Abstract:

The rapid advancement of artificial intelligence (AI) is reshaping higher education, influencing curriculum design across both general education and discipline-specific programs such as computer science, cybersecurity, information technology or related areas. Colleges and universities are integrating AI literacy into core courses to ensure all students—regardless of major—develop competencies in algorithmic reasoning, data interpretation, and ethical uses of AI. Universities are creating committees and policies that describe specific AI policies and are also providing training to faculty, staff, administrators and students on how to ethically use AI. Computer science and related majors are undergoing significant restructuring, with traditional programming and theory courses increasingly supplemented or replaced by content on machine learning, large-scale systems, and human–AI collaboration. Specifically, at St. John's courses have been renamed to create a badge specialization for computers science, cybersecurity and IT majors to complete, which includes an introduction to AI, Machine Learning and Natural Language Processing. A minor in AI has also been created for students not enrolled in any of those 3 majors. For St. John's Univeristy core, 2 new courses have been created and are waiting approval for implementation for Fall 2026 on AI and Digital Literacy and AI and Algorithmic Thinking. Within the graduate program, curriculum has been redesigned in the Data Science program and a change of name is currently being voted on different levels to be renamed Artificial Intelligence and Data Science. These shifts coincide with notable enrollment fluctuations: declines in specific majors including traditional technical tracks alongside surging interest in AI-focused programs. The changing job market—driven by automation, new AI-enabled roles, and evolving employer expectations—further accelerates curricular adaptation. This paper examines these transformations, analyzing how AI is not only reshaping what higher education teaches but also influencing student pathways and workforce alignment. Further, it will discuss how AI is impacting and shaping higher ed curriculum at different universities and discuss the impact AI has made on enrollment and the job market and recommend suggestions for universities and colleges for recruitment, outreach and engagement. It will further discuss strategies being taken to improve enrollment in majors that might be impacted by AI and will also discuss how core courses and policies within univerisites can be updated to help students gain skills and learn how to ethically use AI in their majors and future careers. Suggestions on working with companies and helping to give students the opportunities to gain digital badges or certifications concurrently with their degrees will also be included in the paper.

Keywords:

Artificial Intelligence, computer science, higher education, enrollment, retention, recruitment, job market, technology.