University Park, Pennsylvania – This fall, Pennsylvania will earn its first new bachelor's degree in artificial intelligence engineering (AIE). Housed in Electrical Engineering and Computer Science (EECS) within the Faculty of Engineering, the program focuses on AI fundamentals, including both hardware and software, in addition to AI applications.
For those who want to broaden their knowledge with AIE but don't commit to the entire bachelor's degree, AIE miners equip students with Core AI techniques and tools to enable students to apply these technologies to key disciplines, particularly computer science, computer engineering and electrical engineering.
According to Mehrdad Mahdavi, input from industry partners was an important part of the process, including associate professor of family at Penn State Computer Science and Engineering, director of the Pennsylvania AI Hub at the Computing and Data Science Institute, associate director of the Center for Artificial Intelligence Fundamentals and Engineering Systems, and one of the faculty members who helped develop the degree.
“As a proud graduate of Pennsylvania's Computer Science Program and a member of the EECS Industry and Professional Advisory Committee, I am excited to see the introduction of a rigorous bachelor's degree in artificial intelligence,” said Dan Grillo, a graduate of LinkedIn and Penn State. “This innovative program is a critical step in equipping next-generation technology leaders with the sophisticated skills and knowledge they need to promote impactful AI advances across the industry, and we look forward to working with talented students.”
Tom La Porta, professor at the EECS department and Evan Pugh University, said that AI originated in computer science, and while AI is a traditional core field of computer science, the combination of computer science, computer engineering and electrical engineering is unique in degree.
“This degree covers much broader and deeper topics than most AI degrees, from hardware to algorithms to applications and implementations,” says La Porta.
Mahdavi said that the degree is designed from the ground up, so not only assembles existing courses, but the program structure could serve as a model for other universities considering building AIE programs.
“Our AIE degree doesn't just learn a lot of tools and apply them,” he said. “It focuses on problem solving and is uniquely flexible and dynamic. Students apply knowledge and experience to address complex problems in AI applications. Furthermore, they can gain a deeper understanding of the problems needed to develop responsible AI that benefits individuals, organizations and society.”
Mahdavi said there are three levels of the program.
“The first layer is the foundation of AI that every student needs to acquire,” he said. “The top layer is an elective covering many courses in a variety of fields, AI hardware systems, learning theory, vision, robotics and more. Building on the foundational layer, the Middle Bridge Layer prepares to take electives based on student interests.
David Miller, a professor of electrical engineering and one of the faculty members who helped develop the curriculum, emphasized how comprehensive the degree is.
“Our degree is holistic. With built-in hardware and software, foundations and applications, alumni are good to tackle and contribute to many different domains,” Miller said. “Pennsylvania AIE graduates can use AI to help farmers maximize crop yields, design buildings that can withstand hurricanes, and help them reach Mars. The degree and its alumni can have a positive impact on society.”
For more information about AIE degrees or minors, contact Mahdavi (MZM616@psu.edu) or Jack Sampson, Associate Professor, Director of Computer Science and Engineering and Associates (jms1257@psu.edu).
