An artificial intelligence major prepares students for one of the fastest-growing fields in tech, with applications in everything from robotics to healthcare to finance. As more colleges create specialized AI programs, students now have access to degree paths that combine computer science, machine learning, data analysis, and ethics.
This guide highlights top colleges offering undergraduate majors in AI, including standalone AI degrees and CS programs with strong AI concentrations.
What Is an Artificial Intelligence Major?
An artificial intelligence major is typically offered as a Bachelor of Science in Artificial Intelligence or as a computer science degree with a concentration in AI or machine learning. These programs give students a strong foundation in core computing principles while emphasizing specialized AI knowledge and skills.
Common coursework includes:
- Algorithms and data structures
- Machine learning and deep learning
- Natural language processing (NLP)
- Computer vision
- AI ethics and policy
Many programs also feature hands-on learning through labs, applied projects, and internship experiences. Whether you’re interested in autonomous systems, predictive analytics, or ethical design, earning an AI bachelor’s degree can position you at the forefront of innovation in both tech and non-tech industries.
What to Look for in an AI-Focused College Program
As artificial intelligence becomes a formal area of undergraduate study, program quality can vary widely. When researching options, it’s important to look beyond the course catalog and consider how each program supports hands-on experience, faculty expertise, and long-term career goals.
Key features to look for include:
- Dedicated AI major vs. concentration: Some universities offer a standalone AI degree, while others include AI as a track within computer science.
- Research opportunities: Programs that house AI labs or participate in federally funded research projects often provide undergraduates with early exposure to real-world challenges.
- Experienced faculty: Professors with active AI publications or industry partnerships can bring cutting-edge insights into the classroom.
- Access to emerging technologies: Look for schools that provide tools like robotics kits, GPUs, and simulation platforms.
- Internship pipelines and career support: Strong connections to industry partners can improve your chances of landing AI-related internships or job offers.
- Cross-disciplinary electives: Courses in ethics, psychology, business, or cognitive science can broaden your understanding of how AI impacts society.
Some students may also consider online AI degrees if they need a more flexible or remote learning format. While not all AI-focused programs are available online, several accredited options are emerging to meet growing demand.
Top Colleges Offering AI Majors or Concentrations
The following schools are known for offering strong undergraduate pathways in artificial intelligence, whether through a dedicated major or a concentration within computer science. These programs emphasize hands-on learning, research opportunities, and industry relevance.
Massachusetts Institute of Technology
Bachelor of Science in Artificial Intelligence and Decision Making
This interdisciplinary undergraduate program is offered jointly through the Department of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science (EECS), a collaboration between the Schwarzman College of Computing and the School of Engineering. The program emphasizes the development of systems that interact with the world through perception, communication, and action, and that adapt by learning and making decisions. It integrates multiple disciplines, including:
- Electrical engineering
- Computer science
- Statistics
- Operations research
- Brain and cognitive sciences
The curriculum includes:
- One programming skills subject
- Three mathematics subjects
- Two foundational subjects
- Five core “Center” subjects across key AI and computing areas
- Four electives, with thematic constraints ensuring coverage of data-centric, decision-centric, model-centric, computation-centric, and human-centric approaches
Students may declare the 6-4 major beginning in Fall 2022. The program prepares graduates for careers or further study in fields requiring advanced knowledge of AI systems and decision-making frameworks.
About the University
Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) is a private research university located in Cambridge, Massachusetts. Renowned globally for its strengths in science and engineering, MIT fosters innovation through a rigorous, hands-on approach to education and research.
Carnegie Mellon University
B.S. in Artificial Intelligence
Carnegie Mellon’s School of Computer Science offers a Bachelor of Science in Artificial Intelligence (BSAI), the first undergraduate AI degree of its kind in the United States, launched in Fall 2018. The program equips students with the expertise to transform complex data into actionable decisions, with a curriculum grounded in both technical rigor and ethical responsibility.
Key features include:
- A curriculum covering computer science, mathematics, statistics, machine learning, computational modeling, and symbolic computation
- Courses focused on real-world AI applications involving vision, language, and data-driven decision-making
- Required ethics and social responsibility coursework, with opportunities for independent projects addressing challenges in areas such as healthcare, education, and transportation
- Instruction from faculty across multiple departments, including Computer Science, Machine Learning, Robotics, Human-Computer Interaction, and Language Technologies
The BSAI is open to students admitted to the School of Computer Science. Students may declare the major in their first year or transfer in after their sophomore year. Carnegie Mellon also offers an AI minor and additional major options for students from other disciplines.
About the University
Carnegie Mellon University is a private research institution located in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. Known for its leadership in technology and innovation, CMU fosters interdisciplinary collaboration and practical impact through its globally respected academic programs.
Stanford University
B.S. in Computer Science, Artificial Intelligence Track
Stanford’s Computer Science Department offers a Bachelor of Science in Computer Science with several tracks, including one focused on Artificial Intelligence. This track allows students to explore the foundational and applied dimensions of AI across a wide range of subfields.
The AI track includes coursework in:
- Logic, probability, and statistics as applied to intelligent systems
- Knowledge representation and logical reasoning
- Robotics and computer vision
- Machine learning and probabilistic modeling
- Natural language processing, speech technologies, and cognition
- Applications in computational biology and other domains
Sample classes include:
- AI Principles & Techniques
- Natural Language Processing with Deep Learning
- Machine Learning
The program is designed to accommodate students with or without prior coding experience and provides opportunities for research through programs like CURIS and independent study.
About the University
Stanford University is a private research institution located in Stanford, California. Known for its proximity to Silicon Valley and its pioneering role in technological innovation, Stanford combines academic excellence with strong ties to industry and entrepreneurship.
