Howard University Rolls Out Intro To AI Course To Equip Students For Careers In AI-Powered Engineering – AfroTech
Howard University has introduced an AI course to prepare its students for leading-edge engineering roles, according to a press release shared with AFROTECH™.
The Historically Black College and University (HBCU) is rolling out an Intro to Artificial Intelligence course in spring 2026, in partnership with CodePath and with the financial support of the Thurgood Marshall College Fund (TMCF). Howard faculty and CodePath’s faculty network will work together on course instruction in areas including data structures, AI literacy, and agentic workflows, per the press release.
“Our work is rooted in the idea that HBCUs are not only equipping students for coursework but also building skills vital to succeeding and leading in the workplace,” said Dr. Harry L. Williams, TMCF president and CEO, in the press release. “Through programs like this and professional development such as what our Innovation & Partnership arm provides, our HBCUs are elevating excellence and creating pathways to opportunity in the fields that are defining the economy of the future.”
The course aims to ensure students are exposed to the basics of AI-assisted software development and can apply their newfound knowledge to real-world workflows, per the release. Enrolled students will receive free access to Claude Code during their instruction period. By the end of the course, they will have a portfolio-ready project that reflects their competency in real-life AI applications.
“Howard has a long history of preparing students to not just succeed in today’s jobs, but to become leaders in the economy of tomorrow,” said Dean of the College of Engineering and Architecture Kimberly L. Jones, Ph.D., according to the news release. “Building on many years of introducing students to traditional AI concepts, this course has been reimagined to reflect AI’s ongoing evolution and respond to what our students are asking for, and what employers now expect. By embedding applied AI directly into the curriculum, students who have successfully completed the class have both the foundational knowledge and the practical experience to lead in an AI-driven world of work.”
CodePath Chief Product Officer Chris Coleman commented:
“As AI reshapes the world of work, employers’ expectations are only going up. Colleges have a unique opportunity to respond to that shift by equipping their students with the skills the fast-changing tech industry needs. We’re honored to collaborate with Howard and TMCF on this course, and excited to help Howard students get the training and practical experience that can help them navigate an increasingly AI-driven labor market.”
As the industry continues to change quickly, Howard, CodePath, and TMCF will continue working together to locate new opportunities for courses or programs that align.
