UA To Establish First-In-State School Of Data Science Focused On AI

TUSCALOOSA, AL — The University of Alabama on Tuesday announced plans to establish a new School of Data Science, which university officials say will be the first academic unit of its kind in Alabama focused on artificial intelligence.

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Pending approval by the UA System Board of Trustees, the school is expected to open in 2027 and will serve as a hub for data science, artificial intelligence and related research.

UA said the school will partner with all 13 of the university’s colleges and schools, with the goal of making data literacy, data analytics and artificial intelligence foundational skills for students across all majors.

“The School of Data Science represents a historic investment in Alabama’s future,” UA President Peter J. Mohler said. “As the first of its kind in the state, and one of the first in the South, it aligns directly with our goal to position The University of Alabama as a national academic leader.”

The school is expected to offer undergraduate, master’s and doctoral programs, combining technical training with ethical, social and economic considerations tied to artificial intelligence and data use.

UA said the school will be closely connected to the university’s High Performance Computing and Data Center, which includes high-capacity GPU clusters, petabyte-scale storage and high-speed networking.

University officials also said the school will also support faculty work in quantum computing, with potential applications in cybersecurity, materials science and national defense.

UA said a national search for the school’s inaugural dean will begin in the fall.

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