Kennesaw State University Becomes First School In Georgia To Offer Bachelor’s And Graduate Degrees In AI

Georgia is now home to a first-of-its-kind AI degree program.

According to a news release, the Board of Regents of the University System of Georgia approved the launch of a bachelor’s degree in AI at Kennesaw State University (KSU), starting in fall 2026 on the KSU Marietta Campus and online through the College of Computing and Software Engineering.

The degree will include a first-year experience course, a writing-intensive course geared toward computing, and an applied AI capstone that will also give students a chance to work with industry partners, the news release noted. There will also be internships and undergraduate research opportunities available for credit.

The announcement arrives as the state prepares for a surge of 186,000 new STEM jobs over the next five years, per the news release. As previously reported by AFROTECH™, Atlanta ranks second among best cities for STEM professionals. Over the next decade, STEM professionals are projected to earn a median income of $103,580, more than double the projected earnings of non-STEM workers, who are expected to make up to $48,000 during the same period, AFROTECH™ shared.

“With AI driving innovation across industries including health care, manufacturing, logistics, public safety and business services, our new degree is structured to help meet Georgia’s expanding need for a highly skilled workforce,” said Ivan Pulinkala, KSU’s provost and executive vice president for academic affairs, in a news release. “Students will gain the training necessary to enter careers that support the state’s economic competitiveness and respond to employer demand for professionals who can build and apply AI-driven technologies.”

Yiming Ji, interim dean of the College of Computing and Software Engineering, added:

“The interdisciplinary nature of the degree, including the core foundation in computing and the required minor in a field where AI applications are growing, will equip our students to maximize the limitless potential of artificial intelligence. At a time when technology is transforming business and industry at an extraordinary pace, our graduates will be prepared to apply artificial intelligence ethically and effectively in real-world settings.”

What’s more, KSU became the first school to offer both a graduate and a bachelor’s degree in the field, having offered a Master of Science in AI since 2024.