Connecticut College AI and the Liberal Arts Symposium

Students and parents are increasingly eager for academic validation of AI proficiency that will be viable in the modern marketplace. As a liberal arts institution, our objective is to cultivate competencies that transcend technical utility, fostering a holistic framework for engaging with these technologies. To equip students with both technical foundations and the capacity to critically evaluate ethical, social, and cultural impacts, we have established the "AI and the Liberal Arts" certificate. This certificate is structured as an interdisciplinary program comprising 4 courses or learning experiences. By design, it requires fewer credits than a minor and intentionally integrates perspectives from multiple academic disciplines. Most importantly, the program emphasizes a liberal arts approach that leverages critical thinking, synthesizes diverse perspectives, and looks beyond the technological surface to build something truly important. It prepares our students to pose the challenging, timely, and vital questions necessary for success in this new era.