Technology and social science degrees have traditionally been on opposing ends of the spectrum. No more.

The Singapore University of Technology and Design (SUTD) has become the first university to launch a hybrid degree that effectively integrates technology and innovation with the humanities and social sciences. This is necessary as the world moves into an AI world – with the need for human-centred solutioning becoming more important than ever.

The supercharged Design and Artificial Intelligence (DAI 2.0) undergraduate degree programme is Singapore’s first degree programme anchored in design and AI, aimed at attracting high-calibre students with strong interests in social science domains such as economics, business, finance, psychology, philosophy, and human-AI interaction, alongside proficiency in Mathematics and the Sciences. Evolving on SUTD’s pioneering DAI programme launched in 2020, it significantly broadens the University’s academic offering by opening new pathways for students from all streams drawn to the intersection of people, society, technology and design. Built on SUTD’s unique pedagogy, the programme integrates design thinking with artificial and human intelligence across cognitive, cultural and economic dimensions, equipping students to address complex, open-ended challenges through hands-on learning and problem-solving.

This integration is reflected directly in the curriculum. Available to students enrolling in SUTD from this year, the enhanced DAI curriculum features two new interdisciplinary academic tracks:

• Societal and Systems Intelligence (SSI), which integrates economics, business, data science and AI to analyse and model complex societal and economic systems, from sustainable growth and financial resilience to equitable technological transformation.
• Human-Centred Intelligence (HI), which draws on psychology, philosophy, and human-AI interaction to explore how people think, decide and behave, advancing technologies that are empathetic, ethical and aligned with real human needs.

For example, a new core module in the DAI programme, Mind, Machines and Design, combines psychology, philosophy and human-centred design. Students draw on psychology to understand human cognition and behaviour, while leveraging AI to simulate or challenge these processes. Philosophy equips them to examine ethical implications, while design provides structured approaches to problem framing, prototyping and solution development. AI becomes the bridge that enables students from the humanities and social sciences to participate meaningfully in the tech sector, establishing clear pathways into AI-enabled roles where human insight, systems thinking and technical capability are equally critical.

Hands-on learning remains central to the DAI experience. Students complete multiple design studios throughout their undergraduate journey, culminating in a two-term Capstone project in their final year. Working in multidisciplinary teams, they apply Design AI methodologies to industry-sponsored challenges or entrepreneurial ventures, graduating with a portfolio of applied, real-world work.

The DAI programme also offers expanded global exposure, with overseas opportunities through partnerships with institutions such as the University of California San Diego, the University of Chicago, Tokyo University of Science, Tsinghua University, and Shanghai Jiao Tong University. These experiences expose students to how AI is applied across different cultural, economic and regulatory contexts.

To stay at the frontier of a fast-moving AI landscape, SUTD is launching DAI Master Classes—short, high-impact, practitioner-led learning experiences delivered by industry experts. Designed as regular “learning booster shots”, and grounded in real-world contexts, these immersive sessions will enable students to gain practical AI tool fluency, portfolio-ready artefacts, and exposure to emerging roles and industry networks. Open to current DAI students from May 2026, the Master Classes provide an “operating-environment” apprenticeship, equipping students to build AI-enabled solutions that are deployable across industry, government and society, rather than merely technically impressive.

Mr Joshua Cheng, an SUTD Year 2 DAI student is excited about the changes that are taking place in the evolution of the DAI degree. “This supercharged DAI programme lets us take charge of our future with AI. These days, it’s not just about what’s technically possible – it’s about what’s actually worth building, and for whom. By leading with humanities thinking, ethics, culture and philosophy, and backing it with tech tools, we frame problems right from the start and create real impact. The industry Master Classes will keep us sharp and ahead of the curve.”

SUTD President, Professor Phoon Kok Kwang said: “This supercharged DAI degree programme is part of SUTD’s broader strategy to expand the pool of Design AI innovators for Singapore. Design AI innovators are trilingual talent who push the frontiers of design, AI, and domain expertise, to solve real world needs. Through their human-centred designs and complex systems designs, Design AI innovators contribute to raising the human potential of citizens, and the economic potential of companies and countries.”

Graduates of the DAI programme enter the workforce with “trilingual fluency” – the ability to integrate domain expertise, AI mastery and design thinking. With strong technological foundations and deeper capabilities in the social sciences, they are prepared not only for deep-tech roles, but also a broad range of careers across industries where understanding human behaviour, organisations and systems is essential. Across sectors, DAI graduates bring practical problem-solving capabilities that combine technical proficiency with deep human and societal insights, giving them a clear edge over graduates from more traditional programmes. For example, SSI graduates may pursue roles in consulting, strategy, finance or policy in AI-intensive organisations, while HI graduates may move into product and service management, public policy, sustainability, organisational strategy or education.

Dr Jaclyn Lee, Group Chief Human Resources Officer and Chief Executive of Certis Corporate University said: “As organisations increasingly deploy AI in complex, real-world environments, there is a growing need for talent that can combine strong technical capabilities with systems thinking and deep understanding of human behaviour. SUTD’s supercharged DAI degree, with its new Societal and Systems Intelligence and Human-Centred Intelligence tracks, develops exactly these Design AI competencies. Graduates trained to integrate AI, design thinking and domain knowledge are better equipped to design solutions that are practical, responsible and deployable at scale—skills that are increasingly valued at Certis Cisco as we continue to transform security, operations and services through technology.”

DAI programme website