CMU Introduces 4 New Online Graduate Certificates for Professionals

Carnegie Mellon University is introducing four online graduate certificates designed to help working professionals build graduate-level expertise in artificial intelligence, robotics, software engineering and product management.

New offerings from the Kenneth C. Griffin School of Computer Science include:

• Foundations of Robotic Interaction, designed for engineers and technical professionals to learn the principles behind how robots perceive, interact with and respond to the world.
• Software Engineering With AI, designed for software engineers, developers, and technical professionals to examine, build, and deploy AI-enabled software systems.

New offerings from the Tepper School of Business include:

• Foundational AI & ML for Business, designed to help professionals without a technical background to build skills in data, programming and machine learning while learning to evaluate and apply AI to business challenges.
• AI Product Management Essentials, designed for professionals to use AI in their product management work and guide the development of AI-powered products.

Built to fit the busy schedules of working professionals, the certificates offer flexible online learning and opportunities to apply new knowledge and skills immediately in the workplace. The programs also help learners stay current as emerging technologies reshape their industries.

“When we design these online programs, we’re not just using technology for technology’s sake. We’re using it to make learning more efficient and effective for busy professionals,” said Marsha Lovett, vice provost for teaching and learning innovation at Carnegie Mellon University.

Designed and taught by Carnegie Mellon faculty, the courses in these programs draw on the university’s expertise in learning science and educational technology. Interactive activities, targeted practice, feedback and hands-on, real-world scenarios create an engaging experience and support learning outcomes equivalent to those of CMU’s in-person courses.

CMU Online takes an informed and collaborative approach to course design, working with CMU experts to create inclusive educational experiences backed by data. Judy Brooks, director of design for teaching and learning innovation, said the new certificate programs are specifically designed to meet the unique needs of individuals who are already in the workforce.

“Students in these graduate-level certificate courses are seeking to build their careers and expand their knowledge as they adjust to the ongoing disruption and fast moving pace of AI,” Brooks said. “We work to keep our students’ work/life contexts in mind as we design each course, creating opportunities for peer interaction and making connections to relevant examples they can apply in their work.”

CMU’s online certificate programs give learners the flexibility to engage with material that reflects the quality and rigor of a traditional on-campus master’s program. In comparisons conducted between matched online and in-person courses, online certificate students have achieved equivalent learning outcomes, demonstrating that the online format maintains CMU’s high academic standards. While many of the courses are also offered on campus, the certificates also include curriculum developed to address rapid technological change and emerging needs across industries.

This material, Brooks said, is organized as pre-class work, in-class activities and post-class work. While a considerable portion is designed to be completed asynchronously, also built into the experience are synchronous class sessions, where students work directly with faculty and other learners to engage in a thorough, responsive and meaningful learning experience.

The Software Engineering With AI certificate, Brooks said, is one example of how educators are helping professionals respond to changes in the workplace. “The field of software engineering has been influenced so significantly by AI. We’re considering, ‘Where and how does software engineering evolve with that?’” The certificate prepares students to navigate and contribute to that ongoing evolution."

The new offerings expand CMU’s portfolio of online graduate certificates, which includes:

• AI Engineering Fundamentals
• AI Engineering: Digital Twins & Analytics
• Machine Learning and Data Science
• Generative AI and Large Language Models
• Applied Data Science
• Managing AI Systems

More information about all new and existing programs is available on the CMU Online website.