As artificial intelligence continues to reshape industries from business to health care, the University of Wisconsin-Whitewater is launching a new artificial intelligence major aimed at preparing students for new careers in rapidly evolving fields.
This new major, located within the Department of Computer Science, focuses on teaching students not only how to use artificial intelligence systems, but also how those systems are built. The program emphasizes technical skill development, hands-on learning, and ethical responsibility, allowing graduates to compete for advanced technology roles after graduation.
According to department chair Dr. Zachary J. Oster, the major was developed in response to both workforce demands and the growing awareness of artificial intelligence in everyday life. While AI tools like ChatGPT have brought the technology into the public eye, Oster said the underlying system relies on complex infrastructure that requires specialized training.
Modern artificial intelligence systems are driven by mathematics, programming and data analysis, all of which form the backbone of new curricula. Students enrolled in the major will complete extensive coursework in mathematics and computer science, but Oster acknowledged that the level of granularity may not appeal to everyone.
“This is a challenging major,” Oster said.
However, it offers strong career possibilities for students who are willing to put in the work.
In addition to technical instruction, the new major will also incorporate classes in psychology and ethics. University leaders say this approach is essential as artificial intelligence becomes increasingly integrated into society. Ethical considerations around data use, bias, and automation will be an integral part of the program, ensuring students understand the broader impact of the technologies they create.
Practical experience is a central element of this major. Rather than focusing solely on theory, students work on projects that require the design and implementation of artificial intelligence systems. Early coursework focuses on individual projects, while upper-level classes transition to collaborative industry-style development.
Oster said students will move from building small-scale AI tools to working in teams to create large-scale machine learning pipelines that would be used in professional settings. While some of these projects may ultimately benefit the university itself, the primary objective remains student learning.
The introduction of the AI major follows the recent success of UW-Whitewater’s cybersecurity program, which launched in 2022 and has grown rapidly due to high student interest and job market demand. Oster expects AI majors to grow as well, although the program’s mathematical intensity may slow it down.
“There’s already a demand for graduates majoring in AI,” Oster said, pointing to job postings in the Madison and Milwaukee area for machine learning engineers and AI developers.
Beyond career preparation, the program also reflects the university’s evolving stance on artificial intelligence in education. Oster said the role of AI tools in the classroom will largely depend on the learning goals of each assignment. He cautioned against using AI in place of basic skill building, but acknowledged that AI can be useful in advanced academic and professional contexts.
In upper-level computer science courses, students are already incorporating AI tools into their capstone and software engineering projects. Oster said these applications are helping students become more efficient and improve the quality of their work.
As the Artificial Intelligence major prepares to welcome its first group of students, university leaders see this as an opportunity to position UW-Whitewater at the forefront of technical education in the region. The program aims not only to prepare students for high-paying, high-demand careers, but also to encourage responsible innovation in fields that continue to shape the future.
