Rollins Launches New Certificate in Artificial Intelligence

As artificial intelligence reshapes industries and careers globally, Rollins is launching a new certificate program to ensure students build and demonstrate AI skills in their discipline and graduate with a clear, transcript-visible credential that shows employers they’re prepared for what’s next.

Beginning in fall 2026, the 12-credit, interdisciplinary AI Certificate will be open to College of Liberal Arts students across all majors looking to build AI fluency and gain the knowledge, skills, and perspective to engage critically with one of the most transformative technologies of our time.

The new undergraduate AI certificate reflects a fundamental global shift: AI is no longer the domain of computer science majors alone. It is now essential across fields as varied as business, communication, the arts, and the social sciences—and a defining feature of the modern workplace.

“We want every student who graduates from Rollins to be AI literate, no matter what major they pursue,” says Dan Myers, associate professor of computer science and director of the certificate program. “Every issue is an AI issue right now, and every student is going to use AI tools in some capacity in their professional career.”

Employers agree. According to the most recent employer survey from the Association of American Colleges & Universities, 91 percent of employers say it is important that college graduates gain experience using AI tools during their education, and 81 percent view the attainment of micro-credentials as valuable.

“AI literacy has quickly become the benchmark for delivering higher productivity in the workplace and maintaining market competitiveness,” says Rodney Adkins ’81, a former senior vice president at IBM who now serves on the boards for Avent, Grainger, and UPS. “With a strong liberal arts foundation and practical AI fluency, Rollins graduates are well prepared to think critically, creatively, and analytically. Rollins’ new AI certificate program makes them highly valuable to employers seeking well-rounded talent ready to navigate and lead in this age of disruptive innovation driven by AI.”

At Rollins, that preparation takes shape through a distinctly interdisciplinary lens. The new undergraduate AI Certificate is designed to complement each student's major or minor, reinforcing the idea that AI education is most powerful when applied within a specific discipline. A computer science major might deepen their expertise in programming and machine learning, while an environmental studies student can examine the ecological impact of data centers. Philosophy majors may explore AI ethics or theories of mind, while business majors can develop apps for startup projects. In every case, technical fluency is paired with the critical thinking, creativity, and ethical judgment needed to use AI effectively and responsibly.

All students who pursue the AI certificate will start with a shared foundation. In the introductory AI 101 course, they will explore core concepts, language, and technologies shaping the field, with particular attention to generative AI platforms such as ChatGPT and Claude. From there, students will complete two four-credit courses in their chosen area of interest—ranging from Marketing Analytics to Literature and Medicine—and finish with a capstone experience in which they will produce a shareable portfolio that synthesizes their learning and demonstrates their ability to apply AI thoughtfully within their discipline.

The emphasis on outcomes is intentional.

“Our liberal arts approach is essential to how we’re defining AI literacy at our institution, and the curricular offerings match that belief,” says Lucy Littler, director of the Endeavor Center for Faculty Development and senior lecturer of English. “We emphasize students understanding AI application in their discipline as opposed to a one-size-fits-all certificate because when they get out into the world, they will need to be able to adapt to the needs of different organizations.”

The focus on agility reflects a broader shift in how educators and global leaders are thinking about AI literacy. Increasingly, it is seen not as a technical specialty but as a core competency—one that includes the ability to use the tools effectively and understand their limitations, evaluate their outputs, and consider their broader societal impact. In this context, AI skills become inseparable from ethical reasoning and human judgment.

“When we’re looking at the expected future trajectory of our economy over the next few years, AI certainly plays a big role,” says Myers. “Whether it’s public policy, electricity generation, or natural resources, everyone needs to know how it works and how it is useful and not, so they can intelligently weigh the trade-offs of the different issues they might encounter. The AI Academic Certificate provides a fast lane for students who want to engage more deeply with AI and want to do so in an interdisciplinary way.”