IST announces new major in artificial intelligence, enrolling for fall 2025

UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. — The Penn State College of Information Sciences and Technology (IST) has announced a new undergraduate degree that will prepare students to leverage the strengths and benefits of artificial intelligence (AI) while ensuring its socially responsible and ethical use. The Bachelor of Science in Artificial Intelligence Methods and Applications (AIMA) program is about harnessing the power of AI to transform the way people live, work and interact with the world. New and current students can now enroll for the fall 2025 semester.

“As AI increasingly becomes an important driver of the global economy, demand is high for well-trained professionals who have both the technical and interpersonal skills to lead in this new era of innovation,” said Andrea Tapia, dean of the College of IST. “The AIMA degree will prepare students to navigate challenges and opportunities in the age of AI.”

New AI technologies are helping people, organizations and governments work faster, more strategically and in previously unseen ways. But this growth also demands thoughtful consideration about the potential risks and biases of AI technologies, fairness and accountability of AI decisions and how AI can be used to enhance social inclusion and justice.

The AIMA program is designed to prepare students to design, implement, evaluate and deploy AI-based solutions that extend human abilities in complex real-world applications. The major will equip students with knowledge and expertise in math, computer programming, machine learning and generative AI, while emphasizing the socially responsible and ethical implications of AI.

The College of IST has a history of teaching and researching in the field: Nearly half of IST faculty are already involved in AI and AI-related research, and the college is home to the Nittany AI Alliance and the Center for Socially Responsible Artificial Intelligence.

“The College of IST is excited to announce this degree program to current and prospective students,” said Lisa Lenze, associate dean for undergraduate studies for the college. “With this major, Penn State joins the ranks of institutions such as Carnegie Mellon University, University of Pennsylvania and MIT in offering a bachelor of science degree specifically in artificial intelligence.”

Through experimentation and practical projects, students will identify problems that can be addressed by AI technologies, learn the AI methodologies and skills needed to develop solutions, and master the ability to communicate solutions and risks to a variety of stakeholders. This interdisciplinary focus on AI problem solving, programming and algorithm development is critical to leading and advancing organizations in diverse AI-driven industries.

“This major empowers students to build intelligent solutions that enhance human capabilities while addressing real-world challenges,” said Sharon Huang, David Reese Professor of Information Sciences and Technology. “With a strong foundation in machine learning, generative AI and ethical responsibility, students gain the skills to innovate and shape the future of AI-driven industries. It’s the perfect path for aspiring AI pioneers!”

Students can talk with their adviser or visit the AIMA webpage for more information.