Training Future AI Builders
As educators delve into the potential of artificial intelligence (AI) in the classroom, the Jacobs School of Engineering is simultaneously enhancing the way students engage with this transformative technology. Introducing a new undergraduate AI major within the Department of Computer Science and Engineering, the school stands out as one of the pioneers in offering such a program in the U.S. This initiative responds directly to the increasing interest from students and the growing demand from the industry.
Mia Minnes, the vice chair for undergraduate education at the department, notes that the curriculum is bolstered by years of rigorous AI research, both within the department and throughout the campus.
“We observed a significant demand from students eager to dive deeper into this field,” Minnes explains. “Simultaneously, industry partners echoed that specialized skills in AI were becoming crucial.”
The curriculum overlaps with foundational courses in computer science while introducing core AI concepts early on. Trevor Bonjour, an assistant teaching professor who contributed to the program’s development and currently teaches its introductory course, describes the learning approach as spiral: students encounter essential ideas repeatedly, enriching their understanding as their mathematical and technical capabilities grow.
“Our goal was to ensure that students engage with these concepts from the beginning,” Bonjour shares. “They revisit them multiple times, each encounter building a more profound comprehension.”
Minnes adds that the program was established swiftly, driven by demand and the wealth of expertise already present on campus. UC San Diego has purposefully initiated the major with a smaller cohort as it continues to expand upper-division offerings.
Bonjour notes that discussions within the classroom already mirror the rapid advancements in the field. Students frequently raise topics such as algorithmic bias, the environmental impacts of data centers, and the social ramifications of AI technologies.
“They are already aware of many of these challenges,” Bonjour observes. “Often, discussions shift towards how they can tackle these issues in the systems they design.”
A New Generation Entering the Field
For first-year students like Leena Banga and Christine Antoine, both part of the inaugural cohort for the AI major, this sense of responsibility was a major factor in their decision to join the program.
Banga emphasizes that AI is now integral to almost every sector, from healthcare to transportation. This widespread integration motivated her to explore the field further and contribute to shaping its future.
