New Artificial Intelligence Level I Certificate Launching in Fall 2021 as Part of Geographical Information Systems Degree Program
DMC AI Program is First in Country Offered at Community College Level
Article by Melinda Eddleman
The idea of AI started back in the 1930s. In the 1950s, the field of AI research became an academic discipline, and now its continued development, uses and impact can be seen all over the world––ranging from retail to sports to finance to military applications and even to climatic changes––that affect our lives.
In other words, AI is booming.
A 2018 Wall Street Journal article, “The Impact of Artificial Intelligence on the World Economy,” cites that a McKinsey Global Institute report estimated that the economic growth of AI could reach $13 trillion by 2030. Building the workforce to support AI research and development, applications and other aspects of the field is critical, and Del Mar College (DMC) will begin its part to train individuals for the world of AI.
Starting this fall, the DMC Computer Science, Engineering and Advanced Technology Department will offer its first AI course as part of a 14-hour Level I Certificate program that also supports the College’s Associate in Science in Geographical Information Systems degree.The first course, Introduction to Artificial Intelligence (GISC-1372-709FA), covers AI and Machine Learning (ML) and will be taught online by course designer Phillip Davis, Ph.D., DMC Professor of Computer Science. The course is one of five making up the AI Level I Certificate program.
Our new program and this course incorporate state-of-the-art Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning into applied information technologies, such as Geographical Information Systems, and are the first of their kind in the nation. Del Mar College is the only two-year community college partner that is a member of the National Science Foundation’s 2020 investment in AI Institutes nationwide.
DMC’s program is part of a five-year $3.2 million collaboration with Texas A&M University-Corpus Christi that was announced last August as part of a $20 million partnership––the new National Science Foundation (NSF) AI Institute for Research on Trustworthy AI in Weather, Climate and Coastal Oceanography, known as AI2ES––led by the University of Oklahoma. AI2ES includes other academic institutions, national laboratories (including the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration) and private industry partners such as IBM and Google.
The DMC Computer Science, Engineering and Advanced Technology Department serves as the project liaison between the AI Institute and two-year technical and community colleges nationwide, and a four-member DMC team is responsible for developing the new innovative certificate program.
As the first such program in the country for two-year colleges, the AI Certificate will prepare Geographic Information Systems (GIS) technicians for applying the power of Artificial Intelligence to geospatial applications such as coastal wetlands management, hurricane emergency response and other coastal purposes.
Registration for the fall Introduction to Artificial Intelligence course is underway and only requires an introductory programming course as a pre-requisite. Individuals can take one of three programming classes during the Summer I session to meet the pre-requisite before the fall AI class begins. Three classes are available this summer and include ITSE-1329-709S1 (108138) Programming Logic and Design, ITSE-1402-001S1 (108142) Computer Programming and ITSE-1402-709S1 (108150) Computer Programming. Summer I classes begin June 1.
In addition to course tuition and fees, the fall course utilizes a $5 online textbook and loads of free software and data for completing AI programming exercises.
To learn more about the certificate program and the AI course, contact Dr. Davis at pdavis@delmar.edu
.To register for DMC Summer I and II and Fall 2021 credit courses, go to www.delmar.edu/registration for admissions and registration requirements, deadlines and other information.
Del Mar College empowers students to achieve their dreams. We offer quality programs, individual attention, outstanding instruction through faculty with real-world experience and affordable costs to credit and noncredit students in Corpus Christi and the South Texas Coastal Bend area. Nationally recognized while locally focused, we’re ranked in the top two percent of community colleges in the country granting associate degrees to Hispanic students (Community College Week). Del Mar College focuses on offering our students programs that match current or emerging career opportunities. Whether students are interested in the fine arts, sciences, business, occupational or technical areas, students get the education they need for the future they want at Del Mar College.