Alabama A&M University is preparing to launch what university officials say will be Alabama’s first Bachelor of Science degree program in artificial intelligence, expanding North Alabama’s growing role in advanced technology education and workforce development.

According to the university, the new program was approved by the Alabama A&M University Board of Trustees and the Alabama Commission on Higher Education in 2025 and is expected to begin enrolling students in Fall 2026. The degree will be structured as a 125-credit, four-year program focused on artificial intelligence technologies and applications.

University officials said the program builds on Alabama A&M’s existing computer science curriculum, which has offered an artificial intelligence concentration since 2022. The expanded degree program will include coursework in deep learning, reinforcement learning, natural language processing, and speech processing.

“We are responding to the changing demands of the market,” said Dr. ZT Deng, dean of the College of Engineering, Technology and Physical Sciences, according to the university. “This is the AI age, and if we do not prepare students with strong capabilities, we are not fulfilling our responsibility as an institution.”

Alabama A&M Provost Dr. John D. Jones said the university designed the program to reach beyond students majoring specifically in artificial intelligence.

“This is not just for one specific major,” Jones noted, according to the university. “Students from other fields can take courses, gain exposure, and build the skills needed to work with AI tools. Today, nearly every discipline benefits from some level of AI literacy.”

The university said the curriculum will focus on both technical training and applied problem-solving, while also emphasizing ethical and professional responsibilities related to artificial intelligence systems and computing.

Alabama A&M officials also framed the program as a workforce development initiative aimed at preparing graduates for careers in rapidly expanding technology fields.

“I do not believe AI will replace people,” Deng said, according to the university. “It will replace those who do not know how to use it. We are training students to understand these systems and to direct them — to tell AI what we want it to do.”

Deng said the university wants students to understand not only how to use artificial intelligence tools, but also how the underlying systems operate.

“A general user can apply AI tools,” Deng added, according to the university. “But our graduates will understand what is inside those tools — how they are developed, how they function and how to ensure they are accurate, ethical and effective.”

Officials said industries ranging from software engineering to infrastructure design are increasingly incorporating artificial intelligence technologies into day-to-day operations, creating growing demand for workers with AI expertise.

“Our goal is to prepare students for better jobs,” Deng said, according to the university. “There is a strong demand for AI across many fields, and we want our students to be ready to contribute and lead.”

With the new program scheduled to launch in Fall 2026, Alabama A&M officials said the university is continuing to expand its focus on emerging technologies and workforce preparation.

Sherri Blevins is a reporter for 256 Today.

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