Learning Outcomes
Graduates of Oregon Tech’s Bachelor of Science in Artificial Intelligence will develop technical expertise in applied computing, AI algorithms, and data-driven problem-solving. The program fosters innovation, critical thinking, and ethical responsibility in the design and deployment of AI technologies while advancing Oregon’s technology workforce through interdisciplinary, industry-connected education that bridges computing theory with practical application.
What graduates will know and be able to do:
- Design, build, and evaluate artificial intelligence and machine learning models for real-world applications
- Deploy and integrate AI systems in operational and production environments
- Apply natural language processing and computer vision techniques to solve practical problems
- Analyze and interpret large-scale datasets to support data-informed decision-making
- Automate processes and develop intelligent systems across industries, including healthcare, manufacturing, cybersecurity, and others
- Communicate technical findings and AI-driven insights clearly to both technical and non-technical audiences
- Collaborate effectively in interdisciplinary teams with engineers, analysts, managers, and domain specialists
- Build a professional portfolio through applied capstone projects with industry and community partners
What graduates will be:
- Ethical AI practitioners who understand the legal, social, and human implications of the systems they build
- Adaptable problem-solvers prepared to work across industries and emerging technologies
- Confident contributors who are ready to add value from day one in professional AI and technology roles
- Lifelong learners are equipped to grow as the field of AI continues to evolve
- Community-minded technologists who understand the responsibility that comes with building AI systems that affect people’s lives
Program Curriculum Map
The curriculum map for the Cybersecurity program can be found on the catalog web page on the Oregon Tech website, www.oit.edu/catalog.
Dr. Praveen Kumar Guraja is a Tenure-Track Assistant Professor of Cybersecurity and Information Technology in the Department of Applied Computing & Geomatics at the Oregon Institute of Technology (Oregon Tech). He develops and teaches courses in cybersecurity, IT, and artificial intelligence, and contributes to Oregon Tech’s forward-looking Bachelor of Science in Artificial Intelligence program. He also serves as faculty advisor for the TechSec Club, mentoring students in research, competitions, and the Applied Computing Learning Lab.
Before joining Oregon Tech, Dr. Guraja served as Division Chair, Founding Program Coordinator, and Assistant Professor of Information Technology Management at the University of Pikeville (UPIKE), where he launched undergraduate and graduate ITM programs integrating industry micro-credentials with experiential learning. His leadership helped UPIKE’s IT Club earn multiple national awards from the USITCC.
Dr. Guraja’s research focuses on the intersection of AI, cybersecurity, and data analytics, exploring how AI-driven systems enhance decision-making, strengthen security, and promote inclusion in underrepresented communities. He has published in peer-reviewed journals, presented at national and international conferences, and collaborated on NSF and NIH-funded projects.
His academic leadership encompasses grant writing, curriculum design, and student mentorship, securing over $50,000 in research and experiential learning funding for students. Dr. Guraja has received numerous honors, including the 2025 Excellence in Research Award, the 2022 Provost Award for Faculty Excellence and Leadership, the 2024 ACA Faculty Fellowship, and induction into Epsilon Pi Tau, the international honor society for professionals in technology.
A first-generation college graduate, Dr. Guraja actively serves on professional committees and advisory boards with organizations such as AAAI, IEEE, ACM, ATMAE, ASEE, and ISSA, inspiring the next generation of innovators in cybersecurity, IT, and AI.
Dr. Guraja also brings over a decade of industry experience in IT operations and enterprise systems, having served in technical and leadership roles at Pittsburg State University, Automatic Data Processing (ADP), Unisys India Pvt. Ltd., and Genpact India Pvt. Ltd. His professional background in systems administration, database management, and enterprise IT services informs his teaching and applied research.
Manish Nalluri brings over six years of combined experience across industry and academia, focusing on application security, identity and access management, penetration testing, and enterprise IT infrastructure. Before joining Oregon Tech, he served as an IT Assistant and also as a Teaching Assistant at George Mason University, where he managed IT systems, supported cybersecurity risk assessment, and mentored students on research and security projects. He also worked with Fortune 500 companies as an Application Security Engineer and as a Cybersecurity Analyst, specializing in security audits, vulnerability assessments, and incident response.
Manish earned a master’s degree in Information Security and Assurance from George Mason University, where he concentrated in Applied Cybersecurity. He also holds a bachelor’s degree in Computer Science and Engineering from Jawaharlal Nehru Technological University in India. His academic work includes research on cloud security breaches, zero-day vulnerabilities, and national cybersecurity policies, as well as projects on anomaly detection and secure mobile applications.
He is a Certified Ethical Hacker (CEH), EC-Council Certified Security Analyst (ECSA), Certified SOC Analyst, AWS Solution Architect, CompTIA Security+ certified, and holds other industry credentials. His professional interests include penetration testing, access management, cloud security, and emerging cybersecurity threats.