The Oregon Tech Board of Trustees approved proceeding with a Bachelor of Science in Artificial Intelligence degree during its December meeting, with an anticipated first cohort in Fall 2026.
The Statewide Provosts’ Council, composed of provosts from all seven of Oregon’s public universities and OHSU, also approved proceeding with the program. The next steps include review by the Higher Education Coordinating Commission and the Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities. The new program will be eligible for accreditation by ABET after graduation of the first cohort.
“Oregon Tech’s Bachelor of Science in Artificial Intelligence is designed for impact, not just credentials, placing the university among the first in applied AI education,” said President Dr. Nagi Naganthan. “Our goal is to prepare our graduates to be distinctive career-ready professionals who will develop and manage AI systems responsibly, ethically, and with a clear focus on improving the human condition.”
“The Bachelor of Science in AI is a truly interdisciplinary program with strong AI foundations and multiple tracks that prepare students for a wide range of career pathways,” said Dr. Neslihan Alp, Dean of the College of Engineering, Technology, and Management. “The first track, Applied Computing, emphasizes the practical design and deployment of AI-driven solutions, with future tracks expanding into additional applied areas.”
Students in the program will learn AI by building solutions that matter, with a curriculum shaped through collaboration with industry partners. Students will engage in project-based coursework focused on real-world AI applications, including applied labs, capstones, and industry-informed challenges, as well as collaboration with faculty and external partners on practical problems to prepare graduates to contribute to organizations and communities across Oregon.
Oregon Tech continues to work on supporting the responsible use of artificial intelligence while maintaining a human connection in teaching, research, and applied practice. This includes a recent collaboration with Google Public Sector to advance research, innovation, and skill development related to artificial intelligence.
More information about the Bachelor of Science in Artificial Intelligence will be shared as the program advances through the remaining approval processes at the state and regional levels.
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