Artificial Intelligence (AI) is transforming nearly every aspect of society, from healthcare and business to art, education, and public policy. 

As AI technologies become more prevalent, it is essential that students—regardless of their major—develop an informed understanding of AI’s capabilities, limitations, and ethical implications.

To address this need, the University of Iowa is launching a Certificate in Artificial Intelligence (AI), designed to provide undergraduate students from a range of academic backgrounds with a broad, interdisciplinary foundation in AI. This certificate will equip students with the ability to understand AI fundamentals, apply them to practical scenarios, and critically evaluate the ethical implications of AI technologies.

To support this new certificate, we are inviting course proposals from faculty across all disciplines. These courses, which will complement the required introductory course for the certificate, will make AI accessible to students in non-STEM majors and provide all students with the critical tools to engage with AI in their respective fields. Whether in business, engineering, journalism, the arts, or social sciences, students who complete the Certificate in AI will emerge with the knowledge and skills to navigate an AI-influenced world.

Learning Outcomes for the Certificate in AI

By completing the undergraduate Certificate in AI, students will be able to:

  • Understand AI Fundamentals
    • Explain the core concepts of artificial intelligence, including machine learning, neural networks, and natural language processing.
    • Identify key milestones and technological advancements in AI development.
  • Apply AI Tools and Techniques
    • Demonstrate proficiency in using commercial AI tools for data analysis, content generation, and problem-solving.
    • Utilize AI in discipline-specific applications such as business, engineering, journalism, and psychology. 
  • Analyze the Ethical and Societal Impacts of AI
    • Evaluate ethical considerations surrounding AI, including bias, privacy, and misinformation.
    • Discuss the societal impact of AI on employment, creativity, and decision-making. 
  • Integrate AI into Academic and Professional Workflows
    • Leverage AI to enhance research, writing, data visualization, and decision-making.
    • Develop AI-informed strategies for problem-solving in their field of study. 
  • Explain Interdisciplinary Applications of AI
    • Summarize how AI interacts with various fields, including humanities, social sciences, business, and engineering.
    • Collaborate across disciplines to apply AI-driven insights in real-world scenarios. 

Call for Course Proposals

Faculty whose proposals are selected will be named inaugural Provost AI Fellows and will receive a one-time, $5,000 stipend for course development.

Propose a Course

Proposal Guidelines

In addition to supporting the certificate’s learning outcomes, we invite faculty to submit course proposals that: 

  • Explore AI from the perspective of the proposer’s discipline, advancing an interdisciplinary understanding of AI and enhancing students’ abilities to responsibly use AI to solve problems. 
  • Encourage critical thinking, creativity, and hands-on engagement with AI-related topics.

Faculty from all disciplines – including the arts, humanities, social sciences, and health fields – are invited submit a proposal.

Submission Process

Proposals should be submitted via Workflow by June 20, 2025. Each proposal should include:

  1. Course Title and Description (250 words max) 
  2. Instructor and Department 
  3. Anticipated Enrollment
  4. Level of Course (e.g. lower or upper-level undergraduate), Frequency, and Prerequisites (if any) 
  5. Course Objectives / Learning Outcomes 
  6. Description of AI-Related Content 
  7. General Description of Types of Assignments and Assessments 
  8. Brief Justification (Why this course? How does it contribute to the AI certificate?) 
  9. Letter from DEO supporting the course 

If you have any questions, please contact provost-office@uiowa.edu. 

Course Structure and Expectations

  • Courses should be at the undergraduate level and designed to attract students from across disciplines. 
  • Be designed for non-majors, making AI concepts accessible to students from all disciplines.
  • Avoid focusing solely on topics covered in the introductory course, such as fundamental AI concepts, basic ethical considerations, and some potential societal impacts.
  • No advanced programming background should be required; however, courses may incorporate AI tools, datasets, or case studies relevant to the discipline. 
  • Courses may be newly designed or adapted from existing courses with a strong AI component. 
  • The certificate seeks courses in a variety of modes and proposed courses can be in-person, online, or hybrid.