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Submitter's Information
Teresa Ong
Vice President, Workforce Innovation and Economic Development
Bay Area
Foothill College
CTE Dean
Teresa Ong
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Program Details
Artificial Intelligence, AS Degree
New Program
Computer Information Systems (070200)
07/01/27
The Associate in Science in Artificial Intelligence degree is for any student looking to gain foundational knowledge in data science and machine learning, as well as how these skills can be ethically applied in fields such as data engineering, natural language processing, and robotics. The program is relevant for students looking to enter the workforce directly, transfer into a bachelor's degree engineering program, or simply explore and learn more about how AI models work.
Based on historical data in the Computer Science department and the heightened interest in artificial intelligence, we anticipate at least 30 students to complete the degree in the initial year and at least 50 per year in subsequent years, including year five.
Program Proposal Attributes
- A.S. Degree (S)
The Associate in Science in Artificial Intelligence degree is designed to develop both academic understanding and workforce-ready skills in the design, implementation, and management of intelligent systems. Academically, the program introduces students to the core principles of machine learning and artificial intelligence through coursework that integrates mathematical foundations, algorithm development, and data engineering. Students learn to build and refine models using a range of computational tools and frameworks, including supervised and unsupervised learning, neural networks, and natural language processing. Throughout the curriculum, students engage with algorithmic logic and ethical reasoning, while learning to conceptualize, program, and evaluate AI solutions that address complex technical and societal challenges.
Vocationally, the degree prepares students with versatile technical skills that are highly valued in technology, finance, healthcare, and research industries that rely on data-driven automation. Students gain technical proficiency in high-level programming, data lifecycle management, model deployment, and ethical auditing, along with experience developing end-to-end AI projects from raw data through final performance optimization. These competencies support entry-level opportunities as AI technicians, data associates, junior machine learning engineers, and MLOps assistants, while also equipping students with the rigorous quantitative skills needed to pursue advanced degrees or specialized roles in emerging tech sectors. The overall objective of the degree is to integrate mathematical rigor, technical execution, and ethical oversight, in order to prepare students for continued study and for participation in a contemporary workforce that bridges software engineering, data science, and intelligent automation.
Program Learning Outcomes
Program Learning Outcomes |
Students will be able to design, develop, and deploy machine learning models—including supervised, unsupervised, and reinforcement learning systems—using industry-standard programming languages and frameworks to solve complex, real-world data problems. |
Students will demonstrate the ability to perform the full data pipeline process, including data acquisition, cleaning, feature engineering, and statistical analysis, ensuring the integrity and quality of datasets used for training autonomous systems. |
Students will critically evaluate the ethical implications of AI technologies, identifying potential biases in algorithms and data, and proposing mitigation strategies to ensure fairness, privacy, and transparency in automated decision-making. |
Course Units and Hours
n/a
49.5
30(minimum), 44(maximum)
Course Report
Students are required to complete all 49.5 units.
| Course | Title | Units | Year/Semester (Y1 or S1) |
|---|---|---|---|
CS 3A | Object Oriented Programming Methodologies in Python | 4.5 | Y1F |
| CS 8A | Introduction to Data Science | 4.5 | Y1F |
| CS 3B | Intermediate Software Design in Python | 4.5 | Y1W |
| HUMN 15 | Ethics in Artificial Intelligence | 4 | Y1W |
| CS 3C | Advanced Data Structures and Algorithms in Python | 4.5 | Y1S |
| Math 22 | Discrete Mathematics | 5 | Y1S |
| CS 12A | Introduction to Machine Learning | 4.5 | Y2F |
| CS 11A | Introduction to Artificial Intelligence | 4.5 | Y2F |
| CS 12B | Deep Learning | 4.5 | Y2W |
| CS 31A | Introduction to Database Management Systems | 4.5 | Y2W |
| CS 11B | Natural Language Processing | 4.5 | Y2S |
Supporting Documents
Bay Area Regional Questions
CTE & Transfer
n/a.
This program is appropriate in Computer Science. Foothill does not have a similar degree. We are preparing certificates concurrently. Note that we plan to add more support courses as they become available in the catalog
There are currently no community colleges in our region offering an associate degree in artificial intelligence or machine learning.
Submission Details
05/22/26 - 03:40 PM
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Please list the reason(s) for returning "Artificial Intelligence, AS Degree". to Teresa Ong's drafts. This message will be sent to ongteresa@foothill.edu
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