Carnegie Mellon University in Qatar (CMU-Q), a Qatar Foundation (QF) partner university, has announced the launch of a new undergraduate programme in artificial intelligence, the first of its kind in the country.
The Bachelor of Science in Artificial Intelligence (BSAI) will provide students with the expertise to lead in a field that is rapidly reshaping industries and societies worldwide.
CMU-Q has worked closely with Qatar’s Ministry of Education and Higher Education and Qatar Foundation to bring the globally recognised degree to Doha. The programme is designed to support Qatar’s long-term human development and economic diversification goals by building a highly skilled local workforce in artificial intelligence.
Building capacity for Qatar’s future
The BSAI will allow students to benefit from the multi-university ecosystem at Education City, which houses international partner universities, Hamad Bin Khalifa University, and research hubs. Cross-disciplinary study and collaboration will be key features, enabling students to explore how AI can be applied across healthcare, business, engineering, and other fields.
Francisco Marmolejo, President of Higher Education and Education Advisor at Qatar Foundation, said the programme represents more than just an academic milestone.
“This programme is about more than the introduction of a new curriculum—it is a launchpad for future leaders in a world increasingly shaped by intelligent technologies,” he said.
“Its graduates will not just have an understanding of AI; they will be equipped to shape it, drive its advancement, and harness it in a responsible and valuable way to solve tomorrow’s biggest challenges.”
A pivotal step for CMU-Q
Michael Trick, dean of CMU-Q, described the launch as a defining moment for the university’s presence in Qatar.
“AI is not just the future of technology, it is reshaping our world now,” he said.
“This programme will equip a new generation of leaders from Qatar and around the world with the foundational knowledge and deep understanding to drive innovation responsibly, and guide the conversation on how this technology can best serve humanity.”
A global first, now in Qatar
Carnegie Mellon became the first university in the United States to offer a BSAI degree in 2018. Ranked first in computer science by U.S. News & World Report, the programme is built on mathematics, computer science, and statistics, with in-depth courses in areas such as machine learning, natural language processing, computer vision, and human-AI interaction.
Ethics and social responsibility will be central to the curriculum, ensuring graduates are prepared to address the complex challenges of applying AI for social good.
The introduction of the BSAI at CMU-Q marks a significant step in positioning Qatar as a hub for advanced technology education and innovation, and in preparing its youth to lead in one of the most transformative fields of the 21st century.
