Bachelor of Applied Science, Applied AI
Bachelor of Applied Science, Applied AI
The future of work is being shaped by artificial intelligence. The Applied Artificial Intelligence concentration at Polytechnic@UofM equips students with practical skills in AI, machine learning, automation and data analytics. Designed to meet workforce demands, the program prepares graduates to evaluate, implement and manage AI-powered solutions that help organizations innovate, improve efficiency and make smarter decisions.
Applied Artificial Intelligence
Artificial intelligence is transforming the way organizations operate, solve problems and make decisions. The Applied Artificial Intelligence concentration within the Bachelor of Applied Science program prepares students to understand, implement and manage AI-powered technologies across a wide range of industries.
The Bachelor of Applied Science in Applied Artificial Intelligence (B.A.S. Applied AI), offered through The Polytechnic at the 福利片国产 of Memphis within the Herff College of Engineering, is a 120-credit-hour, workforce-centered baccalaureate program designed for adult learners, returning students, community college and TCAT transfer students, and working professionals seeking applied AI credentials.
Distinguished from traditional computer science AI programs at peer Tennessee institutions, the program requires only college algebra (MATH 1710) as its highest mathematics prerequisite鈥攅liminating the calculus barrier that has historically excluded a significant portion of Tennessee's working adult population from baccalaureate-level technology education.
The curriculum is organized around a 24-credit Applied AI Core that establishes AI literacy, data visualization, prompt engineering, information assurance, ethics, and project management skills; students then complete either the Applied AI Technology field of study, the Instructional Design & Technology field of study, or an approved field of study of their own design.
The remaining hours are completed through structured elective blocks 鈥� including Advanced Applied AI, Cybersecurity, Software Development, and Leadership/Professional Communication 鈥� allowing students to tailor the degree to their professional goals and industry context.
Delivered in a hybrid format with explicit articulation pathways from TCAT and AAS programs, and with credit for prior learning provisions for industry certifications, the program is designed to produce effective users of AI in specific application domains and targets workforce outcomes in AI-augmented roles projected to grow 15鈥�34% through 2034 in the Memphis MSA and Tennessee at large.
Program At A Glance
- Ethics & Professionalism 鈥� professional responsibility, ethical reasoning in technology contexts
- Capstone Experience 鈥� academic internship or senior capstone project synthesizing program learning
- Industry Certification or Experiential Learning 鈥� credit for approved certifications, licensures, or validated workplace learning
- AI Literacy 鈥� foundational concepts of artificial intelligence, how AI systems work, and their societal implications
- Skills and Techniques for Applied AI 鈥� hands-on AI tool use, prompt engineering, and practical workflow design
- Introduction to Information Assurance 鈥� cybersecurity principles, risk awareness, and data protection fundamentals
- Artificial Intelligence and Its Ethics 鈥� ethical frameworks, bias, fairness, privacy, and accountability in AI systems
- Computer Applications in Technology 鈥� productivity software, digital tools, and AI-assisted office applications (Microsoft 365/Copilot)
- Project Planning & Cost Evaluation 鈥� project management methods, scheduling, budgeting, and cost-benefit analysis
- Data Foundations & Visualization 鈥� data literacy, exploratory analysis, and communicating insights through visual storytelling
- Work Design & Improvement 鈥� process analysis, workflow optimization, and productivity improvement methodologies
Track A 鈥� Applied AI Technology (15 cr.):
- Programming fundamentals and applied software development
- Advanced programming and scripting for technology applications
- Database design and management for data-driven systems
- Applied machine learning tools and model evaluation
- Automation and scripting using AI-assisted development workflows
Track B 鈥� Instructional Design & Technology (12 cr.):
- Designing AI-enhanced learning experiences and educational tools
- Applied message design for instructional and digital media
- Learning analytics: using data to assess and improve educational outcomes
- Instructional design theories, models, and systematic curriculum development
Track C 鈥� Approved design you own (12 - 15 cr.):
- Advanced Applied AI 鈥� cloud and AI platform deployment, data engineering pipelines, and MLOps lifecycle management
- Cybersecurity 鈥� networking fundamentals, operating systems, enterprise security, forensics, and risk and compliance management
- Software Development 鈥� modern programming paradigms and server-side application development
- Leadership, Professional Communication & Ethics 鈥� AI ethics and governance, leadership theory, professional and technical writing, public speaking, and team communication