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BS in Data Science to BS in AI transition FAQ

Beginning this fall, Khoury College has renamed its Bachelor of Science in Data Science to the Bachelor of Science in Artificial Intelligence — a change that also applies to the 24 combined majors that previously paired data science with another field.

We know changes like this one raise questions about your degree, your plan of study, and next steps. Below, Christo Wilson, associate dean of academic programs and student experience, provides answers about the shift from data science to artificial intelligence and what the change means for you. If you have additional questions, check the course catalog or reach out to our undergraduate advising team.

What actually changed with the data science to artificial intelligence programs transition, and why?

As of fall 2026, all of Khoury College’s undergraduate data science degrees have been renamed to AI. This includes the standalone degree and the 24 combined majors that were previously DS.

The renaming was discussed extensively among faculty and there was overwhelming support for the change, for two main reasons. First, we believe the new name more accurately reflects the learning outcomes of the degree. The required courses and elective options have always emphasized machine learning and AI; this contrasts with data science degrees at other universities, which are often more focused on statistics and are offered by statistics departments rather than computer science.

Second, we are seeing increased demand from students, parents, and employers for AI skills. This makes sense given the recent, unprecedented advances in AI research and technology. The faculty feel strongly that Khoury students are being well-prepared for this future, and that by implementing this name change, we can better communicate this strength.

Did the curriculum or courses also change?

Independent of the name change, the data science and AI faculty did a comprehensive review of our undergraduate course offerings. This led us to make some changes to streamline our curriculum.

Khoury College has long offered a robust set of machine learning and AI classes. However, these classes all had different prerequisite requirements, which made it hard for faculty to know what experience students would bring to the classroom. This also sometimes led to introductory material being repeated across classes.

To address these issues, starting in fall 2026, the upper-level machine learning and AI classes will be organized around a two-class prerequisite core, consisting of DS 3000 and DS 4400:

How does the change affect students already enrolled in the BS in Data Science major or a DS combined major?

Students who are currently enrolled in a data science degree will remain in their chosen program, i.e. their degree will still say “Data Science.” However, existing students may choose to switch into one of the new AI degrees by contacting their academic advisor and changing their catalog year.

Can I still study DS as an undergraduate if I’m interested in it?

The data science degrees do not exist in the 2026–27 catalog, so it is no longer possible for new students to earn a degree with the title “Data Science.” That said, the learning outcomes of Khoury College’s courses have not changed. If you were interested in our classes before, you should still be interested in them now.

Is the AI degree “harder” or more technical than DS?

No. Aside from the modifications to DS 3000 and the course prerequisites, none of the program’s learning outcomes or specific classes are changing. Students remain free to specialize their skills by choosing from our many elective options, including neural networks, natural language processing, reinforcement learning, and AI security. Over time, we expect the materials taught in our upper-level machine learning and AI courses to deepen, once faculty adjust to the new baseline skillset of the prerequisite core. Any employer or graduate school that examines our offerings will see that they remain just as strong as they were before the name change.

Does this affect what jobs I’ll be qualified for after graduation?

Given that the skills taught by our classes are not changing, we do not believe these changes will impact students’ job readiness. In fact, we are seeing increased interest from employers for students who have a variety of AI skills, as well as job listings for new roles like “AI engineer.” We hope that the name change will signal to employers that Khoury students are ready to take on these new and exciting roles.

Does this also affect the DS master’s program?

No. We continue to offer separate master’s degrees in data science and AI.

Have more questions about the DS to AI transition?

Contact our undergraduate advising team