by Brooke Keltner
CARBONDALE, Ill. — Beginning with the fall 2026 semester, Southern Illinois University Carbondale will become the first public university in Illinois to offer a Bachelor of Science degree in Artificial Intelligence Plus (AI+).
“Artificial intelligence technology is advancing rapidly,” said Xiaoqing “Frank” Liu, dean of the College of Engineering, Computing, Technology, and Mathematics. “Many students are expressing that they want to learn this technology in a systematic way. This program will fill an educational need in Illinois, particularly Southern Illinois.”
SIU Carbondale will join a short list of fewer than a dozen universities nationwide to offer a bachelor’s degree in artificial intelligence+ — giving SIU a competitive edge in attracting students while offering affordable tuition, Liu said.
AI+ is focused on teaching students artificial intelligence technologies while selecting a minor area to apply the technology, offering a unique interdisciplinary approach.
For the past three years, SIU has been working on developing this program. School of Computing faculty and partnering programs across the SIU campus contributed to program development. The AI+ major builds upon SIU’s computing curriculum, adding an emphasis on artificial intelligence and machine learning, according to Chun-Hsi “Vincent” Huang, the School of Computing director. Students will be required to take 39 credit hours of core university curriculum, nine hours of general electives, 49 credit hours of program foundation and required courses, and 12 credit hours of major electives related to artificial intelligence.
All students will also be required to complete a minimum 12-hour credit minor from our partnering programs. The program will allow students the choice of an area to apply artificial intelligence, currently including:
- Advertising:Explores how AI is transforming the industry through data-driven creativity, audience insights, content generation, media optimization, personalization, and emerging agentic marketing systems that can autonomously analyze, optimize, and adapt campaigns in real time.
- Business analytics: Emphasizes applying big data or new technologies such as AI in business settings.
- Computer science: Build in-depth algorithms, data structures, and advanced AI-related computing.
- Construction management and operations: Focuses on project planning, digital tools, and sustainability in applied engineering contexts.
- Geographic information systems (GIS): Allows students to apply AI techniques in current geospatial techniques and analytical skills.
- Information technologies: Emphasizes applied tech skills in networks, systems, and software relevant to AI.
- Marketing: Emphasizes effective marketing, which is essential to organizations in their efforts to achieve a competitive advantage that can be sustained.
- Mathematics: Enhances theoretical foundations for AI through advanced courses in logic, modeling, and statistics.
- Sustainability: With AI techniques, students can further expand their knowledge and understanding of long-term sustainability of the earth’s resources, including water, land use, food systems, climate change, urban sustainability, and green energy.
Liu believes the program stands out because of its interdisciplinary approach compared to traditional, highly structured computer science programs.
“AI+ focuses on the application of AI technology,” Liu said. “Students will learn the artificial intelligence technology and get a minor in the area where they want to apply it. This is unique because not only will students take AI classes, but they also need to think about how to apply this technology to the public domain.”
Career Opportunities
Previous students in the College of Engineering, Computing, Technology, and Mathematics have had full-time employment or internships at companies including Apple, Boeing, Caterpillar Inc., Google, Lockheed Martin, and Microsoft, as well as many companies in Illinois.
“This will provide students with a lot of opportunities for full-time employment and internships because so many industries are searching for students with AI expertise,” Liu said.
Serving students across campus
The program is open to all students on campus, not just those enrolled in the College of Engineering, Computing, Technology, and Mathematics, Huang said.
“Several courses in this program do not require too many prerequisites, so other majors can benefit from the course offerings,” he said. “We also plan to offer some general education courses in artificial intelligence.”
Additional information and admission requirements are available on the program’s website.
The program’s future steps include adding more minors, offering an online version, as well as creating an AI+ minor, certifications or a graduate degree.
Filling a need
Knowing AI techniques is becoming increasingly important in the job market, and the need for the skill set is expected to grow. Industries like healthcare, finance, manufacturing, marketing, education and logistics are moving toward this technology to optimize operations.
“Recent industry reports from the World Economic Forum and McKinsey Global Institute show the annual growth rate of jobs requiring AI skills is projected at 20-25% compound annual growth through 2030,” Huang said.
He believes students majoring in AI will have a competitive edge when they graduate and enter the workforce as they can use their skill set to solve real-world problems.
“The training of artificial intelligence now requires more extensive exposure dedicated to AI,” he said. “Students majoring in AI+ and with their selected minor will be strong candidates when it comes to hiring.”