In a panache-filled announcement similar to the unveiling of a next-generation mobile phone, UTEP president Heather Wilson announced a new bachelor of science degree in artificial intelligence.
Classes for the degree are already starting in January in the Computer Science Department, Wilson noted during the event on Tuesday, Dec. 10, amid a packed theater of students and future employers of the program's graduates.
"This will be the third university in Texas to have an undergraduate degree in artificial intelligence," said Wilson. "We have about 1,400 computer science (students) now and this opens the opportunity for students in Texas and the Southwest to get a first-class degree in the field. UTEP is great at creating opportunities for higher education and there will be a number of jobs in that field with great salaries."
According to 2024 Bureau of Labor Statistics data cited by the university, job openings in the field are expected to increase by 30% in the next decade. With an average salary range of $96,000 to $140,000 annually, the curriculum represents an economic boon for many prospective students.
The latest degree plan will join a master's degree in artificial intelligence already offered by the university.
"The economy adapts to (new technology) and part of that is excellent higher education to have students on the cutting edge," Wilson said. "One of the great things about our academics is they have their ears open to where the demand is where their disciplines are going. They look at how to modify the curriculum to meet the needs of the students."
Wilson added that the Computer Science Department is among the academic areas that has to be the most responsive to technological trends and market shifts.
Is AI already at UTEP?
Dr. Salamah Salamah, chair of UTEP's Computer Science Department, cited the study of the technology has existed since the 1980s has evolved steadily since.
"It's been integrated into multiple departments including health care, science, education, engineering and beyond," said Salamah. "At its core, it's rooted in computer science, where researchers focus on designing algorithms to enable machines to learn, reason and make decisions. This foundational work is essential to developing robots and AI systems capable of facing complex challenges."
Aside from developing AI applications across a myriad of industries, computer scientists are also tasked with establishing and enforcing its ethical framework.
Salamah said "transparent and responsible" uses of technology must be part of the ongoing conversation surrounding artificial intelligence.
Kenith Meissner, dean of the College of Engineering, echoed the sentiment that the technology is a sea change for education and commerce.
"Just like computers and mobile phones changed every aspect of life when they were introduced, AI will change the way we live and work," said Meissner. "It's not an understatement when we say it will radically change how we'll conduct research and apply it to the real world. It will allow us to work with larger data sets and draw more precise conclusions."
Meissner noted the new degree will firmly place UTEP at the forefront of educating the next generation of AI professionals.
Biometrics, conservation and neuroscience
Undergraduate and graduate students also participated in the announcement, presenting brief overviews of research already being done at the university.
Manual Guttierez, a graduate student in the Computer Science Department, is focused on making artificial intelligence more nuanced, and surprisingly human. Through his research, the technology has a 78% accuracy in reading a subject's emotional state.
The implications of that range from homeland security to education.
"After we gave the machine 27,000 images to review and from which to learn, that accuracy was slightly better than the human standard," said Guttierez. "We tested the model using Transportation Security Administration videos with people carrying contraband. Our model can even help teachers see if their students are understanding the concepts being taught."
Damian Gallegos, also a graduate student in the Computer Science Department, is using the technology to take aim at the tenuous water supply for the El Paso and the Borderland.
"There are many factors to take into account in plant species and that includes how much water it loses each day. Based on that data we can put into our AI model, it can calculate on its own how much water is needed and do (automatically)," said Gallegos.
Finally, Ivan Acedo Aguilar is researching how artificial intelligence can map the most complex computer known to man, the human brain.
"The master brain atlas can make research more universal, and with it, we can understand our neurological behaviors by seeing the exact portion of the brain that's causing them," said Aguilar.