Brigham Young University (BYU) in Utah has announced a new machine learning degree available for students starting in the Fall Semester of 2023. The program builds on the previous data science degree with a specific focus on machine learning.
David Wingate, an associate professor of computer science at BYU, emphasized that machine learning and artificial intelligence (AI) represent positive changes and should be embraced. He hopes the new degree program will help students prepare for high-impact jobs while also serving as a stepping stone to further graduate studies.
Tony Martinez, a computer science professor at BYU, notes that what most people think of as AI is actually just machine learning, a tool that humans can use to solve problems much faster.
BYU senior Andrew Cohen, who minored in computer science, believes that machine learning will eventually become part of the STEM curriculum for many disciplines. The new degree program is an opportunity for multiple departments at BYU to collaborate and explore the possibilities of machine learning and data science.
With the new degree program, BYU is one of the first universities to offer a degree solely in machine learning. Students interested in learning more about the major can visit BYU’s undergraduate catalog.
