The University of California (UC) is witnessing a decline in interest in traditional computer sciences for the first time since the dot-com crash. Despite an overall increase in the number of applicants in the U.S., there is a mass migration of students from information technology faculties to new fields related to artificial intelligence (AI).
Faced with this unexpected trend, American universities are noting an exodus of students from computer science departments. According to the University of California, last year the number of applicants decreased by 6%, and a further decline of 3% is expected in 2024. This situation contrasts with the overall increase in college enrollment across the country by 2%. An exception is the San Diego campus, where the opening of a new program in artificial intelligence helped maintain enrollment levels.
Experts view this shift not as a rejection of technology but as a pursuit of more promising professions. According to a study by the Computing Research Association, 62% of faculties report a decline in interest in the fundamentals of programming. At the same time, universities such as Columbia and the University of Southern California are experiencing a sharp increase in students wishing to study neural networks. For example, at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), the AI program is already the second most popular, while the University of South Florida attracted over 3,000 students to its new specialized college in just one semester.
Changes in educational directions are influenced by external factors, including China's successes, which have integrated the study of neural networks into their curricula as a mandatory course. American universities are forced to adapt to new conditions despite internal disagreements. The Chancellor of the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Lee Roberts, noted that there are significant differences of opinion among faculty members. On one hand, the administration insists on implementing technologies for the successful careers of graduates, while on the other hand, some faculty continue to ignore changes in the industry.
Parental opinions also play a significant role in this process. Research shows that parents are increasingly discouraging their children from choosing traditional computer science degrees, considering the automation of programming using AI, and advising them to opt for engineering specialties or AI programs, which seem more reliable for future careers.
