The university is seeking course proposals for its new undergraduate Certificate in Artificial Intelligence (AI).

The Certificate in AI is designed to provide students from a wide range of academic backgrounds with a broad, interdisciplinary foundation in AI. To complement the certificate’s required introductory course, we are seeking proposals for courses that integrate AI concepts across disciplines, make AI accessible to non-STEM majors, and allow students to engage with AI in their respective fields.

Faculty whose proposals are chosen will be named Provost AI Fellows. These fellowships come with a one-time, $5,000 stipend for course development.

Proposal guidelines

Faculty from all disciplines – including the arts, humanities, social sciences, and health fields – are invited to propose a course for the Certificate in AI. Proposed courses should:

• 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.

Course structure and expectations

• Courses should be at the undergraduate level and designed to attract students from across disciplines.
• Courses should be designed for non-majors, making AI concepts accessible to students from all disciplines.
• Courses should 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.
• Courses should begin being offered in the spring 2027 or fall 2027 semester.

Submission requirements and process

Proposals should include: 

1. Course Title and Description (250 words max)
2. Instructor and Department
3. Anticipated Enrollment
4. Level of Course, 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 

Proposals should be submitted via Workflow by March 1, 2026.

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

Note: this memo was also published on Feb. 4, 11, and 18, 2026.