OVERVIEW
Build the Skills to Secure AI Systems
AI is being deployed faster than it can be secured.
WGU's Bachelor of Science in AI Security is built to help you close that gap.
This degree focuses on securing AI, not building it. You'll learn how machine learning and AI systems work so you can identify their vulnerabilities, defend them against adversarial threats, and protect them across their full lifecycle. It's a security-first program designed for professionals who want to work at the intersection of cybersecurity and artificial intelligence.
The field is forming now. Organizations across healthcare, finance, defense, and critical infrastructure are deploying AI systems without the specialized security expertise those systems require. BSAISEC prepares you for that need—with the technical skills, hands-on experience, and recognized credentials to step into the role.
You'll Learn:
- Machine learning fundamentals—How ML models are built, trained, and deployed, with an emphasis on understanding them as security targets.
- Adversarial machine learning—How attackers manipulate AI systems through data poisoning, model inversion, adversarial examples, and prompt injection—and how to defend against each.
- Securing the AI lifecycle—Risk management and security controls at every phase: design, development, deployment, and monitoring.
- Deep learning security—The architecture and vulnerabilities of neural networks and large language models.
- AI governance and ethics—Frameworks for responsible AI deployment, compliance, and accountability.
- Secure software engineering—The software security fundamentals that underpin every AI system.
- Risk management—Threat modeling, assessment methodologies, and organizational risk practices applied to AI environments.
Throughout the program, you'll have access to a dedicated Program Mentor and Course Instructors who bring real subject matter depth—so you're never navigating the material alone.
Have questions? Attend our prospective student webinar to learn more about our programs.
Tuition per six-month term is
$4,425
Tuition charged per term—rather than per credit—helps students control the ultimate cost of their degree. Finish faster, pay less!
COURSES
AI Security Courses
Program consists of 41 courses
At WGU, we design our curriculum to be timely, relevant, and practical—all to help you show that you know your stuff.
Most cybersecurity programs teach you how to defend networks, endpoints, and applications. BSAISEC teaches you how to defend the AI systems running on top of them.
The curriculum is built around a deliberate progression. Before you can secure a machine learning system, you need to understand how it works. Before you can defend against adversarial attacks, you need to know how those attacks are executed.
The BSAISEC takes you through that sequence—from foundational AI literacy to hands-on adversarial defense—so every skill you develop builds toward a clear professional outcome.
From the Ground Up, You'll Study:
- Machine learning fundamentals and algorithms—How ML models are built, trained, and evaluated, taught with the security practitioner in mind.
- Deep learning—The architecture of neural networks and large language models, including how their design decisions create exploitable vulnerabilities.
- AI governance and ethics—Regulatory frameworks, accountability structures, and compliance requirements for responsible AI deployment.
- Secure software engineering—Software security fundamentals applied across the full development lifecycle, with emphasis on AI system design.
- Cloud AI environments and deployment pipelines—Security considerations for the infrastructure where AI systems actually run.
- Adversarial machine learning—How attackers use data poisoning, model inversion, adversarial examples, and prompt injection—and how to stop them.
- Securing the AI lifecycle—Threat modeling, risk controls, and security evaluation at every phase: design, development, deployment, and monitoring.
- Risk management—Structured methodologies for assessing and managing risk in AI environments.
The program culminates in a capstone that integrates everything—a complete AI security assessment conducted against a realistic deployed system.
This is a technically demanding program. It's also one built to make that rigor manageable, with the support to see it through.
An unofficial estimated 14 courses are fulfilled by your associate degree leaving 27 courses.
This is an unofficial estimate of your transfer credits. You may receive more or less credits depending upon the specific courses taken to complete your degree and other credits you may have.
Below are the anticipated courses that will be fulfilled based on your indication that you have earned an associate’s degree. During the enrollment process this information will be verified.
