BS in AI and Language Technology
Study language, technology and how they work together
How can technology better understand language? What makes communication feel natural across systems and cultures? The BS in AI and Language Technology at the University at Buffalo helps you explore these questions while building technical and analytical skills you can apply in real-world settings. You will study how language works, how systems process it and how technology can support communication across languages and communities.
A degree that connects technology and communication
This interdisciplinary program brings together computing, language and social context. You will build technical skills while learning how language and communication shape how technology is used.
Technology shapes how people communicate, access information and interact with the world. This program prepares you to understand both the systems behind these tools and the language they rely on, while learning in a university that is leading work in this field.
At UB, you will:
- Combine computer science, linguistics and interdisciplinary coursework
- Study how language is structured, used and processed
- Explore communication across languages and communities
- Examine ethical and societal questions connected to technology
- Build skills used in technology, research and global industries
You will study in an environment that supports this work. UB is:
- Home to Empire AI, a statewide initiative focused on societal challenges
- Host of a National Science Foundation-funded National AI Institute
- Supported by more than 400 researchers working on AI-related projects
- Connected to institutes and centers exploring real-world applications
This program is a strong fit if you are interested in both how technology works and how people communicate.
What makes this program different
This program sits between computer science and linguistics, combining technical systems with human communication.
You will:
- Build strong technical skills, including programming and algorithms
- Develop a deep understanding of language and communication
- Study how technology works in real social and cultural contexts
This combination prepares you to work on problems that require both technical precision and human understanding.
Skills that connect across fields
You will develop technical, analytical and communication skills that apply in technology, research, policy and global industries.
This program brings together four core areas that connect computation and language.
Technology and society
- Understand different types of AI technologies and their impacts
- Evaluate ethical questions related to technology
- Analyze how systems affect access, communication and policy
- Examine how bias can appear in digital systems
Computational foundations
- Study linear algebra, probability and data modeling
- Learn programming and software development fundamentals
- Work with data structures and algorithms
- Apply computational thinking to real-world problems
Linguistics and language
- Analyze linguistic data across languages
- Study sound systems, grammar and meaning
- Understand how language is structured and processed
- Apply linguistic knowledge to real-world challenges
Language technology
- Study how systems analyze and generate language
- Work with computational linguistics methods
- Design and evaluate language-based tools
- Apply technical and linguistic knowledge to practical problems
You will build skills over time through a mix of technical, analytical and applied coursework.
You will:
- Take courses in programming, AI and linguistics
- Work with real data and language systems
- Complete advanced coursework in computational linguistics
- Apply your skills in a capstone project focused on a real-world problem
Learn from experts across disciplines
You will learn from faculty across linguistics, computer science, AI and society, and language and cultural studies.
Faculty bring expertise in research, teaching and real-world applications, and are recognized for excellence in both scholarship and instruction.
With expertise in both language and technology, you can pursue a wide range of career paths.
Graduates may work as:
- AI product manager or analyst
- Chatbot or voice interface developer
- Language data scientist or language engineer
- Natural language processing specialist
- Language resource developer or evaluator
- Text-to-speech or speech technology developer
These roles exist across technology companies, research organizations, government agencies and global businesses.
Some students also continue into graduate study in areas such as artificial intelligence, linguistics or data science.
Employers are looking for people who understand both how technology works and how people communicate across languages and cultures.
If you want to build technical skills while understanding how language shapes communication, this program offers a focused and interdisciplinary path.
