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Computer science isn’t a latest major at top schools, but with AI jobs in high-demand, there is a growing list of faculties and universities offering a four-year “AI” degree specifically.
These programs generally move beyond the foundations of computer science to home in on topics akin to machine learning, computing algorithms, data analytics and advanced robotics. The University of Pennsylvania recently announced that its B.S.E. in Artificial Intelligence program will begin in fall 2024. Carnegie Mellon introduced a program well before gen AI was a buzzword, in fall 2018, and MIT’s program began in fall 2022. Purdue University offers an AI undergraduate major, while many colleges and universities offer AI classes inside their computer science department, even when there’s not a dedicated major.
The rise of AI-specific degree programs comes as corporations are short on talent for this fast-developing field. Half of the highest-paid skills in technology are AI-specific, in line with the employment website Indeed.com. Even so, there’s some degree of skepticism about the applicability of an AI-specific four-year degree given how quickly the technology is changing. But proponents say that so long as a program is steeped in computer science and other fundamentals, a deal with AI could provide a resume-building boon.
Here’s what students and their parents, in addition to anyone fascinated with going back to high school for a latest profession, must learn about a four-year AI degree:
STEM fundamentals remain critical
Students that need to pursue a degree in AI should search for a program that teaches fundamental information akin to computer science concepts, statistics, mathematics and engineering, which lay the foundation for a profession in an AI-related field, said Kerem Koca, chief executive of BlueCloud, a cloud service provider. The technology itself is changing, but these core underpinnings don’t, and they can prepare students to achieve success, whilst underlying technology changes, he said.
“It is important that AI degrees and other education training programs not only deal with specific skill development, but that the focus is on helping students learn how to learn, which incorporates developing an mental curiosity, and skills like leadership, communication and demanding pondering,” said Maria Flynn, president and chief executive of Jobs for the Future, a company that focuses on employee opportunity and education, in an email.
AI degree spike since 2011
There are a lot of different programs that deal with AI at the undergraduate and graduate level, and there was a rise in offerings and degrees being awarded for over a decade now.
Based on the Georgetown University Center for Security and Emerging Technology, AI degrees have bucked the general trend in education since 2011, with positive degree conferral growth versus negative growth across all degree areas. AI-related degree awards, particularly, grew even faster than STEM degrees as a general category at bachelor’s master’s and PhD levels. Its review of presidency data and other sources on the higher education market described the growth of AI degree conferrals as “dramatic,” increasing 120% since 2011 at each bachelor’s and master’s levels.
Some students may also be concerned with pursuing AI as an associate’s degree, which several schools, including Miami Dade College, offer.
Education relevance in fast-changing tech market
Some students may wonder if they even need a degree in any respect, given how briskly the market is changing and the indisputable fact that more employers have expressed a willingness to rent employees without degrees if they have the appropriate, job-required skills.
It is important to notice that recent research suggests the practice of hiring people without degrees has fallen short, nonetheless, and research from the Ladders profession site shows that a degree continues to be required for the highest paying jobs, a listing that features software engineers.
A four-year degree continues to be an enormous step up for many entering the job marketplace for the first time, said Celeste Grupman, chief executive of Dataquest, which supplies AI-related educational materials and labs to universities. “It’s still one among the first things an employer goes to take a look at. It isn’t going to get you disqualified, whereas not having one might.”
Even so, several providers including Dataquest and Coursera, offer certificate programs for learners to construct skills quickly. These programs could also be appropriate for college students who lack the time and resources to finish a four-year program, or have already got a degree and are trying to upskill, Grupman said. A web based platform allows students to quickly start constructing projects and understanding the way to implement these tools successfully for employment purposes.
AI vs. computer science
It is important for college students to think critically about the curriculum for the program they are considering, the way it’s different from an ordinary computer science curriculum, the likely profession trajectory for graduates of the program and economic outcomes for graduates. “As we see in product marketing, anyone can slap ‘AI’ onto an existing product. Students should ask what features of AI they will probably be learning,” Flynn said.
It is also necessary for college students to rigorously consider what they want. Are they searching for a program that provides exposure to AI or practice using AI, or do they desire a technical program that gives foundational content and courses on AI technology? They also needs to consider whether they ultimately want relevant skills and knowledge that may get them into the labor market right away or whether they desire a broader degree that will probably be a foundation for longer-term advancement, Flynn said.
“When you’re an architect, you do not need a degree in hammers. You should understand hammers, you wish to understand zoning and you wish to understand the way to construct a house that helps a family come alive. The identical is true in AI,” said Nichol Bradford, artificial intelligence and human intelligence executive-in-residence with SHRM, a company for human resources professionals.
Tips on how to gain an edge with employers
Some employers may look more favorably upon an AI-specific degree versus a plain-vanilla computer science degree, said David Leighton, chief executive at WITI, a company for technology-minded professionals. “I feel it sets them apart.”
On the other hand, nobody really knows right away what the value of such a degree will probably be in a couple of years. “In the 12 months 2000, in the event you had an online degree, if there was such a thing, it will have looked great,” Koca said. “Now, it would not be as applicable. But in the event you had it in 2002, you would have gotten a job anywhere. The identical may very well be true for a degree in AI.”
Given the uncertainty, some professionals said students cannot go mistaken with a standard computer science degree or an AI-specific one, provided the fundamentals are covered. Those that take the former route, nonetheless, should consider taking classes related to AI and data science, which could be necessary for future employment. Otherwise, students might have to “close the practical application gap themselves post-graduation,” said Bryan Ackermann, head of AI strategy and transformation at the management consultancy Korn Ferry, in an email.
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