New Mexico State University (NMSU) will offer the state’s first bachelor’s degree in artificial intelligence beginning in the fall of 2026. The program was recently approved by the New Mexico Department of Higher Education and the Higher Education Commission.
The new academic plan includes training in areas such as machine learning, automated reasoning, human-computer interaction, data mining, natural language processing, autonomous agents, and ethical aspects of AI.
Enrico Pontelli, dean of the NMSU College of Arts and Sciences and advisor on artificial intelligence issues, explained that the program seeks to prepare students to face scientific and practical challenges in the sector. “It will provide skills applicable to AI-related jobs, an area with growing labor demand,” he said.
The institution also promotes the Institute for Applied Practice in AI and Machine Learning, funded with $2 million in legislative resources. The institute seeks to strengthen research and training capabilities in the area, with the aim of meeting labor and technological development needs in the state. Pontelli coordinates this project as part of the New Mexico AI Consortium.
In addition to the new degree, the institute plans to offer scholarships, build specialized laboratories, and attract academic and professional talent. It is also expected to participate in the design of professional training programs, graduate studies, and online certifications.
NMSU President Valerio Ferme has promoted the expansion of AI-related initiatives, including the “1888” fundraising campaign to finance the institute.
According to the university, both the degree program and the institute seek to promote equitable access to technology education and generate solutions to social and environmental challenges in New Mexico and beyond.
