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Building real-world skills in AI: A new path for college students
By East Texas A&M University
Jul 11, 2025
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Commerce, Texas -- Artificial intelligence (AI) is no longer just a futuristic concept—it's already changing how people live and work. From chatbots that help answer customer questions to algorithms that assist doctors in diagnosing illness, AI is shaping decisions, streamlining workflows and powering innovation across the globe. As its influence continues to grow, understanding how to work with AI is becoming essential—not just for tech experts, but for professionals in nearly every field.

In response to this shift, East Texas A&M University offers a Master of Science in Artificial Intelligence (M.S. in AI), a graduate program focused on the practical application of AI tools and systems. Designed to equip students with real-world, hands-on experience, the program prepares future professionals to confidently navigate and lead in an increasingly tech-driven world.

How is AI impacting industry?

Search Enterprise AI, a resource for news and studies on artificial intelligence, predicts that the industries most impacted by AI will be education, healthcare, finance, law and transportation, illustrating that careers across the spectrum will be impacted.

“It's going to be relevant in almost every job, especially jobs that require communication,” said Dr. Christian Hempelmann, professor of computational linguistics and director of the Semantic Artificial Intelligence and Creativity Laboratory at East Texas A&M. “For professionals in almost any field, AI will be able to enhance their communication.”

What does this mean for the job market?

Contrary to common misconceptions, AI won't necessarily eradicate certain careers. And careers in which AI is used won't necessarily require workers to complete complex coding algorithms from scratch. However, there’s a growing demand for professionals who can apply existing AI tools and systems to solve real-world problems across a wide range of sectors.

“AI is not going to take your job,” Hempelmann said. “But a person who knows AI along with other skills necessary for a job may take that job.”

As AI advances, its implementation will become more accessible and integrated into daily business operations. For instance, businesses may use AI to better understand their customers, make smarter decisions with data, and improve the way people and computers communicate, Organizations will rely on professionals who understand AI’s capabilities and limitations and who can bridge the gap between technical solutions and practical applications.

What does this mean for the modern college student?

For college students, the rise of AI means now is the time to build skills in AI and large language models (LLM) to prepare for their future careers. AI is changing how we solve problems, make decisions and interact with technology in nearly every field. Understanding how to apply AI tools—not just how they're built—can set students apart and open doors across various industries.

Dr. Omar El Ariss, associate professor of Computer Science and Information Systems at East Texas A&M, said students will need to adapt as they prepare for the workforce. Students who include AI as a discipline in their studies will have an advantage entering the workforce.

What does East Texas A&M offer students interested in AI?

For students who understand the importance of AI in industry, East Texas A&M offers a Master of Science in Artificial Intelligence. The program aims to explore the intersection of language and linguistics, computer science, and human ingenuity through hands-on experience in machine learning and AI applications. It is designed to help students learn and develop new ways people process information, make decisions, and interact with the world through AI.

With four emphasis areas—computer science, computational linguistics, mathematics and psychology—students can focus on the area of artificial intelligence research that meets their professional goals. Given the broad scope of career opportunities an M.S. in AI provides, students with an undergraduate degree in any area are encouraged to apply.

“You are welcome to join the program from any degree,” El Ariss said. “We are not assuming you should be technical or a programmer or anything. This is the theme of our program—AI is applicable to all fields. Even in such careers as farming, AI will soon be relevant.”

With online and in-person class options, the M.S. in AI program is designed to meet the needs of working professionals and full-time students alike. For more information, please visit the Master of Science in Artificial Intelligence webpage.

About East Texas A&M University 

East Texas A&M University serves rural and metropolitan East Texas with a dedicated mission to transform lives. With an enrollment of approximately 13,086 students, East Texas A&M is the third-largest member of The Texas A&M University System. Students choose from among 143+ academic degrees at the undergraduate and graduate levels and learn from world-class faculty who conduct nationally recognized research. A vibrant student experience includes a thriving Greek community and more than 95 student-led organizations. As a member of the Southland Conference, East Texas A&M features 14 NCAA Division I athletic teams. The university offers classes online and on-site in Commerce, Dallas, Corsicana, McKinney, Mesquite, and Bryan (RELLIS).

