Artificial Intelligence, Undergraduate Certificate
The undergraduate Certificate in Artificial Intelligence prepares students of the College of Arts & Sciences to engage critically and responsibly with AI as a defining challenge of our time. But unlike technical programs focused on building AI systems, this certificate is grounded in a liberal arts approach, equipping students to understand AI’s technical foundations, evaluate its societal implications, and deploy it responsibly within their disciplinary contexts.
The certificate requires students to complete three courses, selecting one from each of three domains: The Problem of AI (examining ethical/social/political dimensions), The Science of AI (understanding how systems actually work, along with their capabilities and limitations), and The Applications of AI (developing practical fluency and reflective practice). This structure ensures students can bridge technical and humanistic discourse, distinguishing between what AI can do and what institutions choose to do with it.
The desired result is to produce informed citizens, ethical decision-makers, and critical analysts of their professions, prepared not only to use AI tools but also to shape AI’s role in society through inquiry, ethical reasoning, and service to the common good.
While students are encouraged to draw connections between the certificate coursework and their major/minor curriculum — particularly through the “Applications of AI” requirement — doing so is not required. The certificate requirements may freely double count toward major, minor, and core requirements as appropriate.