Artificial Intelligence, B.S.
The undergraduate major in Artificial Intelligence provides students with a rigorous education in the study of intelligent agents and systems—the science of creating machines capable of perceiving, reasoning, learning, and making complex decisions.
UC MERCED ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE PROGRAM
A degree in Artificial Intelligence from UC Merced prepares students to lead the next generation of technological innovation. Our curriculum provides a deep foundation in the mathematical and computational pillars of AI, including machine learning, neural networks, natural language processing, and autonomous robotics. Beyond technical proficiency, our students are trained to navigate the critical intersection of technology and society, addressing essential questions of algorithmic bias, data privacy, and the responsible deployment of automation.
Students in this program work alongside world-class faculty pioneering research at the forefront of the field. The program combines intensive hands-on experience with pre-trained models and large-scale data pipelines with theoretical mastery of optimization and statistical learning. This dual approach ensures that our graduates do not merely use existing tools but possess the intellectual ability to invent the AI architectures of the future as the field evolves at a transformative pace.
At UC Merced, AI students participate in an ecosystem of innovation—from collaborative lab research to multidisciplinary team projects that mirror the modern tech workforce. From the first line of code in an introductory AI course to the final validation of a capstone autonomous system, our students gain the technical expertise and ethical foresight to excel as leaders in the most influential industry of the 21st century.
WHAT CAN YOU DO WITH AN Artificial Intelligence DEGREE?
The Artificial Intelligence sector represents one of the most vital engines of economic growth and scientific discovery in California and beyond. AI careers are at the forefront of the global economy, offering unparalleled opportunities to solve pressing challenges in medicine, sustainability, finance, and social infrastructure.
- Annual Job Openings: 1.7 job postings per graduates
- 10-year projected job market growth: 12%
- Median wage in California: $122,326
Upon graduation, you might become:
- AI/Machine Learning Engineer
- AI Architect
- AI Consultant
- AI Manager
- AI Programmer
- AI Analyst
- Data Scientist
- Software Developer
- Information Security Analyst
The top 10 industries that graduates of Artificial Intelligence degrees work in:
- Computer Software
- Internet
- Information Technology and Services
- Research
- Higher Education
- Defense and Space
- Financial Services
- Management Consulting
- Automotive
Artificial Intelligence is a new major, so there are no alumni yet. Graduates of similar programs have been hired at well-known companies such as Apple, Amazon, Deloitte, Google, Meta, Microsoft, and OpenAI, as well as many higher education institutions.