GRAND RAPIDS, MI – Responding to the increasing integration of Artificial Intelligence (AI) in the workplace, Grand Valley State University (GVSU) is establishing four new degree programs designed to equip students with the relevant skills.
The GVSU Board of Trustees approved bachelor’s and master’s degrees in artificial intelligence and software engineering at its February 21 board meeting. This decision reflects the significant rise in demand for AI expertise, particularly in the Greater Grand Rapids area.
According to research shared by GVSU, references to AI in job postings have increased substantially. Since 2022, these references have surged by 338% within the Grand Rapids area. Data presented during a GVSU Board of Education meeting detailed that there were 78 unique job postings referencing AI in 2022, which rose to 114 in 2023 and then to 342 in 2024.
At the state level, a 2024 market analysis from GVSU highlighted nearly 16,000 AI-related job postings from approximately 940 Michigan employers. This dramatic expansion is a sign of the times as AI becomes more of a factor in the job market.
University officials emphasized that the AI degree programs were developed in collaboration with over 160 industry partners. The new programs are part of an expansion of the university’s College of Computing and are slated to launch this year.
The recent proliferation of generative artificial intelligence is undeniable. For example, the platform ChatGPT has an estimated 3.65 billion monthly visits.
Meanwhile, a 2023 report from the National Skills Coalition, titled “Closing the Digital Skills Divide,” revealed that while approximately 92% of nationwide jobs require digital skills, one-third of U.S. workers lack the necessary foundational digital skills.
Currently, GVSU’s College of Computing offers undergraduate degrees in computer science, cybersecurity, data science and analytics, information systems, and information technology, with additional graduate degree options in applied computer science and health informatics and bioinformatics.
The new AI degree programs will center around the technological aspects of AI, including machine learning and AI engineering, as well as the study of AI’s societal implications. The university will offer concentrations in areas like AI ethics and bias, as well as cybersecurity, to address the moral and practical future of AI.
Jennifer Drake, GVSU’s provost and executive vice president for academic affairs, stated that it is critical that students “enter the workforce equipped with advanced technological training, as well as strong skills in critical and creative thinking, collaborative teamwork, problem-solving, and communication.”
“Understanding how the human experience shapes and is shaped by this dynamic technology will help distinguish our graduates and position them for the future,” she added.
The planned degree programs align with GVSU’s Blue Dot Initiative, a regional campaign designed to “significantly grow the technology sector in West Michigan.”
The initiative has centered around the establishment of the College of Computing in 2023 and includes plans to construct a new downtown tech lab, which is still in the design phase.
GVSU President Philomena Mantella highlighted the importance of the programs and the Blue Dot initiative in underscoring GVSU’s commitment to cutting-edge technological training and the fostering of partnerships with local industry.
“The Blue Dot ecosystem helps the tech sector envision what is yet to be and will provide the expertise and training to make it happen,” she said.
According to GVSU’s Blue Dot project update, an estimated 20,000 regional tech jobs will be added across West Michigan in the next 10 years.
As part of the degree programs, GVSU will incorporate experiential learning, such as internships and laboratory experiences, explained College of Computing Dean Marouane Kessentini.
“Our industry partners play a crucial role in shaping our curriculum in collaboration with our faculty experts,” Kessentini said. “These new programs not only address immediate talent gaps but also provide students with rich experiential learning opportunities — including internships, research, and entrepreneurial experiences — so they graduate ready to innovate and lead in the evolving tech landscape.”
Natalie Kline, a GVSU master’s student pursuing a degree in applied computer science, shared that since beginning her undergraduate studies at GVSU in 2020, she has engaged in multiple experiential learning opportunities that have “expanded my skill set and provided invaluable hands-on learning opportunities.”
Kline, expected to graduate in April 2025, spoke about her work as an applied researcher developing mobile applications and gaining expertise in AI. She noted that her experiences at GVSU “have also reinforced the importance of industry collaboration in shaping the future of technology.”
