Boise State’s College of Engineering is making history with its new artificial intelligence science degree program, the first of its kind offered in Idaho and the Pacific Northwest.
In development for years and now with full Idaho State Board of Education approval, the new degree emphasizes the utility of AI across industries and will create significant opportunities for students and the region.
“With recent advancements, artificial intelligence –particularly generative AI – has exploded into everyday life with exciting, and potentially scary, impacts on society,” Department of Computer Science Chair Jerry Fails said. “Computers had a similar impact on society and our department at Boise State is excited to lead the way within Idaho, the region and nationally to provide students with the knowledge and skills necessary to shape the field of AI and to influence it for the benefit of society.”
One of the degree’s standout features is its course offerings. Students can tailor coursework to fit specific interests through free electives. These electives allow students to combine AI with various disciplines such as generative AI, large language models, computer vision, reinforcement learning, deep learning, machine learning for business, philosophy and more.
“Even before Boise State stepped up in response to ChatGPT in November 2022, research and coursework relevant to AI has been available to students,” said Associate Professor Casey Kennington. “We want to prepare the generation of students to not just use AI, but to build the AI of the future.”
Kennington is one of the several professors in the Department of Computer Science who has led the efforts to create the new degree at Boise State. He leads the Speech, Language, and Interactive Machines research group whose research has garnered a NSF CAREER award and aided students to national fellowships and Goldwater Scholars.
College of Engineering Dean Amy Fleischer echoed that sentiment, adding that Boise State’s program is a first-of-its-kind offering in Idaho and the region, boosting the university’s leadership in tackling AI for all disciplines.
“At Boise State, we are committed to providing cutting-edge education that ensures our graduates are ready to succeed in the workforce of today and tomorrow,” Fleischer said. “Artificial intelligence is reshaping not only computer science, but all industries at an unprecedented pace, and it’s essential that we prepare our students to lead both locally and nationally in this evolving landscape.”
Boise State and the College of Engineering have invested in substantial infrastructure to support the Department of Computer Science over the last decade. This includes state investments to expand programs, create additional faculty lines as advocated by local industry partners and research opportunities.
The program strategically moved to downtown Boise in the multi-use City Center Plaza in 2016, placing students and faculty in close proximity to the city’s growing technology industry to strengthen partnerships and hire the motivated and skilled workforce ready for immediate impact.
Faculty and administrators believe the new AI degree will enable Boise State students to frame the future of AI and computing, and propel future economic growth within the state.
The program will start accepting students in the Fall 2025 semester. Learn more about the new degree program at https://www.boisestate.edu/coen-cs/academics/degrees.