The program, designed to prepare students for the rapidly growing field of AI, will be available to current SDSU students starting in October.

SAN DIEGO — San Diego State University has launched a new Bachelor of Science degree in Artificial Intelligence and Human Responsibility, the first of its kind in the California State University system. The program, designed to prepare students for the rapidly growing field of AI, will be available to current SDSU students starting in October.

“I can say pretty confidently, there is no other degree like this with a depth of study and knowledge nationwide at the undergraduate level,” said Todd Butler, Dean of the College of Arts and Letters at SDSU.

The new major aims to teach students not only about AI technology but also how to determine its appropriate use. Butler explained the program’s development, saying, “We started with a comprehensive understanding of what will California’s workforce and the society need, not just right now, but in the future as this moves into all phases of our lives, and how do we ensure that California leads not only in the technology space, but in the the space of ethics and appropriate use for these for these technologies.”

In addition to the major, SDSU plans to offer a minor option next year and is considering a certificate program for the general public in the long term. The introduction of this program comes as the global AI market is projected to grow at a rate of more than 31% through 2033, reaching an estimated $1.8 trillion by 2030, according to a report by Grand View Research.

Students on campus have expressed interest in the new major. 

“It catches my attention. This AI major. A lot of people use it,” said Tanner Smylie, a student at SDSU.

Another student, Skyler Pinkert, commented on the rapid advancement of technology, saying, “It’s kind of crazy. I grew up with a little bit of technology, and now it’s taking over, and I’m slowly getting used to and will probably have [to] get used to that as I go into my life later.”

With AI becoming increasingly integrated into various aspects of daily life, Butler believes that more schools will begin offering AI as a major, and graduates with this expertise will be in high demand across industries.

“So we’re looking to help build somebody’s ability to have a career rather than just a first job,” Butler said, emphasizing the program’s focus on long-term career development in the field of AI.