Summer 2025
The one-credit Introduction to AI summer course provides a solid foundation in AI, covering essential topics like how AI works, its various technologies, and ethical considerations. You’ll also learn how to incorporate AI into your workflows responsibly and effectively. Plus, it’s a fantastic opportunity to gain valuable knowledge and skills that will prepare you for an AI-driven world.
Course Overview
The Introduction to AI course will be offered asynchronously online in summer 2025, making it easily accessible around summer schedules. This flexible format allows you to engage with the material at your own pace over an eight-week period, starting in June and concluding in July. Upon successful completion, current students will receive one credit, free, awarded at the end of the fall semester.
Who Can Enroll
The new course is offered only to incoming and current UMW students, who must have a valid UMW net ID and be enrolled in the fall semester to start the course over the summer. Course materials were developed by UMW Professor of Communication Anand Rao, and the course is offered pass/fail, with no additional charge. Students will receive instructions via email about how to enroll in the course.
To access this free course, you must first deposit and enroll for the fall semester at UMW. Once you’ve completed these steps, you’ll receive information on how to log in and get started with the course. Remember, you need a UMW net ID and be enrolled for the fall semester to receive the free credit.
Course Faculty
The summer Intro to AI course is designed by UMW Professor of Communication Anand Rao, co-author and co-editor of the 2023 book, Chat(GPT): Navigating the Impact of Generative AI Technologies on Educational Theory and Practice, which debuted as the No. 1 new release in Curricula and in the Top 10 for Educational Professional Development. He also has led discussions on the topic at international conferences and in major publications, including Inside Higher Education, With Good Reason and The Wall Street Journal.
Future Opportunities
In addition to the summer course, we’re excited to introduce a more extensive fall course DGST 301N: AI and Society. This course will delve deeper into the implications of AI on various career paths and personal interests. Students will have the opportunity to build their own chatbots, engage in discussions and debates, and attend guest lectures from leading experts. The course will be held in the HCC Digital Auditorium and will include both in-person and online components. Through the hands-on course, students will harness AI tools, tackle ethical, creative and societal challenges through real-world projects, and develop practical skills to become informed leaders in the AI era. Students can enroll in this semester-long course during the registration process or as they add or drop classes, and seats will be available for transfer and incoming first-year students.