Central Piedmont Community College is starting an associate-degree program in artificial technology this fall, after the state board overseeing 58 community colleges approved the offering.
It is the second community college in the state with such a program, following Wayne Community College in Goldsboro.
The Charlotte-based school says it will provide foundational knowledge and practical skills needed to excel in AI with a curriculum covering machine learning, chatbots, generative AI and other topics.
As many as 50 students will be enrolled this fall, with additional classes starting each term the school said. The goal is for students to be prepared for entry-level jobs requiring AI skills.
Students will need high school diplomas and to take three mathematics courses as part of the program, including statistics, precalculus algebra and brief calculus, spokesman Jeff Lowrance says. “For those who aren’t ready, we’ll work with them as needed,” he adds.
Central Piedmont offers nearly 300 degree, diploma and certification programs. It is the state’s second-largest community college with enrollment of more than 17,000 students.
