BS Artificial Intelligence for Business (BUAI)
BS Artificial Intelligence for Business
Artificial intelligence is transforming every industry, creating unprecedented opportunities and redefining what it means to lead. Tomorrow’s organizations will need professionals who understand both the technology behind AI and the business strategies that bring it to life.
USC’s Bachelor of Science in Artificial Intelligence for Business prepares students to become those leaders.
Offered jointly by the USC Marshall School of Business and the USC Viterbi School of Engineering, AI for Business is the nation’s first undergraduate degree to combine the power of artificial intelligence with the strategic foundations of business. Through an integrated curriculum, immersive industry experiences, and personalized mentorship, students develop the technical expertise, business acumen, and leadership skills to shape the future of business in the age of AI.
Degree Overview
Joint-Degree
The joint AI for Business degree is a four-year, 128-unit program in which students take courses at both Marshall and Viterbi, and their diplomas reflect the names of both schools upon graduation. Students take both core business courses at Marshall and AI-focused classes at Viterbi with additional new integrative courses."
Viterbi Engineering Coursework
Viterbi coursework covers machine learning, human interactions, robotics, and programming. As part of the degree requirements students will also study ethics.
Marshall Business Coursework
All students complete the Business core fundamentals covering accounting, economics, finance, marketing, leadership and organizational behavior, operations management, strategy, and communications.
Integrative Classes
AI for Business integrative classes provide a larger context for making business decisions in the AI age. These four courses, created within Marshall specifically for the joint degree, include a semester-long program for first-year students, as well as classes in digital transformation, AI and smart contracts, technology strategy, and a program that offers students real-life experiences in the AI sector.
“Most degree programs in this space focus solely on technical know-how or business expertise, but we combine the two into something better. AI is a tool that needs to be leveraged, and it’s only possible to leverage it if you know what needs lift. Our business courses give our students the perspective to know where to use their technical skills.”
— Charlie Hannigan, BUAI Academic Director, Assistant Professor of Clinical Data Sciences and Operations
“The new AI for Business degree is designed to mold leaders who [will be] impact-driven professionals… exposed to a unique blend of business, technical, ethics and leadership courses and who will be able to pose the right questions as well as generate the right answers. We will be one of only a handful of universities around the globe where students have the opportunity to develop their technical, business and leadership skills to pursue careers in one of the fastest-growing parts of the tech sector.”
— Kimon Drakopoulos, BUAI Academic Director, Robert R. Dockson Assistant Professor in Business Administration, and Assistant Professor of Data Sciences and Operations
“We know there is a tremendous need in the marketplace and throughout society for students who are trained in business, but also understand how AI works, what machine learning means, and are willing to take on the ethical implications of these technologies.”
— Ramandeep Randhawa, Vice Dean for Undergraduate Programs and Professor of Data Sciences and Operations
PROGRAM HIGHLIGHTS
The AI for Business Network
Meet Our Faculty
Milan Miric is an associate professor in the Information Systems Group. He joined USC in 2016 following the completion of his PhD at Copenhagen Business School.
Adel Javanmard is a Professor in the department of Data Sciences and Operation, at USC Marshall School of Business, and an executive member of the iORB committee. Previously he was the Dean's Associate chair. He received his PhD in Electrical Engineering from Stanford University in 2014. His research interests are broadly in the area of high-dimensional statistics, machine learning, optimization, and personal decision making. Adel is the recipient of several highly prestigious awards, including the Alfred Sloan research fellow in mathematics, IMS Tweedie New Researcher Award, NSF CAREER award, Faculty Research Awards from Amazon, Adobe, Google and the Thomas Cover dissertation award from IEEE Society. He was the recipient of the Dr. Douglas Basil Award for Junior Business Faculty (2018) and the Deans' award for Research Excellence (2024). He also received the USC Golden Apple Award for teaching in undergraduate program (2022).
Vishal Gupta is an Associate Professor of Data Sciences and Operations at the USC Marshall School of Business. Because of his research interests and expertise, he also holds a courtesy appointment in USC Viterbi’s School of Engineering in Industrial and Systems Engineering, and is an affiliate faculty with USC’s Center for AI and Society.
Meet our Board of Advisors
Yael Garten is a technology business leader with 20 years of experience in data science, machine learning, consumer product strategy, product quality evaluation and measurement, and biomedical informatics.
Ryan Roslansky is the CEO of LinkedIn, the world’s largest and most powerful network of professionals. Ryan joined the company in May 2009 and has since held leadership roles in every part of LinkedIn’s business.
Navrina Singh is the Founder and CEO of Credo AI, an AI governance platform that empowers organizations to deliver and embed artificial intelligence responsibly by proactively measuring, monitoring, and managing AI risks.
Kerry Weinberg is the co-founder and CEO of PhenoML, their software toolkit helps healthcare companies build differentiated apps for their patients, providers, and employees in days not months. Prior to founding, she was the VP of Data at League, a late-stage digital health startup, where she built data capabilities powering healthcare apps used by millions.
Lareina Yee writes and speaks on technology and diversity. In her role as chair of the McKinsey Technology Council, she recently published the firm’s annual “Technology Trends Outlook”, “The Economic Potential of Generative AI” and “The CEO’s Guide to Generative AI” each of which examine long-term technology shifts and their implications for different industries.
BUAI Students
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Sophomores
Outcomes That Speak For Themselves
Join AI for Business
NEWS + EVENTS
AI for Business Summit Forecasts Future of AI in Industry
Founders, faculty members, and students spoke of balancing new technology integration with human-first workplaces at the first BUAI summit.
From AI Club to Google Internship: A Q&A with Student Leader Francesca Kubica
MAIA executive director and Marshall student Francesca Kubica discusses student leadership and translating AI education into industry experience.
USC Marshall AI for Business Students To Deliver Strategic Insights for Thunder, Salesforce Executives
AI for Business undergraduate students are developing research findings on the latest AI trends for top executives at Thunder and Salesforce.
USC Marshall’s AI for Business Program Collaborates with Automus Consulting
The connection provides students with access to Oracle Cloud analytics, cutting-edge technology, and job opportunities.
AI for Business Major Kicks Off at Marshall and Viterbi
The program’s inaugural cohort of 47 students has inspired and impressed.
Neely Center Introduces First-of-its-Kind Artificial Intelligence Index
The Neely UAS Artificial Intelligence (AI) Index is the first longitudinal public tracking survey, with new data to be published monthly.
STAY CONNECTED
![“The new AI for Business degree is designed to mold leaders who [will be] impact-driven professionals… exposed to a unique blend of business, technical, ethics and leadership courses and who will be able to pose the right questions as well as generate the right answers. We will be one of only a handful of universities around the globe where students have the opportunity to develop their technical, business and leadership skills to pursue careers in one of the fastest-growing parts of the tech sector.”](https://uscmarshallweb.s3-us-west-2.amazonaws.com/assets/uploads/s1/pst_ls/usc-msb_news_k-drakopoulos-contagion_1440x810_h8qeb9of3y_h92ylxm8bh.jpg)
