Integrating AI into Academic Programs for Curricular Innovation

Project Overview

OpenAI’s infamous ChatGPT became the fastest-growing consumer application in history in only two months–and the feverish interest around Large Language Models (LLMs) continues to grow. As educators, we must think carefully about how to best integrate these technologies into our curricula and how our students should use them to support their education. Artificial intelligence (AI), more generally, is a rapidly-evolving field that now can have practical benefits for all students. Given the pace of progress in AI, we ought to consider flexible approaches that are both responsive to changes in these technologies, while also keeping a student-centered approach constant. At Georgetown University, we have always stood at the forefront of academic excellence, committed to nurturing inquisitive minds and fostering a deep sense of social responsibility.

Our project, from the Data Science and Analytics Master’s program at Georgetown (DSAN), envisions supporting curricular innovation by integrating AI into academic programs. Importantly, this initiative will not only benefit our own program but can also extend its advantages to other programs across the University. We are well-positioned to achieve this synergy as we possess many of the necessary resources, including expert faculty who can contribute their knowledge and experience to AI integration efforts. Furthermore, our program has a robust foundation of established courses that can be leveraged to deepen students’ understanding of AI technologies and their real-world implications. By harnessing these assets, we aim to foster a comprehensive integration of AI into the broader academic landscape, enriching the educational experience for students across the University.

The core of our mission is to embrace AI not as a mere technological tool but as a dynamic force that augments and refines our educational processes and improving student learning and experience, fostering interdisciplinary and inter-campus collaboration, and helping to shape the broader dialog about the impact of AI.

Team