Following the lead of other schools, UC San Diego has created an undergraduate degree program in artificial intelligence, a rapidly developing field that could affect everything from drug discovery to the operation of driverless buses.
The program began in September with more than 200 students, a number the university says will rise to 1,000 by 2029. UCSD will focus on teaching students to build next-generation AI systems and to deal with ethical questions that arise from the use of AI.
UCSD has been a leader in computer science since the 1970s, attracting researchers such as Ken Bowles, who helped popularize personal computers, benefiting such entrepreneurs as Steve Jobs, the late head of Apple.
But many other top universities have been faster to introduce undergraduate programs in AI, including Carnegie Mellon, Penn and Purdue University.
San Diego State University recently created an undergraduate program in AI that will begin operating next year.
Originally Published: October 16, 2025 at 10:13 AM PDT