Howard University Teams Up with Industry Experts to Launch Transformative Applied AI Course
From The Dig:
WASHINGTON, D.C. — Howard University today announced a transformative redesign of its trailblazing Intro to Artificial Intelligence course, which has pioneered the preparation of students for emerging careers in AI-powered engineering for more than a decade. Developed in partnership with CodePath and supported by the Thurgood Marshall College Fund (TMCF), the redesigned course uses methodology underscored by recent CodePath data to introduce students to the fundamentals of AI-assisted software development and provide hands-on experience for its application in real-world workflows that are ubiquitous in entry-level roles. According to a survey released by CodePath last month, employers’ top readiness signals are internship experience, technical interview performance, and side projects or portfolios.
“Howard has a long history of preparing students to not just succeed in today’s jobs, but to become leaders in the economy of tomorrow,” said Kimberly L. Jones, Ph.D., dean of the College of Engineering and Architecture at Howard University. “Building on many years of introducing students to traditional AI concepts, this course has been reimagined to reflect AI’s ongoing evolution and respond to what our students are asking for, and what employers now expect. By embedding applied AI directly into the curriculum, students who have successfully completed the class have both the foundational knowledge and the practical experience to lead in an AI-driven world of work.”
Employers are increasingly in search of and willing to pay a premium for workers with the skills to apply AI on the job. Businesses also place particular value on hands-on experience. Built to respond to this growing demand, Howard’s Intro to Artificial Intelligence course is collaboratively taught by Howard faculty and an instructor from CodePath’s industry-connected faculty network. It focuses on topics ranging from data structures to AI literacy and agentic workflows. By the end of the course, students will complete a portfolio-ready project demonstrating their ability to apply AI responsibly and effectively within real software development contexts. Intro to Artificial Intelligence represents the first time this course, originally developed by CodePath, is being offered for academic credit.
"As AI reshapes the world of work, employers' expectations are only going up. Colleges have a unique opportunity to respond to that shift by equipping their students with the skills the fast-changing tech industry needs," said Chris Coleman, chief product officer at CodePath. "We're honored to collaborate with Howard and TMCF on this course, and excited to help Howard students get the training and practical experience that can help them navigate an increasingly AI-driven labor market."
The course was launched with support from the HBCU Transformation Project, spearheaded by TMCF and other leading education organizations, which aims to expand high-quality, industry-aligned programs for students across HBCUs.
“Our work is rooted in the idea that HBCUs are not only equipping students for coursework but also building skills vital to succeeding and leading in the workplace,” said Dr. Harry L. Williams, TMCF president and CEO. “Through programs like this and professional development such as what our Innocation & Partnership arm provides, our HBCUs are elevating excellence and creating pathways to opportunity in the fields that are defining the economy of the future.”
Howard, CodePath, and TMCF will continue collaborating to identify new opportunities for courses or programs that align with the needs of the fast-changing tech industry.