Is AI the Right College Major For Your Teen? What Parents Need to Know
As a parent guiding your teen toward a college major and career path, you’ve likely heard all the buzz about artificial intelligence (AI). But is AI just a hot trend or a viable college major and career path for your student? For computer-loving students, is a career in computer science or engineering a better path?
When Lantern College Counseling founder Dr. Jennifer Stephan was on my College and Career Clarity podcast, we explored what families need to know about AI as a major, what skills matter most for future-proof careers, and how to support your teen in making intentional, well-aligned decisions.
Here’s a summary of our conversation, full of practical insights for evaluating whether AI is the right fit and how to build a college list that supports your teen’s evolving interests and strengths.
What It Really Means to Major in AI
While only a dozen U.S. colleges currently offer a formal major in artificial intelligence, more are adding this field to their curriculum each year. These programs typically fall into three categories:
Technical AI (focused on advanced programming, data structures, and algorithms)
Interdisciplinary AI (combining computer science with psychology, linguistics, or cognitive science)
Business or Applied AI (emphasizing real-world applications of machine learning and data)
If your teen is drawn to AI, there’s no getting around the need for a strong foundation in math and computer science. Core courses in the AI curriculum often include calculus, linear algebra, and programming fundamentals, followed by specialized electives in machine learning, ethics, and human-computer interaction.
But as Jennifer wisely pointed out, AI doesn’t require a one-size-fits-all path. Students can contribute meaningfully to the field through non-technical disciplines, such as design, policy, and ethics. And in many cases, majoring in computer science or data science with AI-focused electives offers just as much career potential.
One thing to keep in mind is that computer science is one of the most competitive majors for admission. I raised the question whether it may, for now, be easier to land in an AI program than in CS. We both agreed that perhaps that is an easier track at the moment, but we both hypothesize that it won’t be that way for long.
Helping Your Teen Decide: Is AI a Fit?
Choosing AI as a major should never be based solely on buzz or job market trends. Instead, as a career coach to thousands, I’ve seen that finding the right path involves seeking alignment with your teen’s interests, aptitudes, and personality wiring.
Jennifer and I agree that teens gain the most clarity when they pair career exploration with hands-on experience. Some ideas:
Participate in hackathons or math competitions
Explore intensive summer programs like PROMYS or AI4ALL
Join a robotics or coding club
Conduct a data-focused research project
Job shadow an AI professional
These kinds of curated real-world experiences give students a glimpse into the problem-solving, collaboration, and analytical thinking required in AI careers, and they help students reflect on whether that world feels energizing and motivating.
Flexibility Is Key: Not All Colleges Handle Majors the Same Way
Here’s where things can get tricky: some colleges and universities allow students to explore and declare a major later, while others require students to apply directly to a major as high school seniors, particularly for competitive programs like AI, computer science, or engineering.
For example, Johns Hopkins (where Jennifer is an alum!) is flexible with most majors, but if you don’t apply to biomedical engineering upfront, you’ll never be able to switch into it. At other schools, such as the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign or Purdue, changing into a high-demand major like computer science can be highly restricted.
To be sure your student’s options aren’t accidentally limited, my team has put together a Blueprint to Understanding Admissions by Major, which includes: data & information for all 50 flagship universities, our short video guide, and email templates you can use to contact any college to know how easy (or not) it is to change majors.
If your teen is still exploring or may want to pivot within STEM fields, your college list should include schools that offer flexibility in declaring or switching majors. See Jennifer’s guide for navigating the college search for the undecided STEM student, in which she shares insights to help undecided STEM students find potential Deep-Fit™ programs.
This is why both Jennifer and I always tell families to start early. Building a college list isn’t just about prestige; it’s about finding schools that align with your teen’s academic goals and personal development timeline.
Beyond AI-Proof—Think Future-Proof
One of my favorite insights from our conversation came when Jennifer challenged the idea of “AI-proof” careers. She said, “Don’t think about AI-proof skills. Think about future-proof skills.”
That shift in mindset is key.
AI will continue to evolve. But what never goes out of style? Critical thinking. Communication. Collaboration. Creativity. Adaptability. These are the skills that help your teen thrive in any field, even one that hasn’t been invented yet.
So, whether or not your teen majors in AI, supporting them in building these competencies is one of the best investments you can make in their future.
Want More Clarity?
If you want to explore this topic in more depth, I encourage you to listen to the full episode of College and Career Clarity, featuring Dr. Jennifer Stephan. Listen to #180 Is an AI Major Right for Your Teen? with Dr. Jennifer Stephan