Texas A&M University’s Mays Business School is poised to revolutionize business education with the launch of a cutting-edge minor titled “Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Business,” set to commence in the fall semester of 2025. This innovative academic program is meticulously designed to equip undergraduate students across all disciplines with the skills and knowledge critical for navigating the evolving landscape where AI intersects with commerce. As artificial intelligence transforms industries with unprecedented speed, this initiative places Texas A&M at the forefront of preparing the next generation of business leaders who are not only adept in technology but also grounded in ethical and practical applications.
The new minor caters specifically to juniors and seniors, breaking traditional siloed education models by welcoming students from every academic background. Recognizing the pervasive influence of AI on contemporary business practices, the minor focuses on imparting advanced machine learning techniques, generative AI capabilities, and their direct relevance to real-world business challenges. The curriculum is crafted by renowned AI faculty at Mays Business School and unfolds over five specialized courses. Each course combines rigorous theoretical frameworks with hands-on experiential learning, ensuring students can apply artificial intelligence tools effectively within diverse business settings.
Among the core subjects integrated within the minor’s curriculum are generative AI, which covers the burgeoning field of content creation and automation; business storytelling enhanced by AI-powered insights; machine learning algorithms tailored for predictive analysis; multimodal AI agents that combine data from various sources for decision-making; and deep learning applications poised to disrupt traditional business operations. The selection of these topics reflects a strategic effort to embed AI literacy deeply within key business functions, enabling students to harness technology not just as a tool but as a driver for innovation and strategic advantage.
Dr. Nate Y. Sharp, Dean of Mays Business School, underscores the significance of this program by articulating the school’s strategic vision. He emphasizes that as artificial intelligence rapidly reshapes business environments worldwide, education must evolve in tandem to cultivate principled leaders. The minor represents Mays’ commitment to fostering responsible innovation—championing the ethical use of AI while equipping leaders to leverage these transformative technologies for positive societal impact. This dual focus on ethics and innovation encapsulates the school’s broader mission to develop not only technologically skilled graduates but also conscientious business professionals.
Academic eligibility for the minor is selective, requiring students to have achieved a minimum cumulative GPA of 3.0 and completed at least 12 credit hours as an enrolled Texas A&M student. This standard ensures participants possess the foundational academic rigor necessary to undertake advanced AI coursework. Importantly, the minor is delivered entirely online through eight-week sessions, a format designed to provide maximum flexibility for students balancing diverse commitments. Despite its online nature, the program maintains rigorous academic standards, combining synchronous and asynchronous learning modalities to foster both independent inquiry and collaborative engagement.
The introduction of the AI and Business minor is part of a broader strategic initiative by Mays Business School to establish itself as a leader in AI-integrated business education. This initiative follows the recent appointment of the school’s first assistant dean for artificial intelligence, signaling an organizational commitment to embed AI expertise at an administrative and academic level. Complementing the minor, Mays has also developed two competitive platforms to spur innovative AI solutions, targeting both undergraduate and doctoral candidates. These competitions serve to enhance experiential learning and promote interdisciplinary research among students.
Moreover, Mays has forged a pioneering partnership with Perplexity, an advanced AI search engine known for its sophisticated natural language understanding capabilities. This collaboration aims to integrate state-of-the-art AI tools into the academic environment, enriching students’ learning experiences by providing access to cutting-edge technological resources. Through such partnerships, Mays Business School is actively fostering a dynamic ecosystem where AI technology and business education intersect, pushing the boundaries of traditional academic paradigms.
The curriculum’s emphasis on generative AI is particularly timely, given the rapid advancements in AI-driven content creation. Students will explore state-of-the-art generative models that can produce text, images, and even complex simulations, transforming how businesses approach marketing, communications, and product development. By understanding these technologies, future leaders will be positioned to harness generative AI for innovative storytelling, crafting compelling narratives that resonate in an increasingly digital marketplace.
Machine learning, another cornerstone of the minor’s curriculum, delves into algorithmic foundations that underpin AI’s predictive capabilities. Students will gain proficiency in designing, training, and deploying models capable of analyzing vast datasets to uncover patterns, forecast trends, and optimize operational efficiencies. This analytical acumen is critical for data-driven decision-making in sectors ranging from finance to supply chain management, empowering graduates to lead with insights grounded in empirical evidence.
The exploration of multimodal AI agents introduces students to systems capable of integrating and interpreting data from heterogeneous sources—including text, images, audio, and sensor inputs. Such capabilities enable sophisticated decision-making models that reflect complex real-world environments. By mastering multimodal AI techniques, students can develop solutions that improve customer experiences, automate complex workflows, and craft adaptive business strategies that respond dynamically to changing market conditions.
Deep learning, the final pillar of the minor’s academic structure, offers students an immersion in neural network architectures that facilitate breakthroughs in pattern recognition and artificial cognition. The course focuses on practical applications such as natural language processing, image recognition, and autonomous systems, areas transforming business operations and competitive dynamics. This advanced level of AI literacy equips students with the skills to pioneer transformative initiatives, driving innovation that redefines traditional business paradigms.
Texas A&M’s initiative reflects a growing trend in higher education to bridge the gap between technological expertise and business leadership. By integrating AI deeply into a business curriculum, Mays Business School prepares students not only to adapt to technological disruptions but to actively shape the future of commerce. The minor is poised to produce leaders who understand both the possibilities and the responsibilities inherent in deploying AI, balancing technical acumen with ethical considerations in increasingly complex business ecosystems.
For students and prospective participants seeking additional details, Texas A&M encourages consultation with academic advisors or visiting the dedicated program webpage. This resource provides comprehensive information on course structures, faculty expertise, and administrative procedures, enabling students to make informed decisions about their academic trajectories. The AI and Business minor represents a bold step toward the future of business education, one where artificial intelligence is seamlessly integrated as a foundational pillar of leadership development.
Subject of Research: Artificial Intelligence applications in Business Education
Article Title: Texas A&M Launches Innovative AI and Business Minor to Equip Future Leaders
News Publication Date: Fall 2025 (minor launch date), announcement in early 2025
Web References:
– https://mays.tamu.edu/ai/ai-minor/
– https://news.mays.tamu.edu/news/2025/02/first-assistant-dean-for-artificial-intelligence-joins-mays-business-school/
– https://createdatmays.tamu.edu/blogs/2025/02/ai-undergraduate-competition/
– https://createdatmays.tamu.edu/blogs/2025/01/ai-proposal-competition/
– https://www.linkedin.com/feed/update/urn:li:activity:7306033841834471424
Keywords: Artificial intelligence, Generative AI, Machine learning, Deep learning, Multimodal AI agents, Business education, AI ethics, AI leadership, Technology innovation, AI competitions
