The University of Arkansas at Little Rock is opening the door to the future of work with a new course designed to introduce students from all disciplines to the world of artificial intelligence.
Students can enroll in the fall course, Foundations of AI (CPSI 23803), the first course in the upcoming Applied AI Certificate program offered through the Department of Computer Science in the Donaghey College of Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics. The course requires no prerequisites and is open to students in all majors.
“AI is transforming the modern workplace,” said Dr. Philip Huff, associate professor of cybersecurity and director of cybersecurity research. “This course gives students a broad, accessible way to explore how AI is used across industries and how they can apply it in their own future careers.”
This course will be taught by Dr. Billy Spann, an accomplished technology leader and assistant professor of computer science at UA Little Rock. With over two decades of experience in wireless telecom engineering, Spann connects industry-scale problem-solving to the classroom.
Spann holds a Ph.D. in Computer and Information Science from UA Little Rock, along with an MBA and a bachelor’s degree in electrical engineering. His career includes serving as director of engineering at Windstream and as a postdoctoral research fellow at UA Little Rock’s COSMOS lab, where he researched social media and online behavior analytics.
Foundations of AI covers the basics of AI and machine learning, examines how AI is redefining human and machine intelligence, and offers students hands-on experience with real-world tools and applications. Students will also gain insight into how AI is shaping the future of work and how to stay ahead of it.
Dr. Sandra Leiterman, cybersecurity education research professor, emphasized the value for students entering today’s job market.
“It’s the wave of the future. Having technical fluency in applied AI will give students a leg up,” Leiterman said. “Employers are actively looking for candidates with this kind of skill set, and this course can help make students even more competitive.”
The Applied AI Certificate program, set to launch fully in 2026, will include two stackable certificates: a 15-credit-hour certificate of proficiency followed by a 15-credit-hour technical certificate.
The Applied AI Certificate is supported by a grant from the Higher Industry Readiness through Educational Development (HIRED) Program. The certificate is included in Arkansas LAUNCH, a state program that helps employers quickly access a pool of qualified, ready-to-hire candidates with specific skills and experiences needed to fill open positions.
Any UA Little Rock student who would like to enroll should speak to their academic advisor. For more information on the course, contact Leiterman at saleiterman@ualr.edu or Huff at pdhuff@ualr.edu.
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