intelligence (AI) beginning in fall 2026, after the Kahlert School of Computing’s proposal won approval from the university’s Board of Trustees. The new major is pending approval from the Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities, the university’s accrediting body.
The program, housed in the John and Marcia Price College of Engineering, will be the first undergraduate AI major of its kind in Utah, according to a June 22 press release.
The university said the program will begin accepting applicants for the fall 2026 semester.
“Utah has always been at the forefront of computing education. In 1964, we were one of the first programs in the nation to offer a B.S. in Computer Science. Utah faculty were pioneers in computing technologies, from the internet to computer graphics, and beyond,” said Mary Hall, director of the Kahlert School of Computing. “It’s imperative to train students to develop and manage the technology that has disrupted all aspects of society.”
The new degree program will begin with foundations in computer science and mathematics, drawing on existing courses such as Introduction to AI. Then, it will move into core AI fields, including machine learning, data analysis, natural language processing, computer vision, and robotics. Technical coursework will be paired with instruction on ethical and effective use of the technology.
Faculty from the philosophy and math departments helped develop some new classes for the major, reflecting the interdisciplinary nature of the field, the university said.
The AI major will join four other undergraduate programs in the Kahlert School of Computing: computer science, data science, software development, and computer engineering. The computing school also launched an AI minor last fall, which is designed to complement a range of majors.
The David Eccles School of Business also plans to offer an AI minor this fall, which will be open to all University of Utah undergraduates, regardless of major, the university said. In addition, the College of Humanities has proposed an online, AI-focused master’s degree in workplace writing that would launch in fall 2027.
