Artificial intelligence (AI) is reshaping how we learn, work and communicate – but many students, like much of society, aren’t sure how to use it effectively or responsibly.
That’s why the University of Mary Washington is launching a complimentary one-credit course that gives students the tools to understand and apply AI in an effective and ethical way, particularly in an academic setting. The online, self-paced course – Introduction to AI – launches in summer 2025 and will equip new and returning UMW students with foundational knowledge about how AI works, how to integrate it into their work and approach it with critical awareness.
“One of our responsibilities, and one I take very seriously, is preparing students not just for the classroom, but the world beyond it,” said Professor of Communication Anand Rao, who designed the class. “This means we need to prepare students for an AI world by making sure they have a strong foundation in what AI is, how it works and how you start incorporating it into your work.”
The Introduction to AI course will be offered asynchronously online, making it easily accessible for students with varying summer schedules. This flexible format allows students to engage with the material at their own pace over an eight-week period, starting in June and concluding in July. Upon successful completion, students will receive one credit, free, awarded at the end of the fall semester.
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 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.
Rao focused exclusively on the topic during a yearlong sabbatical where he conducted research, attended conferences and met with experts in the AI field. He is the 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. He is also the editor for a new book to be published this fall that focuses on AI pluralism and outlines strategies to develop more explainable and aligned AI systems based on argumentation and debate.
In addition to the summer course, Rao will 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.
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