Auburn Engineering to offer new artificial intelligence programs beginning this fall
Published: Apr 10, 2024 10:05 AM
By Joe McAdory
Auburn Engineering’s Department of Computer Science and Software Engineering (CSSE) will offer three artificial intelligence (AI) engineering degree and certificate programs beginning in Fall 2024.
The programs — master’s degree in AI engineering, graduate certificate in AI engineering and undergraduate certificate in AI engineering — will provide various levels of technical depth to broaden students’ skillsets as they enter the workforce, CSSE Chair Hari Narayanan, said.
“Having a solid artificial intelligence education is a growing demand for the engineering workforce and we look forward to supplying organizations with highly skilled graduates,” Narayanan said. “Employers are looking for people with AI-related skills… even in the most unlikely places. Artificial intelligence promises to revolutionize sectors such as business, defense, education, government and health care. To succeed in these roles, people need to understand how to utilize AI systems productively and efficiently. We aim to meet that need.”
The 30-hour master’s degree curriculum in AI engineering, which can be taken online or on-campus, is open to all students who have already earned a baccalaureate degree from an institution of recognized standing, either in computer science, software engineering, or another STEM discipline, and to those who have professional experience related to computing or IT and familiarity with mathematics. This program requires students to take three core courses — artificial intelligence, machine learning and data mining — and seven technical electives related to AI.
“The graduate program provides in-depth training, including the possibility for students to specialize,” Narayanan said. “For example, a student could say, ‘I want in-depth training in AI, but I also want to know how to use it within cyber security, computer networks, or something else.’”
In the graduate program, students will learn how to:
- Develop algorithms and methodologies for AI and machine learning systems and technologies.
- Incorporate software engineering principles to analyze, design and implement AI and machine learning software.
- Apply AI and machine learning techniques to solve complex engineering problems and problems of societal importance.
- Deliver written and oral presentations to non-technical and technical audiences.
Like the standard graduate degree program, admission into the graduate certificate program in AI engineering is open to all students with a baccalaureate degree from an institution of recognized standing, either in computer science, software engineering, another STEM discipline or have relevant professional experience and background knowledge.
“The graduate certificate might be appealing to students who have been working within industry for a while and want to upskill,” Narayanan said. “Maybe not enough to design and build a new AI system, but enough to make decisions about what AI technologies and tools to use and how best to use them.”
This 12-hour program, available on-campus or online, includes courses in AI, machine learning and data mining, along with an approved AI-related elective.
Narayaran said the undergraduate certificate in AI engineering is currently open only to CSSE majors.
“Students in this program will develop the deep technical knowledge and skills to solve real-world problems and issues faced by government, industry and society,” he said. “Blending this AI certificate with their chosen CSSE major in computer science or software engineering can be very advantageous for these students.”
The undergraduate certificate program’s 12-hour curriculum models the graduate certificate and includes courses in AI, machine learning and data mining with an approved AI-related elective.
“Developing cutting-edge programs like these — and meeting the growing needs of industry — is expected of leading engineering colleges in the nation,” Narayanan said. “In fact, these programs on engineering AI systems are the first of their kind in Alabama.”
Among the largest departments at Auburn University, CSSE currently offers a variety of degree and certificate programs, including B.S. in Computer Science, Bachelor of Software Engineering, Bachelor of Computer Science (online), Computer Science Minor, Undergraduate Cyber Defense Certificate, M.S. in Computer Science and Software Engineering (thesis or non-thesis options), M.S. in Cybersecurity Engineering, Graduate Certificate in Cybersecurity Engineering, M.S. in Data Science and Engineering (data science or data engineering options), Graduate Certificate in Data Engineering, and Doctor of Philosophy.
Visit here for more information about computer science and software engineering at Auburn University.
Media Contact: , jem0040@auburn.edu, 334.844.3447
New programs include a master’s degree in AI engineering, graduate certificate in AI engineering and undergraduate certificate in AI engineering.
