Starting this fall, students can enroll in a program to meet the rising demand for AI professionals.
Category: Education
As artificial intelligence continues to transform industries worldwide, Idaho State University (ISU) is stepping up to meet the demand for skilled professionals in this rapidly growing field. The university has announced that it will begin enrolling students in a new bachelor’s degree program in artificial intelligence sciences starting this fall 2026.
This innovative program is a collaborative effort between the Departments of Mathematics & Statistics and Computer Science, and it aims to equip students with both theoretical knowledge and practical skills necessary to thrive in the AI sector. With employment in the field projected to grow by an impressive 34 percent by 2034, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, the timing of this program could not be more relevant.
“This program reflects the strong collaboration between the mathematics and statistics and computer science departments,” said Emanuele Zappala, assistant professor in the mathematics and statistics department. “It is intended to give students both the theoretical background and applied skills necessary to contribute meaningfully to the rapidly growing field of artificial intelligence.”
Students enrolled in the artificial intelligence sciences program will have the option to choose from two concentrations: mathematics and statistics or computer science. The mathematics and statistics concentration will focus on the foundational mathematical principles underpinning AI, whereas the computer science concentration will explore the cutting-edge technologies that drive AI advancements.
“Though AI is decades old, public interest has peaked in recent years due to the advent of Large Language Models like ChatGPT, Gemini, and Claude,” noted Paul Bodily, associate professor of computer science. “The foundational models for these systems have been around for decades, but breakthroughs in the specific design and scale of these models have led to the watershed moment we're seeing now.”
ISU is particularly excited about the interdisciplinary nature of the program, with plans for future tracks that could connect AI with the university’s strengths in health sciences, business, and engineering. These tracks may include pathways in healthcare AI, AI engineering, or domain-specific applications, providing students with the ability to apply their skills in high-impact, real-world fields.
In addition to traditional in-person classes, the program will offer up to 80 percent of the required coursework online, making it accessible for a broader range of students.
The launch of this degree program comes at a time when the educational sector is grappling with the integration of AI tools in classrooms. According to a report from Boston University, artificial intelligence in education has rapidly evolved, becoming an everyday reality for students and teachers alike. In just two years, AI has shifted from a novelty to a necessity in educational settings.
As generative AI tools like ChatGPT and others become commonplace, students are using these technologies to draft essays, summarize readings, and solve math problems. Teachers, on the other hand, are leveraging AI to streamline lesson planning and provide more personalized feedback to students. This has led to a rethinking of traditional pedagogical methods, as educators must now balance the use of AI with the need for human interaction and judgment in the learning process.
The conversation around AI in education raises questions about how to govern and implement these technologies effectively. As schools and districts navigate this new terrain, they are faced with challenges such as ensuring equitable access for all students and addressing potential biases in AI models that could disproportionately affect historically marginalized groups.
“The best approaches are building AI-aware rubrics that distinguish between appropriate and inappropriate use, and teaching students to document how they used AI tools in their work,” the report states. This reflects a growing recognition that the educational framework must evolve alongside technological advancements.
With the introduction of the bachelor’s degree in artificial intelligence sciences, ISU is preparing students for careers in a high-demand field and contributing to the broader conversation about the role of AI in society. As educational institutions adapt to these changes, the need for well-trained professionals who can navigate the ethical, technical, and practical aspects of AI will only increase.
The tuition for the full program is set at $30,000, and applications are open on a rolling basis through August 1, 2026. For those interested in pursuing a career in artificial intelligence, this program at ISU offers a promising pathway into one of the most dynamic and impactful fields of our time.
As we look toward the future, the integration of AI in both education and professional sectors will likely continue to expand, raising new questions and opportunities for innovation. The next cohort of students at ISU will be at the forefront of this exciting transformation, equipped with the knowledge and skills to shape the future of artificial intelligence.