University of San Francisco

USC and UCLA Launch New AI Degree Programs to Meet Surging Student and Employer Demand

- USC's Viterbi School of Engineering is launching its inaugural undergraduate artificial intelligence degree, teaching students to build AI systems and apply them to fields including drug discovery, robotics, and agriculture. - UCLA is opening what officials describe as the nation's first freestanding Department of Digital Humanities, with a new bachelor's degree integrating AI and digital tools into disciplines such as sociology, archaeology, and history. - Both institutions are responding to market demand, with USC expecting roughly 50 new students annually and UCLA projecting eventual enrollment of 150 to 300 students in the major. - Educators emphasize that ethics coursework is essential, as campuses grapple with concerns about cheating and fears that heavy AI use may erode critical thinking.