Idaho State University Launches AI Sciences Bachelor's Degree Fall 2026

Idaho State University has officially received approval to launch an Artificial Intelligence Sciences bachelor's degree program this fall. The announcement came on April 13, 2026, positioning the school to address what officials describe as one of the world's most in-demand technical fields.

The degree sits at the intersection of two departments: Mathematics & Statistics and Computer Science. This dual-home structure reflects a deliberate choice to emphasize both the theoretical foundations and applied technologies that power modern AI systems. Students can choose between two concentrations: one focused on mathematical and statistical foundations, the other on the technologies producing AI.

According to the official university announcement, employment in AI is projected to grow by 34 percent by 2034, per U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics data. That's a significant number when you consider the current job market's volatility.

Associate Professor of Computer Science Paul Bodily noted that while many associate AI primarily with computer science, the field's roots run deeper. "Many AI models consist purely of mathematics, the field that computer science came from, and statistics," Bodily said. The program's structure acknowledges this reality rather than treating AI as a purely software engineering discipline.

Public interest in AI has surged in recent years due to Large Language Models like ChatGPT, Gemini, and Claude. But the foundational models for these systems have existed for decades. What's changed is the specific design and scale of these models, creating what Bodily called a watershed moment. (He used that phrase himself, which is rare for academics these days.)

Up to 80 percent of the degree can be completed online. This flexibility matters for students who need to work while studying, or those who live in rural areas where commuting to campus isn't practical. The physical reality of online coursework means logging into learning management systems, submitting code through digital platforms, and attending virtual office hours rather than walking across campus to a lecture hall.

Associate Professor of Computer Science Leslie Kirby emphasized the program's potential for interdisciplinary expansion. "AI is inherently interdisciplinary, and at ISU, we're especially excited about future tracks that connect AI with our strengths in areas like health sciences, business and engineering." Future pathways could include healthcare AI, AI engineering, or domain-specific applications.

The Idaho State Board of Education has established AI catalysts at Idaho universities that meet weekly with the state's Academic Technology Program Manager, Dr. Liza Long. ISU's AI catalyst is Professor of English Abraham Romney, who serves on the president's AI task force.

Romney has been researching ways to apply AI in the classroom for some time. He acknowledges the challenges AI presents, including ethical concerns and those who refuse to use it. "Despite the challenges presented by AI, and with respect to those who refused to use it or want to refuse to use it because of ethical reasons, it has so much potential to help with learning," Romney said.

He would like to see ISU implement a university-wide policy to help students navigate the various approaches and expectations around AI use. "Helping instructors to make clear policies and informed determinations of when to use and when not to use AI should go a long way toward making those policies more clear for students," Romney explained.

The student newspaper The Bengal reported additional details about the program's development and Romney's perspective on AI literacy. Romney believes job markets and industries leveraging this technology will ultimately make it clear that students need preparation to use it effectively.

From a practical standpoint, students will need to understand what AI tools do and how to shape their outputs. This isn't just about knowing how to prompt a chatbot. It's about understanding the underlying mechanics well enough to verify outputs, identify biases, and apply AI appropriately in professional contexts.

The program's timing reflects broader trends in higher education. Universities across the country are scrambling to add AI-related coursework, often retrofitting existing programs rather than building from scratch. ISU's approach of creating a dedicated degree program suggests confidence in sustained demand rather than treating AI as a passing trend.

For prospective students, the decision to enroll involves weighing several factors. The program's online flexibility is attractive, but hands-on experience with physical computing hardware and in-person collaboration may be limited compared to fully on-campus programs. Students should consider whether their career goals require that kind of tactile experience.

The mathematics and statistics concentration will focus on foundational aspects of AI. This means more calculus, linear algebra, probability theory, and statistical modeling. The computer science concentration will focus on technologies producing AI, which likely includes machine learning frameworks, neural network architectures, and software engineering practices.

Neither concentration appears to be a quick path to employment. AI development requires substantial technical depth. Students should expect rigorous coursework, late nights debugging code, and the frustration of models that refuse to converge no matter how many times you adjust the hyperparameters.

Whether this program actually prepares students for the job market remains to be seen. The 34 percent growth projection is compelling, but it doesn't account for how AI tools themselves might change the nature of AI-related jobs. The field could evolve faster than the curriculum can adapt.

Idaho State University has made a significant bet on AI education. The question isn't whether the degree will launch. It's whether graduates will find the employment opportunities the program promises, and whether the curriculum stays relevant as the technology continues to evolve at breakneck speed.

Artūras Malašauskas is an AI Systems Integrator with 20+ years of production-grade web engineering experience. He has designed, shipped, and scaled enterprise Python/PHP systems for logistics, SaaS, and public-sector clients. For the past year, he has focused exclusively on AI integrations: deploying open-source LLMs, building generative media pipelines (image, audio, video), and engineering multi-agent workflows for real production environments. His standard: reproducibility, security, cost-efficient inference—no vaporware. He documents and evaluates emerging AI tooling, separating verified capabilities from marketing noise. Technical editor at: muza-ai.eu, ai-verslas.lt, ai-naujinos.lt Connect on LinkedIn