Regent University Launches New Three-Year Degree in Artificial Intelligence for Spring 2027

October 16, 2026

VIRGINIA BEACH, Va. (Oct. 16, 2026) — Regent University is launching a new undergraduate degree beginning Spring 2027: the Abridged Bachelor of Applied Science in Artificial Intelligence (ABAS-AI), a three-year program that prepares students to design, develop, and apply AI systems while reducing the time and cost of earning a bachelor’s degree.

“The impact of artificial intelligence is being felt across all aspects of society, and the technology is still in the early stages of development,” said William Hathaway, Ph.D., Provost of Regent University. “By launching a reduced-credit bachelor’s degree in AI, we’re equipping graduates to lead in this critical area with an innovative combination of timely coursework and timeless wisdom.”

The ABAS-AI requires 94 total credits: 46 in the major, 33 in general education, and 15 in electives, compared with 120 credits in a traditional bachelor’s degree. While a traditional program might include 40 or more credits of free electives, the ABAS-AI includes 15, a requirement that still allows for elective transfer credit or the inclusion of a minor. Major and general education coursework remain comparable in both credit hours and rigor.

The program will be offered entirely online. Most courses are delivered in eight-week terms, with several designed for 15 weeks, and nearly all courses are three credit hours per class. Full-time students enrolled continuously through fall, spring, and summer can finish in as few as two years, while a realistic timeline for part-time students is three to four years, depending on transfer credit.

The ABAS-AI is built on the curricular foundation of Regent’s existing technology degree programs, combining coursework in computer science, information systems, and artificial intelligence. Graduates will be equipped to analyze complex problems, design and evaluate computing-based solutions, communicate effectively in professional contexts, lead and contribute to teams, and apply AI theories, models, and techniques to real-world challenges, all from a Christian worldview.

Because tuition is charged by credit hour and does not vary by delivery format, students in the reduced-credit program will spend substantially less on tuition and fees. At current rates, students can realize cost savings of approximately 28%. Final cost will be affected by the amount of transfer credit, discounts, and other factors.

“The demand for AI skills in the workforce is rapidly increasing, particularly in technology and professional services industries,” said Alfa Nyandoro, Ph.D., Chair of the Engineering and Computer Science Department within Regent’s College of Arts & Sciences. “The ABAS-AI will prepare students to leverage current AI tools and systems while also establishing a strong ethical foundation built on a Christian worldview.”

Reduced-credit undergraduate degrees are becoming increasingly common in higher education, receiving approval by accreditors upon meeting certain criteria. Regent’s institutional accreditor, the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC), requires that the name of a reduced-credit undergraduate degree clearly distinguishes it from traditional baccalaureate degrees of at least 120 credit hours through a prefix, such as “Abridged Bachelor of (Discipline).” This designation appears on all related university materials, including transcripts, and Regent may introduce additional abridged degree programs in the future under the same or similar nomenclature.

As SACSCOC’s policy also requires, Regent informs prospective students that a reduced-credit undergraduate degree may not fulfill admission and prerequisite requirements for some graduate and professional programs and may not meet the expectations of some future employers. Regent University will accept the ABAS-AI as a prerequisite for applicable graduate programs.

For more information about Regent’s ABAS-AI program, call 800.373.5504 or visit regent.edu.

About Regent University

Founded in 1977, Regent University is America’s premier Christian university, with nearly 14,000 students studying on its 100-acre campus in Virginia Beach, Virginia, and online worldwide. The university offers associate, bachelor’s, master’s, and doctoral degrees in more than 150 areas of study, including business, communication and the arts, counseling, cybersecurity, divinity, education, government, law, leadership, nursing, healthcare, and psychology. Regent University has been ranked the No. 1 Best Online Bachelor’s Program in Virginia for 14 years in a row (U.S. News & World Report, 2026) and the No. 2 Top Military Friendly® School in the nation (Military Friendly® Schools, 2024-2025).

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