JACKSONVILLE, Fla. — When you hear “Jacksonville” do you think the words “artificial intelligence”?
That could soon change now that a University of Florida campus temporary location is greenlit for Jacksonville and many graduate degrees that will be offered have an emphasis on AI.
Classes are planned to begin at the temporary location in the fall of next year, according to documents to the State University System Board of Governors from the university. On Wednesday, the board approved the campus’s temporary location to be at the new JEA headquarters building on Pearl Street.
JEA and UF still need to sign the papers for UF to move into their fifth floor, a JEA spokesperson says. A decision on a permanent location is still up for debate.
The university’s president says the nine master’s degree programs will be offered at market-rate prices. One program is called Artificial Intelligence in Biomedical and Health Sciences, which the UF vice president says is the first of its kind in Florida.
“We will then be able to be on the cutting edge,” said Dr. Nipa Shah at UF Health Jacksonville about the emphasis on AI.
Shah teaches people across the country about AI and sees its potential.
“We definitely want to make it as easy as possible for people to feel well, to get better quickly and to heal and also to prevent diseases,” she said.
Jacksonville City Councilmember Matt Carlucci says the campus will attract new high-tech businesses to the city.
“As companies look to locate in Jacksonville, again going back to workforce, they’re looking at what kind of workforce we have,” he said.
The degrees UF officials say will be available are:
• Master of Science in Management in Artificial Intelligence
• Master of Business Administration in Artificial Intelligence and Analytics
• Master of Science in Engineering Management in Data Analytics
• Master of Science in Computer Science in Artificial Intelligence and Cybersecurity
• Master of Science in Artificial Intelligence in Biomedical and Health Sciences
• Master of Physician Assistant Studies
• Master of Science in Genetic Counseling
• Master of Legal Studies
• Master of Architecture in Architectural Studies