TLDR: The University at Buffalo is set to launch seven new AI-focused bachelor’s degrees and two minors, integrating artificial intelligence with diverse traditional disciplines. Supported by $5 million in state funding, these ‘AI + X’ programs aim to prepare students for the evolving AI landscape and are expected to enroll over 300 students annually by 2030.
BUFFALO, NY – The University at Buffalo (UB) is pioneering a new era in higher education with the introduction of seven innovative bachelor’s degrees and two minors, all centered on artificial intelligence (AI) and its integration with traditional academic fields. These groundbreaking ‘AI + X’ programs, believed to be the first of their kind nationally, are slated for implementation this fall, following approval by the New York State Education Department.
The initiative is bolstered by a significant $5 million in state funding, awarded by Governor Kathy Hochul, specifically for UB’s newly established Department of AI and Society (AIS). This department will serve as the academic home for these interdisciplinary offerings, which include:
AI and Geospatial Analysis (Department of Geography)
AI and Language and Intercultural Competence (Department of Romance Languages and Literatures)
AI and Language Technology (Department of Linguistics)
AI and Logic and Ontology (Department of Philosophy)
AI and Policy Analysis (Department of Political Science)
AI and Quantitative Economics (Department of Economics)
AI and Responsible Communication (Department of Communication)
Additionally, the university will offer two new minors: Artificial Intelligence, Crime and Society, and AI Ethics. These programs are designed to equip students with the skills to apply AI tools within their chosen disciplines, while also fostering a deep understanding of AI’s historical context and societal implications.
SUNY Chancellor John B. King Jr. emphasized the broader vision, stating, ‘At SUNY, we work to ensure that AI is harnessed to do research for the public good, and when combined with disciplines as varied as language and geography, we are helping our students learn in new ways that spark innovation and push new frontiers.’
Atri Rudra, the inaugural chair of the AIS department and Katherine Johnson Chair in Artificial Intelligence, highlighted the reciprocal relationship between AI and other fields. ‘This is not just about infusing AI into other disciplines. As much as AI can benefit the arts, humanities and social sciences, AI desperately needs the arts, humanities and social sciences as well,’ Rudra explained. ‘We recognize that AI systems cannot benefit society without an AI workforce that understands society.’
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UB anticipates a robust enrollment, projecting more than 300 students annually in these new degree programs by 2030. The state funding will also facilitate the acquisition of high-performance computing resources and the recruitment of additional faculty with expertise in AI, further strengthening UB’s position as a leader in AI education and research. This expansion builds upon UB’s existing success in AI, including a master’s program launched in 2020 that has seen its enrollment grow from five to 103 students by Fall 2024.