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    As the world embraces cleaner energy and electric vehicles (EVs), the production of renewable energy and its storage is driving a shift towards more sustainable technology. However, behind this transition lies a growing concern. Lithium, a key component in batteries, presents significant environmental and safety hazards that are often overlooked.
  • Heritage and culture highlight celebration in Bonham
    Heritage Day Festival headliner Josh Weathers performs for the crowd Saturday night in historic downtown Bonham, Texas. During the annual Bonham Heritage Day Festival, residents paid homage to the original inhabitants of this region -- the Caddo Nation -- and to the intrepid French trappers who ventured up from New Orleans in the 1700s in search of pelts.
  • Bonham to recognize important role of bois d'arc during Heritage Day May 3
    The public is invited to the planting of a "special" bois d'arc tree on the grounds of the historic Fannin County Courthouse at 11:00 a.m. Saturday, May 3, 2025, during Bonham Heritage Day. The tree was picked out and donated by Texoma’s very own and well-known bois d'arc tree expert, John Baecht, who will have a bois d’arc woodworking station set up on the grounds of the courthouse and will be doing demonstrations the remainder of the day for Heritage Day. What better way to celebrate Bonham / Fannin County’s relationship with bois d’arc than on Bonham Heritage Day.
  • Upper Trinity’s Lake Ralph Hall Project restores historic streams
    Water is flowing through five new streams in North Texas this spring, bringing life back to areas impacted for decades by severe erosion and habitat loss. Upper Trinity Regional Water District (UTRWD) restored the streams as part of environmental mitigation for future Lake Ralph Hall, Texas’s newest major lake under construction near Ladonia.
  • Prehistoric and Caddo artifacts on display at Fannin County Courthouse
    In conjunction with Heritage Day and the Vive le Bois d’Arc celebration on May 3, the Fannin County Museum of History is delighted to have a display of prehistoric and Caddo artifacts in the display case on the 2nd floor of the Fannin County Courthouse.
  • A Bonham legacy at our feet
    You walk into the Credit Union of Texas, Don Toro or Studio 94 on the east side of the Bonham square, into Belle Rae's on the north, into Blessing & Butterflies or The Curiosity Shop on Main south of the Courthouse: do you look down? What do you see when you cross the threshold into these businesses? Do you see Bonham's past?
  • Bonham postcards on display at Fannin County Courthouse
    Bonham resident Kay Sisk has collected postcards of Bonham for many years, finding them at trade shows and estate sales. Some of the postcards were given away free by local businesses, and some were sold. The Fannin County Museum of History asked Kay to display some of her postcards in the display case on the 2nd floor of the courthouse.
  • Mabel Gilbert – Early Fannin County pioneer
    Please join us at the March meeting of the Fannin County Historical Commission on March 18 at 6:00 p.m. to learn about the contributions of Mabel Gilbert, a very early Fannin County pioneer, to Fannin County, Dallas and points west. Deborah Cornelius has written a historical novel about his remarkable life and times. Join us at 6:00 p.m. on March 18 at the Fannin County Historical Commission’s office at 1 Center Street in Bonham to meet Deborah and learn about Mabel Gilbert’s time in Fannin County.
  • 'A Time Before Texas' presentation attracts large crowd to Honey Grove
    A large crowd filled Lyday Hall at Honey Grove Library & Learning Center on Saturday, March 1, 2025, to hear what local archeologist Cody Davis and his cohorts discovered in the area that is now covered by Bois d'Arc Lake.
  • New residents find a new fight: sand and gravel mining in Fannin County
    When Kalin and Tricia moved their young family from the city to rural Fannin County, it was a dream they had worked and saved to make come true -- to escape the noise and chaos of the metroplex for a peaceful existence, surrounded by woodlands, wildlife and serenity. Then they heard bulldozers clearing trees.
  • Smithsonian highlights the experiences and impact of Japanese war brides in new traveling exhibition
    "Japanese War Brides: Across a Wide Divide" begins a national tour December 14 at Irving Archives and Museum in Irving, Texas. These young women left their homes to build lives within the complexities of postwar American society. Their experiences reshaped communities by challenging immigration laws and race relations. The arrival of these brides marked the largest women-only immigration event in U.S. history and, by 1960, had increased the population of Asian Americans in the U.S. by 10%.
  • Give a gift of Fannin County history
    The Fannin County Museum of History has several Fannin County history books for sale that might be just perfect for someone you know. The books are available for purchase at the Museum and are also available on Amazon.
  • Historic Christmas newspaper front pages from Fannin County
    Historic Fannin County newspapers often featured beautiful front pages for their Christmas editions. An exhibit of these newspapers is now on display on the 2nd Floor of the Fannin County Courthouse. Visit the courthouse during this season to view this display and beautiful decorations.
  • Lake Ralph Hall update: Five streams are springing to life
    Upper Trinity's contractors are finishing up construction on five new streams near future Lake Ralph Hall, which will flow into the North Sulphur River. The newly connected tributary streams are naturally beginning to flow with rainwater this fall, bringing life back to areas impacted for decades by severe erosion and loss of habitat. Restoring the tributaries of the river to their natural, curved paths helps mitigate the area's severe erosion and provide previously lost habitat.
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