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The Manning College of Information and Computer Sciences (CICS) is launching new undergraduate and graduate concentrations in artificial intelligence, creating formal academic pathways for computer science students seeking specialized preparation in one of the field’s fastest-growing areas.  

The concentrations build on CICS’s longstanding leadership in AI research while responding to growing student interest and evolving workforce demand for graduates who understand how AI systems work, how to use them responsibly, and how to apply them across disciplines. 

“These new concentrations reflect the growing importance of artificial intelligence and our responsibility to prepare students to shape that future thoughtfully,” said Manning CICS Dean Keith Marzullo. “At Manning CICS, students will gain advanced skills needed to lead in a rapidly changing field while advancing our mission of Computing for the Common Good.” 

The new offerings, starting in Fall 2026, create formal academic tracks for students seeking specialized knowledge in a field that is reshaping computer science education, research and professional practice.  

The undergraduate concentration formalizes what had previously been an informal pathway for students interested in artificial intelligence. Students will complete the same foundational coursework required of all computer science majors while following a more structured AI-focused pathway. 

Andrew Lan, undergraduate program director and associate professor, said the concentration was intentionally designed to fit within the existing computer science curriculum. 

“We are not actually asking students to do a lot more,” Lan said. "We just made those electives more structured.”

The graduate concentration builds on foundational coursework and specialized electives in AI, preparing students for careers in industry, research and academia. 

Students who complete the required coursework will have the concentration formally recognized on their academic transcript, providing a credential that clearly communicates AI expertise to employers and graduate programs. 

“Students really want to have AI on their resume and develop the skill set to prepare them for what’s happening in such a fast-moving field,” said Eileen Hamel, director of graduate programs. 

The new concentrations reflect broader changes occurring across higher education and the technology industry. 

“AI is changing people’s perceptions of computer science and changing what students believe they need to learn for the future,” said Professor and Chair of the Faculty Erik Learned-Miller. 

The new concentrations align closely with the college’s mission of Computing for the Common Good. Researchers at CICS have already applied AI to areas including healthcare, ecology, robotics and wearable technologies.  

Additional information about the new concentrations is available on the CICS website.