TLDR: UC San Diego’s Computer Science and Engineering (CSE) Department is launching a new Bachelor of Science in Artificial Intelligence (CS29) for the Fall 2025 academic year. This specialized major aims to equip students with the skills to develop, apply, and evaluate AI technologies, while also considering their societal and professional implications. Initially, only students directly admitted into the CS29 major by the Admissions Office will be eligible, with no internal major switches permitted during the 2025-2026 ramp-up phase.
UC San Diego’s Computer Science and Engineering (CSE) Department is set to introduce a new Bachelor of Science (B.S.) degree in Artificial Intelligence (CS29), commencing in the Fall 2025 academic year. This initiative underscores the university’s commitment to advancing the field of AI and preparing a new generation of professionals for its rapidly evolving landscape.
The CS29 Artificial Intelligence major is designed to provide students with comprehensive knowledge and practical skills necessary to build, apply, and assess artificial intelligence technologies across various disciplines. A key focus of the curriculum will also be to ground AI studies within broader societal and professional contexts, emphasizing ethical considerations and real-world impact.
For the inaugural 2025-2026 academic year, admission to the CS29 Artificial Intelligence major will be highly selective. Only students who are directly admitted into the program by UC San Diego’s Admissions Office will be permitted to declare this major. The CSE Department has explicitly stated that it will not be accepting internal major switches into the Artificial Intelligence major during this initial ramp-up phase. This policy also extends to current CSE students in other majors, such as CS25 Computer Engineering, CS26 Computer Science, and CS27 Computer Science with a Specialization in Bioinformatics, who will not be able to request a switch to the CS29 AI major during this period.
The new curriculum will feature two core lower-division courses: CSE 25 Introduction to Artificial Intelligence and CSE 55 Foundations of Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning. CSE 25 will offer a high-level introduction to AI, utilizing programming examples to illustrate key concepts. CSE 55 will delve into the foundational mathematical and technological skills essential for AI and machine learning, preparing students for advanced upper-division coursework.
UC San Diego has a strong existing foundation in AI research and application, contributing to advancements in areas such as climate action, environmental protection, and the development of life-saving medical solutions. The university highlights its role in creating AI tools that aim to improve lives and foster an equitable future for all, with a focus on ‘Building a Better World with AI.’ Recent examples of UC San Diego’s AI contributions include developing new dose prediction models for breast cancer radiotherapy and accelerating the search for new tuberculosis drug targets. Karandeep Singh serves as the inaugural Chief Health Artificial Intelligence Officer at UC San Diego Health, specializing in the ethical application of AI to enhance healthcare delivery and patient experience.
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While the AI major will not be part of the Selective Major Process initially, the university encourages interested students to consult the CSE Undergraduate Information Homepage for available classes and enrollment advice. Current CSE majors interested in AI can also utilize ‘Focus Sheets’ to select elective courses within the AI and machine learning subdisciplines. The university appreciates patience and understanding during the introduction of this new major, advising students with questions to reach out to CSE Advising via the Virtual Advising Center (vac.ucsd.edu) or during drop-in advising sessions. It is important to note that CSE Advising cannot guarantee that CSE majors admitted before Fall 2025 will be permitted to switch to the CS29 Artificial Intelligence major, as the current policy may remain in place.
