The fast-paced world we live in leaves hardly any time for supplementary education. For many, the desire to advance their careers is often overshadowed by the demands of work, family, and other responsibilities. You may be looking for ways to upskill at your current job but may not know which skills will be most relevant to your career goals.
Artificial Intelligence (AI) has begun to be implemented in a variety of industries, with many workers becoming exposed to AI daily in their professional lives. According to the Pew Research Center, at least 19 percent of American workers were in careers that use or are assisted by AI in 2022, and that number is expected to grow each year as the technology becomes more prevalent.
The Future of AI and Career Prospects
The future of AI is incredibly promising, and advancements in machine learning, natural language processing, robotics, and data analytics are driving innovation across multiple sectors. Goldman Sachs has estimated that AI will impact 25 percent of all work tasks across industries. While jobs will be lost, the investment bank also anticipates that through effective use of AI, worker productivity will rise, and new jobs will be created. The Future of Jobs 2023 report by the World Economic Forum also indicates that 75 percent of companies anticipate integrating big data and AI into their business processes in the next five years, which will affect employees at all levels.
One of the greatest obstacles to the growth of this sector is the lack of a skilled workforce across all industries. A certificate in Artificial Intelligence Foundations can provide foundational skills to help address the AI skills gap in any sector (government, for-profit, non-profit) or disciplinary area (business, management, cybersecurity, information technology, healthcare management or informatics, criminal justice, education, social sciences, journalism, natural sciences, etc.).
With AI skills, you can pursue a variety of exciting career opportunities including AI specialist, data scientist, AI project manager, AI consultant, and AI researcher. To actively participate and compete in a workforce that incorporates AI, employees must understand and efficiently use and manage AI tools. Managers must be able to effectively direct employees using these AI tools.
The Benefits of AI Education
If you are interested in gaining the relevant skills to utilize AI in your career, you can start earning an undergraduate certificate in AI Foundations entirely online at University of Maryland Global Campus (UMGC), beginning in the spring 2025 term.
The certificate is an 18-credit program designed for busy professionals who want to supplement their experience with a certificate they can earn in a year or less, depending on how many courses you take at a time and whether you have any applicable transfer credits. It is focused on real-world applications and managerial perspectives. Courses cover data literacy foundations, introduction to AI, AI applications, generative AI, responsible AI, and AI in the enterprise. This certificate in AI Foundations is a great choice for any student, including those pursuing other degrees and certificate-only students who may or may not already have a degree.
Most of the assignments are practical projects that require students to identify opportunities for AI adoption in their organization and leverage AI for strategic advantage as well as develop a framework for real-world applications of AI in areas such as recommender engines (software systems that use data analysis and algorithms to suggest products and content that people are likely to like or buy) supply chains, fraud detection, and customer service. In addition, UMGC’s AI learning opportunities are fully online, ensuring you can study from anywhere at any time. This flexibility allows you to balance education with your personal and professional life.
The demand for professionals with AI skills is rapidly growing, and having an AI credential from UMGC can significantly enhance your skillset. Some practical projects you can complete during the program include:
- Assessing the ethical implications of generative AI models, such as deepfakes and AI-generated content.
- Managing an AI model-based Intrusion Detection System (IDS) to identify and mitigate potential cyber threats in a network environment
- Examining the transparency and explainability of a black-box AI system used for employee performance evaluation
- Analyzing a machine learning model used for loan approval to identify and mitigate potential biases
FAQ: Addressing Common Questions About the Program
Q: Is prior experience in AI or data science necessary?
A: No prior experience is needed. The certificate starts with foundational courses that build your knowledge from the ground up.
Q: How will these programs fit into my busy schedule?
A: UMGC’s programs are designed for working adults, with flexible online courses that you can take at your own pace.
Q: What career opportunities can I expect after completing this program?
A: Graduates can pursue roles in various fields, including AI text and image content development, AI for finance and accounting, AI digital customer service, AI-driven human resources and talent acquisition, AI for Healthcare, AI project management, AI data analysis and visualization, and more. The demand for AI skills is rapidly growing across all sectors.
Your Next Step Toward Success
At UMGC, we are committed to helping you overcome the challenges of furthering your education. Our AI programs are designed to fit into your life, not disrupt it. If you’re ready to take the next step toward advancing your career with AI skills, connect with us today. Let’s turn your aspirations into reality together. Reach out to UMGC’s admissions team to learn more about our AI education opportunities available and take the first step towards your future success.
Reference on this webpage to any third-party entity or product does not constitute or imply endorsement by UMGC nor does it constitute or imply endorsement of UMGC by the third party.
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