WGU vs. Traditional Universities
Compare the Difference
Traditional Universities
Western Governors University
AVG. cost
For 3RD PARTY IT CERTIFICATIONS
$350*
Included with your tuition cost
TUITION STRUCTURE
Per credit hour
Flat rate per 6-month term
SUPPORT
Schedule and wait days or even weeks to meet with one of many counselors
Simply email or call to connect with your designated Program Mentor who supports you from day one
EXAMS
Scheduled time
Whenever you feel ready
SCHEDULE
Professor led lectures at a certain time and place
Courses available anytime, from anywhere
TIME TO FINISH
Approximately 4 years, minimal acceleration options
As quickly as you can master the material, typically less than 3 years
TRANSFER CREDITS
Few accepted, based on certain schools and specific courses
A generous transfer policy that is based on your specific situation
*The cost of valuable industry certification exams can range from $150 to $400. At WGU, we offer vouchers for certification exams, so the cost is included in your tuition price. Students may have to pay additional fees for membership to complete the certification requirements.
Traditional Universities
Western Governors University
AVG. cost
For 3RD PARTY IT CERTIFICATIONS
$350*
AVG. cost
For 3RD PARTY IT CERTIFICATIONS
Included with your tuition cost
TUITION STRUCTURE
Per credit hour
TUITION STRUCTURE
Flat rate per 6-month term
SUPPORT
Schedule and wait days or even weeks to meet with one of many counselors
SUPPORT
Simply email or call to connect with your designated Program Mentor who supports you from day one
EXAMS
Scheduled time
EXAMS
Whenever you feel ready
SCHEDULE
Professor led lectures at a certain time and place
SCHEDULE
Courses available anytime, from anywhere
TIME TO FINISH
Approximately 4 years, minimal acceleration options
TIME TO FINISH
As quickly as you can master the material, typically less than 3 years
TRANSFER CREDITS
Few accepted, based on certain schools and specific courses
TRANSFER CREDITS
A generous transfer policy that is based on your specific situation
*The cost of valuable industry certification exams can range from $150 to $400. At WGU, we offer vouchers for certification exams, so the cost is included in your tuition price. Students may have to pay additional fees for membership to complete the certification requirements.
Why WGU?
Affordability
WGU tuition is charged per six-month term, not per credit. That means if you want to move faster through the online computer science degree program, you'll pay less.
On Your Schedule
No class times, no assignment deadlines. You are in charge of your learning and schedule. You can move through your courses as quickly as you master the material, meaning you can graduate faster.
Online Coursework
At WGU, you get 24/7 access to online coursework. You can do your coursework at night after working at your full-time job, on weekends, while you're traveling the world or on vacation—it's entirely up to you.
IT CERTIFICATIONS
Earn Industry Certifications Alongside Your Degree
Most degrees make you wait until graduation to prove your skills. With WGU's B.S. in AI Security, you build a portfolio of recognized credentials as you go.
The program includes industry certifications that align directly with the curriculum. Each one validates specific skills to employers before your degree is even finished.
- LPI Linux Essentials—Demonstrates foundational fluency with Linux systems, the operating environment underlying most AI infrastructure.
- CompTIA Security+—A globally recognized baseline certification validating core cybersecurity knowledge and skills.
- AWS Certified AI Practitioner—Validates your ability to understand and work with AI and machine learning services in the cloud.
- CompTIA SecurityAI+—Purpose built for AI security, this certification validates skills in securing, testing, and defending AI systems against real-world threats.
- CompTIA NetworkI+—A globally recognized credential that validates foundational skills in configuring, managing, troubleshooting wired and wireless computer networks.
- CSSLP—This optional credential proves a professional’s ability to embed security practices into every phase of the software development lifecycle.
Every certification in this program is a third-party stamp of validation. Employers recognize these names. Hiring managers scan for them. You graduate with a degree and a credential stack that makes your résumé stand out.
COST & TIME
An Affordable AI Security Degree
By charging per six-month term rather than per credit—and empowering students to accelerate through material they know well or learn quickly—WGU helps students control the ultimate cost of their degrees. The faster you complete your program, the less you pay for your degree.
A College Degree Within Reach
There is help available to make paying for school possible for you:
The average student loan debt at graduation for undergraduates who borrowed was about half the national average.*
*College Board (2025)
Most WGU students qualify for financial aid, and WGU is approved for federal financial aid and U.S. veterans benefits.
Many scholarship opportunities are available. Find out what you might be eligible for.
*WGU undergraduate students have approximately half the debt at graduation compared to the national average, according to the Institute for College Access and Success (2022).
