South Mountain Community College is introducing two new CIS courses that focus on applications of artificial intelligence which includes :
CIS137: Artificial Intelligence Fundamentals
CIS144: Applied Artificial Intelligence
The Artificial Intelligence Fundamentals course will focus on the models, tools and prompt engineering techniques to improve AI outputs while analyzing ethical, regulatory and privacy concerns surrounding AI usage and content ownership.
The Applied Artificial Intelligence course will emphasize building practical skills, critically evaluating AI outputs and applying ethical principles such as fairness, transparency and data privacy in the development and use of AI solutions.
“Most importantly, students will gain skills that will help them remain competitive and adaptable in an evolving workforce,” said Dr. L. Andrea Brownlee, SMCC CIS faculty member. “These courses are designed to help students become informed users, critical thinkers and responsible leaders in an AI-driven world.”
These two new courses will provide an opportunity for students to better understand the purpose of artificial intelligence and equip them with the necessary tools when using it in the real world.
“The goal of these courses is not to create fear around AI, but rather to help students understand it, navigate it responsibly and use it as a tool for innovation, productivity, creativity and problem-solving,” said Dr. Brownlee.
The CIS137: Artificial Intelligence Fundamentals course and the CIS144: Applied Artificial Intelligence course are now open for students to enroll in for the fall 2026 semester.