First-of-their-kind AI specialized degrees offered from University at Buffalo this fall

Newly approved programs will prepare students to use AI with traditional academic disciplines from communications and economics to policy analysis

Submitted by the Office of Gov. Kathy Hochul

Gov. Kathy Hochul announced the first-of-their-kind AI specialized degrees to be offered to University at Buffalo students beginning this fall. The academic programs combine the rapidly evolving field of artificial intelligence with traditional academic disciplines, including communication, economics, geography, language, logic and policy analysis.

The new programs will prepare students for the anticipated growth of AI applications across various industries. The AI majors and minors were supported by $5 million in state funding awarded by Hochul for SUNY’s new department of AI and society initiative, which, at UB, is expected to enroll more than 300 students each year by 2030.

“New York state’s investment in artificial intelligence for the public good is paving the way for generations of New Yorkers to understand and utilize this supercomputing power to its fullest potential,” Hochul said. “Through University at Buffalo’s new degree programs, students will have the latest in AI education to help them pursue research and careers that will continue to evolve with further AI advancements.”

State University of New York Chancellor John B. King Jr. joined researchers, faculty and students from UB to announce the new academic programs on Wednesday, ahead of the 2025-26 academic year. Students interested in applying for UB’s new AI programs can contact the university at buffalo.edu/admissions.

King said, “SUNY campuses are known for their rigorous academic programs to meet the high demands of our students and our economy. I am proud that the University at Buffalo is incorporating artificial intelligence in a meaningful and productive way thanks to their excellent faculty and as the result of significant funding from Gov. Hochul and our state leaders. 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.”

SUNY Trustee and Co-Chair of the student life committee Eunice A. Lewin said, “SUNY campuses are synonymous with academic excellence, and University at Buffalo has certainly demonstrated its prowess in artificial intelligence. More than five years ago, UB enrolled its first students in its AI master’s program, and we are excited to see the campus offering new majors and minors in these AI-related disciplines. I was thrilled to join Chancellor King as we visited UB, spoke with students, faculty and staff, and made this exciting announcement.”

University at Buffalo President Satish K. Tripathi said, “For more than four decades, UB has been a national and international leader in responsible AI research and innovation. Our new academic degree programs build upon this impactful legacy, providing UB students with the knowledge, skills and interdisciplinary expertise that will enable them to harness the incredible power of artificial intelligence for the betterment of society, while preparing them to lead effectively and ethically in our 21st century world.”

The seven AI-focused bachelor’s degrees were approved by the New York State Education Department for implementation this fall. Additionally, the university has also launched two AI-focused minors: artificial intelligence, crime and society, and AI ethics.

The programs will prepare students to apply AI tools to their respective disciplines, while also giving them a deep understanding of AI’s historical context and societal implications. The curriculum ranges from introductions to computational fundamentals, to examinations of AI’s potential benefits and drawbacks for society.

Department of Computer Science and Engineering Professor and Artificial Intelligence Katherine Johnson Chair, who will serve as inaugural chair of the AI and society department, Atri Rudra, Ph.D., said, “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. We recognize that AI systems cannot benefit society without an AI workforce that understands society.”

The newly approved degrees will be based in their disciplines’ respective departments, but require both new and existing courses from those departments and new courses offered by the AI and society department. The degrees are:

• 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)

The seven degrees were developed over the spring semester by an ad hoc curriculum committee of UB faculty across the College of Arts and Sciences and the School of Engineering and Applied Sciences, where the AI and society department will be jointly based.

The AI and society department will soon offer its own degree programs, too. It intends to add full-time faculty for the upcoming academic year. UB also is planning an AI and society building that will feature computer labs, offices, conference rooms and space for community-oriented work in AI.

An early pioneer in AI research, UB currently has more than 200 faculty researchers working at the cutting-edge of AI technology to solve society’s greatest challenges. Research projects currently underway involve tapping the power of AI to develop new drugs to treat diseases, assist children with speech and language challenges, enhance medical imaging, detect deepfakes with accuracy, help first responders during natural disasters, and modernize manufacturing systems among other projects.