UA Little Rock students explore the future through new artificial intelligence degree

From asking a chatbot a question to encountering facial recognition technology or riding in a self-driving car, today’s students are interacting with artificial intelligence in more ways than ever before.

Students in the University of Arkansas at Little Rock’s new Bachelor of Science in Artificial Intelligence want to do more than simply use AI. They want to understand how it works and explore what they can build with it.

This fall marks the inaugural semester for the new major, which gives students the opportunity to study topics ranging from AI governance and machine learning to natural language processing, robotics, and deep learning. The 120-hour program combines technical coursework with hands-on projects and includes two capstone courses that allow students to apply their knowledge.

For freshman Anshika Singh, the new degree comes at a time when her curiosity about technology is becoming a career goal.

Singh, an India native who has lived in Little Rock for the past four years, initially planned to major in computer science, but as she learned more about the growing role of artificial intelligence in technology careers, she decided she wanted to study AI more directly.

“I was originally planning to major in computer science, but the more I looked into it, the more I realized AI was reshaping what those jobs even look like,” Singh said. “A lot of roles that used to be purely computer science are folding in AI skills now. I wanted to actually understand the technology driving that shift instead of just adjacent to it.”

The new program appealed to Singh because of its emphasis on machine learning and the opportunity to specialize in a field she sees transforming the technology industry.

She is particularly interested in understanding the technology behind AI tools she already encounters in everyday life.

“I’m really looking forward to digging into the history of AI — how it actually got started — and then comparing how today’s models like Claude, ChatGPT, and Gemini work under the hood,” Singh said.

Her curiosity also extends to applications such as facial recognition and self-driving cars. After riding in a self-driving vehicle, Singh said, AI became less abstract and more tangible because she had experienced the technology firsthand.

She hopes to eventually work as an AI engineer, building and deploying machine learning models to solve real-world problems.

Junior Coy Stone also sees the new degree as a way to turn a longstanding interest in technology into a career.

A transfer student from Southern Arkansas University, Stone initially came to UA Little Rock intending to study computer engineering. During his first advising meeting, however, he learned about the new AI program and realized it aligned closely with what he hoped to do professionally.

“I actually transferred to UA Little Rock for computer engineering, but it was in hopes to work with AI,” Stone said. “When I was in my first advising meeting I was told about the new AI degree, and it sounded perfect for everything I wanted to do with my career.”

Stone is particularly interested in machine learning and the process through which computers can learn to identify patterns and solve problems.

“The way that a computer can ‘think’ its way through a problem is a concept I still struggle to grasp, so learning exactly how it all works is going to be really fun to study,” he said.

He is also interested in the potential applications of AI in health care, particularly ways the technology could assist doctors and contribute to improved patient outcomes.

Stone said he wants to use his education to do meaningful work that can make a difference in other people’s lives.

For Joud Musallam, pursuing an AI degree represents another step in a longer educational journey.

Musallam began her education in Jordan before continuing her studies in the United States and earning an associate degree in technology and engineering. She said artificial intelligence has been an area she has wanted to study since she first began college.

When she learned that UA Little Rock was offering a bachelor’s degree specifically in AI, she knew she wanted to pursue it.

“Being able to officially major in artificial intelligence at UA Little Rock feels really meaningful to me,” Musallam said.

She’s especially interested in learning how AI works beyond simply using the technology and exploring how it can be applied responsibly to real-world problems and different industries.

As UA Little Rock expands its academic offerings in artificial intelligence, students entering the new program will have the opportunity to study a rapidly evolving field alongside faculty engaged in AI and machine learning research. The university has existing research strengths in areas including artificial intelligence, machine learning, data science, and cybersecurity, providing opportunities for students to connect classroom learning with research and applied projects.

“What makes this program especially exciting is that it is built on a strong foundation of AI and machine learning research already taking place at UA Little Rock,” said Dr. Brian Berry, vice provost of research and dean of the Graduate School. “Our students won’t just learn how to use the AI tools that exist today; they will have opportunities to understand the science behind them, work alongside faculty engaged in cutting-edge research, and develop the skills to build what comes next. This program will help prepare the AI builders of the future who can create, improve, and responsibly deploy the technologies that will shape our economy and society for generations to come.”

The new degree has also drawn interest from industry leaders who see opportunities to strengthen partnerships with the university and prepare students for the growing demand for AI skills.

“In the past, we might have had to go outside the state to look for some of these programs,” said Michael Goad, manager of cybersecurity and access management at Southwest Power Pool. “To see a program like this here locally, we’re excited to get to partner with UA Little Rock and for what this partnership looks like in the future.”

For Singh, Stone, and Musallam, the new degree offers different paths into the same rapidly evolving field, united by a shared desire to understand not just what the technology can do, but what they can do with it.

“I just know I want to do something meaningful, something that can actually impact the lives of others around me,” Stone said.