Pending approval by the Ohio Department of Higher Education, students would learn how to apply AI to one of six different fields of study.
BOWLING GREEN, Ohio — Bowling Green State University students may be able to study artificial intelligence as part of a new degree program next fall semester.
The Bachelor of Science in “AI + X,” approved by the university’s board of trustees on Friday, would teach students how to use AI in one of six fields of study: computer science, mathematics, physics, history, journalism or public relations.
The state Department of Higher Education must also approve the program before BGSU can officially offer it to students, which it hopes to do in the fall of 2025.
“As a public university for the public good, Bowling Green is committed to offering in-demand programs that support student learning experiences and opportunities while meeting the current and future workforce needs of Ohio and beyond. As more employers implement advanced technologies with AI, this program in AI + X will empower students to design their degree around a specific focus to drive innovation in workforce and industry, leading to great careers and great lives,” BGSU President Rodney Rogers said in a press release from the university.
Graduates of the program would have skills that qualify them for multiple careers in AI and computer science fields, including AI developers, data scientists and machine learning engineers, as well as “roles within sectors that blend AI with specific domains, including scientific research, social policy, creative industries and business analytics,” the university says.
The program is something BGSU hopes will slot nicely into a burgeoning technology scene in Wood County, as state officials revealed last month that Meta is building an $800 million AI-powered data center in Middleton Township.
Named the Bowling Green Data Center, the 715,000-square-foot facility off of Dixie Highway would be the tech company’s second in Ohio and would staff about 100 employees.
At last month’s press conference, officials said 2027 is the anticipated year of completion.
Trustees also approved two other programs slated for the same launch window of this fall, pending state approval: Master of Science and Software Engineering and Bachelor of Arts in Environmental Studies.