FLEXIBLE SCHEDULE
A Different Way to Learn: Degree Programs Designed to Fit Your Life—and All the Demands on Your Time
Professional responsibilities. Family obligations. Personal commitments. At WGU, we understand schedules are tight and often unpredictable for adult students. That’s why we offer a flexible, personalized approach to how education should be. No rigid class schedules. Just a solid, career-focused teaching program that meshes with your current lifestyle. You'll be challenged. You'll work hard. But if you commit yourself and put in the hours needed, WGU makes it possible for you to earn a highly respected degree as a busy working adult.
CAREER OUTLOOK
The AI Security Engineer: One of the Most Needed Roles in Tech
Organizations across every sector are deploying AI faster than they can secure it. The security professionals they already have understand networks, endpoints, and applications. They don't know how to threat-model a large language model, defend a training pipeline against data poisoning, or test a system for prompt injection vulnerabilities. The AI security engineer role exists to close that gap—and right now, qualified candidates are scarce.
The market reflects that. Gartner* forecasts the AI security market to reach $4.8 billion, a near 69% increase year over year. Job postings that include AI and security competencies have grown substantially, yet no established academic pathway has existed to fill them. The BSAISEC is one of the first degrees built specifically to produce graduates who can step into that role.
What You Can Do with This Degree
Graduates are prepared for roles that sit at the intersection of artificial intelligence and cybersecurity, including:
- AI Security Engineer—Identify vulnerabilities in AI systems, develop defenses, and oversee security throughout the AI lifecycle.
- Machine Learning Security Analyst—Assess and defend ML models and pipelines from adversarial attacks and data manipulation.
- Cloud AI Security Specialist—Secure AI services and infrastructure deployed in cloud environments.
- AI Risk and Governance Analyst—Evaluate AI systems for compliance, ethical risks, and alignment with organizational and regulatory standards.
- AI Red Team Analyst—Conduct adversarial testing against AI systems to surface weaknesses before bad actors do.
* Gartner Forecasts the Market for Securing AI Will Reach $4.8 Billion in 2027
21%
According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, employment for information security analysts is projected to grow 21% from 2025 to 2035—nearly seven times the average for all occupations. Demand is rising even faster in AI: BLS projects data scientist roles to grow 35% over the same period, the fastest of any occupation it tracks, driven by the need for workers who can build and apply AI technologies. Cybersecurity and AI are two of the clearest growth areas in the U.S. job market right now.
—U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics
WGU Grads Hold Positions with Top Employers
ADMISSIONS
AI Security Admission Requirements
Students must demonstrate readiness for advanced mathematics and programming coursework required in the B.S. AI Security program. Students must meet the following admission requirements for admittance to this program:
- Option 1: Submit all transcripts documenting completion of college-level coursework with a minimum of 2.25 cumulative GPA or higher.
- Option 2: Possess a bachelor's or associate degree (A.A, A.S. or A.A.S. acceptable) from an accredited post-secondary institution.
- Option 3: Submit official record of completion of a transferable IT certification, some of which may provide transfer credit into various programs.
- Option 4: Submit all high school transcripts with a minimum cumulative GPA of 2.75.
- Option 5: Submit all transcripts documenting completion of previous IT coursework. IT coursework must be 300 level or higher.
NOTE: You do not need to take the ACT or SAT to be admitted to this program. Learn why we don't require these tests.
Get Your Enrollment Checklist
Download your step-by-step guide to enrollment.
Get Your Questions Answered
Talk to an WGU Enrollment Counselor.
Transfer Credits
If you have taken courses, earned certifications, or received a degree from a community college or another university, you're likely already well on your way to a WGU degree. You can almost always transfer credits when you send accredited bachelor's or associate degree transcripts.
WGU’s curriculum structure is competency-based, allowing you to apply your existing knowledge and skills to your education. Students with an Associate of Arts (A.A.) or Associate of Science (A.S.) degree usually qualify for upper-division standing at WGU.
Depending on your degree program, you may qualify for additional requirement waivers. If you have completed some college coursework but have not earned a degree, WGU will conduct a transcript evaluation. Your experience may waive some of your requirements.
Ready to Start Your WGU Journey?