Georgia Institute of Technology
Bachelor of Science in Computer Science
Georgia Tech’s Bachelor of Science in Computer Science stands out for its flexible and customizable structure based on the Threads curriculum, a unique framework that allows students to choose two specialized areas of study, including multiple AI-relevant paths. Each student weaves their own educational path through this system, resulting in a degree tailored to their career interests and aspirations.
AI-focused and AI-relevant Threads include:
- Computing and Intelligence: Concentrates on building systems that model human-level intelligence, covering key areas like machine learning, cognitive systems, and decision-making processes.
- Computing and Devices: Supports the integration of intelligence into embedded systems, robotics, and real-world devices.
- Computing and People: Emphasizes human-computer interaction and systems that account for user behavior and usability—key in ethical and effective AI design.
- Computing and Theory: Provides the mathematical and computational underpinnings vital to advanced AI, such as algorithm design and complexity theory.
These Threads allow students to pursue areas such as robotics, cognitive modeling, human-centered AI, and intelligent systems within the broader CS framework. Students also have access to undergraduate research and co-op programs that provide practical experience and further exposure to AI-related applications.
About the University
The Georgia Institute of Technology is a public research university located in Atlanta, Georgia. Known for its engineering and computing programs, Georgia Tech emphasizes innovation, interdisciplinary learning, and experiential education across a range of technology-driven fields.
University of California-Berkeley
Computer Science Bachelor of Arts
UC Berkeley’s Bachelor of Arts in Computer Science program offers a comprehensive curriculum with a strong emphasis on both foundational principles and emerging technologies. AI and related disciplines are prominently featured in the curriculum, which spans theoretical and applied aspects of computer science.
The program includes coursework in:
- Artificial intelligence and machine learning
- Natural language processing
- Robotics and computer vision
- Algorithms, programming languages, compilers, and operating systems
- Databases, scientific computation, and cognitive systems
Students are encouraged to develop a long-term technical understanding that prepares them for future innovation and leadership in AI-related fields, whether in industry or academia. Research opportunities and self-initiated projects are supported and encouraged as part of the undergraduate experience.
About the University
The University of California, Berkeley is a public research university located in Berkeley, California. It is widely recognized for academic rigor, social impact, and pioneering research, particularly in engineering and computer science.
Additional Top Schools for Undergraduate AI Studies
| Colorado School of Mines | Bachelor of Science in Computer Science |
| Duke University | Bachelor of Science in Computer Science, AI and Machine Learning Concentration |
| Gonzaga University | Applied AI Concentration (Electrical and Computer Engineering) |
| Indiana University Bloomington | B.S. in Intelligent Systems Engineering |
| Iowa State University | Minor in Applied Artificial Intelligence |
| Miami University | Robotics Engineering, B.S. |
| North Carolina State University | Computer Science (BS), Artificial Intelligence Concentration |
| Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology | Bachelor of Science in Computer Science |
| Saint Joseph’s University | Bachelor’s Degree in Artificial Intelligence for Business |
| University of Denver | BS in Computer Science |
| University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign | Siebel School of Computing and Data Science |
| University of Oklahoma | Bachelor of Science in Applied Artificial Intelligence |
| University of Pennsylvania | Bachelor of Science in Engineering in Artificial Intelligence |
| University of Vermont | B.S. in Data Science |
What Can You Do With an Artificial Intelligence Major?
An artificial intelligence major can open the door to a wide range of technical and research-oriented roles. While many graduates enter the workforce directly, others pursue advanced degrees to deepen their expertise or specialize further. Common job titles for AI majors include:
- Machine Learning Engineer – Designs and deploys predictive models that improve over time with data. Often requires a strong foundation in programming and applied mathematics.
- AI Research Assistant – Supports academic or private sector research into new AI methods, algorithms, or applications. Frequently involves coding experiments, analyzing data, and publishing findings.
- Robotics Software Developer – Develops software that powers autonomous machines in industries such as manufacturing, logistics, or healthcare.
- Data Scientist – Applies statistical and AI tools to analyze large datasets and extract actionable insights, often used in business, science, or government.
- NLP Developer – Specializes in natural language processing, helping machines understand and generate human language for applications like chatbots, voice assistants, and sentiment analysis.
Graduates may also pursue roles in AI ethics, algorithm auditing, or AI product management—especially as industries expand beyond core tech to adopt AI-driven solutions. Those seeking research or teaching roles often go on to earn a master’s or PhD in AI, computer science, or related fields.
FAQ
Is a standalone AI major better than a CS major with an AI track?
It depends on your goals. A standalone artificial intelligence major often provides more focused coursework and earlier exposure to AI topics. A computer science major with an AI specialization may offer broader foundational training and greater flexibility across tech careers.
Do AI majors require a lot of math?
Yes. Most programs include courses in linear algebra, calculus, probability, and statistics—core foundations for understanding algorithms and machine learning models.
Can I transfer into an AI major from a related field?
In many cases, yes. Some schools allow internal transfers from general computer science or engineering programs, though prerequisites like programming and math may be required.
What programming languages are taught in these programs?
Python is the most common, especially for AI and machine learning coursework. Many programs also include C++, Java, or R, depending on the focus.
Next Steps
Explore the AI bachelor’s degree programs that align with your interests, whether you’re drawn to robotics, data science, or ethical AI design. Review each school’s curriculum, faculty expertise, and research opportunities. As you narrow your list, consider visiting campuses, connecting with current students, and identifying programs that support your long-term goals—whether in tech innovation, graduate study, or AI-driven entrepreneurship.
