Minor in Applied Artificial Intelligence (AI)
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A minor in applied artificial intelligence (AI) enhances every academic degree
Why Earn Your Minor in Applied AI at Sacred Heart?
A minor in applied AI from Sacred Heart University will immediately set you apart in the job market by showcasing your proficiency in one of today’s most transformative technologies.
From health care and nursing to education, biology, finance and beyond, industries increasingly recognize the power of AI, but they need workers who know how to leverage it fully. Sacred Heart’s applied AI minor teaches you how AI is shaping business across industry sectors and the ethical implications of these advancements on individuals, businesses and society. You'll graduate with a strong foundation in AI tools, technologies and responsible practices, ensuring you have an essential, future-focused expertise that will be needed and valued in your workplace.
Who can earn a minor in applied AI?
The applied AI minor is open to all majors in all colleges.
Learning Outcomes
The minor in applied AI gives all undergraduate majors at SHU the opportunity to learn how AI will apply to their future careers. Whether you’re studying film & television or finance, you’ll learn:
- Social, cultural and global impacts of AI
- Ethical implications of AI tools and their applications
- Employment of low-code or no-code AI tools in Sacred Heart’s Artificial Intelligence Lab
- Policy and regulatory frameworks
- Application of AI to solve problems in your profession
How does AI impact different industries and professions?
AI has the potential to make work more efficient for many professionals, through automation of routine tasks and improved analysis of vast amounts of data that can lead to better insights and predictive decision-making. AI users will also need to know how to tackle the challenges associated with this technology, including ethical issues, such as discrimination or biases, and data security and privacy concerns.
Here are some of the benefits and risks of AI associated with different industries and professions:
Benefits
AI enhances public safety efforts by assisting in crime prediction, facial recognition and analysis of massive data sets.
Risks
AI can amplify bias, threaten privacy through surveillance, reduce accountability and erode public trust in law enforcement.
Benefits
AI provides adaptive learning platforms, streamlines grading and personalizes instruction to support diverse student needs.
Risks
AI can deepen educational inequities, reduce human interaction and raise concerns about data privacy in student performance tracking.
Benefits
AI assists with patient monitoring, automates routine tasks and enhances decision-making through predictive analytics.
Risks
AI may depersonalize patient care, increase reliance on automated systems and raise concerns about data privacy and decision-making.
Benefits
AI analyzes patient data, supports mental health apps and improves therapy techniques through advanced data interpretation.
Risks
AI risks oversimplifying complex mental health conditions, reducing human empathy in therapy and raises concerns about data privacy in sensitive patient information.
Benefits
AI predicts property values, enhances market analysis and automates client matching for personalized real estate services.
Risks
AI can reinforce market inequalities, raise privacy concerns with client data and reduce human insight in decision-making processes.
Benefits
AI improves diagnostics, personalizes treatment plans and accelerates drug discovery with precision and speed.
Risks
AI may lead to misdiagnoses, depersonalized care and ethical concerns over patient data privacy and algorithmic decision-making.
Benefits
AI accelerates research, optimizes drug discovery and helps analyze biological data for breakthroughs in genomics.
Risks
AI can lead to ethical concerns in genetic research, data privacy risks and over-reliance on algorithms in critical scientific decisions.
Benefits
AI analyzes consumer behavior, automates content creation and targets personalized ads with pinpoint accuracy.
Risks
AI can invade consumer privacy, perpetuate bias in targeting and reduce human creativity in content creation.
Benefits
AI detects fraudulent transactions, enhances risk management and powers algorithmic trading for faster, data-driven decisions.
Risks
AI may amplify market volatility, perpetuate bias in risk models and raise concerns over transparency in algorithmic trading.
Curriculum | 15 credits
This course introduces the history, terminology, and foundational concepts of artificial intelligence (AI). Students explore current AI technologies, ethical issues, and societal impacts across industries. Through hands-on activities in the AI Lab, non-technical majors gain initial exposure to machine learning, fostering curiosity and critical thinking about AI. This course provides an introduction to the history, terminology, and foundational concepts of artificial intelligence (AI). Students will explore contemporary AI technologies and their applications across various industries, considering both the opportunities and risks associated with AI's growing influence. Special attention will be given to the ethical tensions, data privacy, and other societal challenges. Students will also gain introductory exposure to machine learning concepts and engage in hands-on, experiential learning in the AI Lab, laying the groundwork for deeper exploration in later courses. Designed for non-technical majors, this course aims to ignite curiosity and encourage critical thinking about AI's implications within students' specific academic disciplines. No prior experience in computer science is required.
This hands-on course introduces non-Computer Science students to machine learning fundamentals using low-code platforms. Students will gain practical experience in the AI Lab, working with industry-relevant data tailored to their fields. The course builds practical skills, enabling students to employ functional AI models for real-world challenges without prior programming experience.
Prerequisite: Take AI-100
In this capstone course, students will work in teams based on their majors and professional interests to develop AI solutions for real-world challenges. These challenges include developing entrepreneurial plans, developing internal solutions for the University, or partnering with external firms, agencies, schools, hospitals, or non-profits, to address specific industry-related problems using AI technologies. Students will apply the knowledge and skills from previous coursework to deliver practical & impactful solutions. This course provides an opportunity to showcase expertise in a focused area while working directly with clients in a professional setting.
Prerequisite: Take AI-100 AI-201 PH-268 PO-336
This course provides an in-depth exploration of the ethical implications of artificial intelligence (AI), emphasizing the responsible use of AI technologies for the common good. Students will engage with primary ethical challenges, including data privacy, bias, and the social, economic, and environmental costs of AI systems. The course also addresses contemporary and emerging regulatory and legal issues relevant to students' future professional domains. By building a solid ethical framework, students will be better prepared to apply AI responsibly and mindfully in real-world contexts.
Prerequisite: Take 3 credits PH course
This course examines the evolving relationship between Artificial Intelligence and politics, analyzing how AI technologies shape governance, policy, and international relations while also considering their ethical, social, and economic implications. Through case studies, theoretical readings, and policy analysis, students will explore AI's impact on political institutions, global power structures, and civic engagement, gaining the knowledge to assess and influence AI-related policies and governance frameworks.