AI Academy Program Format

The AI Academy program is an innovative program designed and implemented in collaboration with over 100 partners including Lexmark, IBM, Citrix, Honeywell, Delta Air Lines, TIAA, MGM, GE Appliances, Bank of America, Randstad, and others. The AI Academy program is a workforce development program which is designed as an upskilling program for incumbent workers employed at one of our partnering organizations.

The program is a combination of 40 weeks of live, online, coursework and concurrent, on-the-job training working alongside an AI industry professional. Since the program inception in 2020, we have had seven cohorts of participants complete the program and receive their NC State University credentials/certificates.

In 2025, there will be one entry-point into the program for participants to begin their work in our Cohort 8 which will begin on January 5. We will host a smaller cohort than in the past, with only 100 seats available. Our recruitment period began March 15, 2024. If you are interested in joining the AI Academy in 2025, please apply now. Keep in mind, if you do not have previous programming experience, we offer a free-of-charge self-paced course Foundations of AI which we will make available to applicants who need this course prior to beginning. It takes about 30 hours to complete the course.

AI Academy Course Format

The AI Academy curriculum is comprised of four courses: Computer Programming with Python, Introduction to Artificial Intelligence, Data Mining, and Machine Learning. You will complete one course each ten weeks of the program. There will be live, online course meetings each week using Zoom videoconferencing technologies. First, there will be a pre-recorded SEMINAR each week, which is a 120 minute session where the introduction of new concepts, skills, and tasks will be presented and discussed. Each course will also include two WORKSHOP sessions each week which are 120 minutes each where participants will be guided through the application of content as they complete group and individual tasks to grow their understanding of the content.

AI Academy Schedule

SCHEDULE FOR COHORT EIGHT

START DATE – January 6, 2025

Course #1: Computer Programming with Python

Lead Instructor: Travis Martin,  NC State

January 6, 2025 to March 14, 2025

Course #2: Data Mining

Lead Instructor: Travis Martin, NC State

March 31, 2025 to June 6, 2025 (No class week of Memorial Day)

Course #3: Introduction to Artificial Intelligence (AI)

Lead Instructor: Dr. Collin Lynch, NC State

July 7, 2025 to September 12, 2025

Course #4: Machine Learning

Lead Instructor: Dr. Min Chi, NC State

September 29, 2025 to December 12, 2025 (No class the week of Thanksgiving)

SCHEDULE FOR COHORT NINE

START DATE – January 5, 2026