URI to Launch New Interdisciplinary and Applied AI Major

October 27, 2026
Students gathering inside Ballentine Hall, home to URI’s College of Business.
Students gathering inside Ballentine Hall, home to URI’s College of Business. Photo: URI.

The University of Rhode Island is expanding opportunities for students to prepare for an AI-enabled world with a new Interdisciplinary and Applied AI (IAI) bachelor’s degree. Offered through the College of Business in cooperation with the College of Arts and Sciences, the program will pair practical AI skills with ethical decision-making and collaboration across disciplines.

The program will have a soft launch in spring 2027 and be fully integrated by fall 2027. Students may pursue it as a stand-alone degree or as a second major alongside another area of study.

Responsible AI, real-world experience

Students will learn to develop and apply AI tools responsibly, with attention to reputable data sources, consent, safety, security, and privacy. Interdisciplinary teams will tackle real-world problems, and a required internship will provide experience working with companies as an AI specialist.

The degree is designed to prepare graduates for opportunities across sectors, including healthcare, life sciences, business, and technology governance. Potential career paths include AI ethics, human–AI interaction design, data analysis, and entrepreneurship.

A collaborative approach to AI education

The program will be led by Indrani Mandal, associate teaching professor in the Department of Computer Science and Statistics, and Devendra (Dave) Kale, interim associate dean for undergraduate education in the College of Business.

The new major adds to URI’s growing investment in AI education and research, alongside the Institute for AI and Computational Research and existing AI-focused programs in the College of Business.

Getting started

Students can begin earning applicable credits in spring 2027 through business analytics and artificial intelligence courses in the College of Business and AI for Everyone (CSC/DSP 161) in the College of Arts and Sciences.

For program information, contact Indrani Mandal or Dave Kale (401-874-4199).

Read the full announcement on URI’s Rhody Today.

Photo: Students gathering inside Ballentine Hall, home to URI’s College of Business. Credit: URI.