University Launches New AI Bachelor’s Degree, First in Tennessee
Tennessee Tech University launching the state’s first bachelor’s degree in AI beginning in fall 2026
Tennessee Tech is launching a new Bachelor of Science in Artificial Intelligence, beginning in Fall 2026. This marks the first undergraduate major in the field within the state of Tennessee. The program emerges from the university’s existing “data science and artificial intelligence” concentration within its computer science major, and has been given full approval by the Tennessee Higher Education Commission.
What sets this offering apart is its deep engineering focus: students won’t just apply AI but will build and understand it “under the hood” via coursework in parallel programming, deep learning and human-AI interaction to develop foundational knowledge of intelligent systems. The Tennessee Tech University program is closely tied to the university’s newly launched MInDS Center (Machine Intelligence & Data Science), situated to link faculty, students and industry around AI education and workforce development.
Why this matters for The Knoxville AI Hub
Tennessee Tech’s new AI degree strengthens the state’s entire ecosystem. For educators and students, it opens a true in-state pathway to pursue an AI major without leaving Tennessee—especially beneficial for East Tennessee families. For the workforce and small businesses, it helps create a home-grown pool of AI-capable talent that local companies, startups, and tech employers can hire directly. And for civic and community leaders, it signals meaningful statewide investment in AI capacity, positioning Tennessee for stronger economic growth, innovation, and long-term competitiveness.
For more detailed information, you can read the full announcement here: Tennessee Tech to launch new bachelor’s degree in artificial intelligence in fall 2026
