AI BridgeAuburn CSSE

Auburn University · Computer Science & Software Engineering

The AI Bridge

  1. AI literacy
  2. AI proficiency
  3. AI fluency

A pathway for all Auburn students, from a first course in AI to a Certificate and an MS in AI Engineering. Start where you are. The first course needs no math and no code.

Find Your Pathway COMP 1100 starts Spring 2027
  1. 1course to beginAI literacy
  2. 3Bridge coursesAdvanced AI literacy
  3. 6courses for the CertificateAI proficiency
  4. 10courses for the MSAI fluency

The pathway

Four stages, two credentials

Each stage builds on the one before. Choose where you are to see the course numbers and milestones that apply to you.

Show the pathway for

COMP 1100 builds beginning AI literacy. The three Bridge courses build advanced AI literacy, the Core adds AI proficiency, and four electives complete AI fluency. Course numbers show undergraduate/graduate sections.

Beginning

AI Literacy

1 course · any major

  • COMP 1100Power of AINo prerequisites. New in Spring 2027.

3-course AI Bridge

Advanced AI Literacy

3 courses

  1. COMP 5230/6230Foundations of AI1
  2. COMP 5100/6100Computation for AI2
  3. COMP 5250/6250Algorithms for AI3

3-course Core

AI Proficiency

3 courses

  • COMP 5600/6600Artificial Intelligence
  • COMP 5630/6630Machine Learning
  • COMP 5130/6130Data Mining

4 electives

AI Fluency

4 courses

  • 4 × AI electiveAI electives of your choiceUp to two may come from your home department or college.
6 Certificate in AI Engineering AI proficiency Undergraduate or graduate · 3 Bridge + 3 Core
10 MS in AI Engineering AI fluency 3 Bridge + 3 Core + 4 AI electives

Choose your route

Three ways across the Bridge

The same courses lead to different credentials depending on where you are in your degree.

For undergraduates

Get certified in AI

Six courses earn the Undergraduate Certificate in AI Engineering, proof of AI proficiency alongside your major.

  1. Take the 3-course AI Bridge

    COMP 5230 · 5100 · 5250

    Foundations of AI, Computation for AI, Algorithms for AI. Advanced AI literacy.

  2. Complete the 3-course Core

    COMP 5600 · 5630 · 5130

    Artificial Intelligence, Machine Learning, Data Mining. AI proficiency.

6Undergraduate Certificate in AI Engineering3 Bridge + 3 Core

New to AI? Start with COMP 1100, Power of AI. It builds beginning AI literacy before you take on the Bridge.

Planning on a master's? Students admitted to CSSE's Accelerated Bachelor's/Master's (ABM) program (3.4+ GPA, 45+ credit hours) may take selected certificate courses at the graduate level and count up to 9 hours toward both degrees. All other students complete the certificate entirely with undergraduate-level courses. It is a complete credential either way. Ask your advisor about ABM eligibility.

For undergraduates

Your bridge to an AI master's

Take the 3-course AI Bridge in your junior or senior year, at the undergraduate or graduate level, and go on to the MS in AI Engineering.

  1. Begin with AI literacy

    COMP 1100

    Power of AI. Beginning AI literacy.

  2. Take the AI Bridge as a junior or senior

    Foundations of AI, Computation for AI, Algorithms for AI. Advanced AI literacy.

    Option A · Undergraduate level

    COMP 5230 · 5100 · 5250

    Open to undergraduates. Build your AI foundation, then continue into the MS in AI Engineering.

    Option B · Graduate level · Fast track

    COMP 6230 · 6100 · 6250

    For eligible students. Take and pass all three at the graduate level to earn the MS in five years.

  3. Complete the 3-course Core

    COMP 6600 · 6630 · 6130

    Artificial Intelligence, Machine Learning, Data Mining. Bridge + Core = 6 courses and a Certificate in AI Engineering.

  4. Add four AI electives

    Up to two may come from your home department or college. AI fluency.

10MS in AI EngineeringIn five years on the fast track

For graduate students

Add AI to your degree

One pathway, two credentials. Start with the 3-course AI Bridge, earn a Graduate Certificate at six courses, and go on to the MS in AI Engineering at ten.

  1. Take the 3-course AI Bridge

    COMP 6230 · 6100 · 6250

    Foundations of AI, Computation for AI, Algorithms for AI.

  2. Complete the 3-course Core

    COMP 6600 · 6630 · 6130

    Artificial Intelligence, Machine Learning, Data Mining.

6Graduate Certificate in AI EngineeringAI proficiency · 3 Bridge + 3 Core

  1. Add four AI electives of your choice

    Up to two may come from your home department or college.

10MS in AI EngineeringAI fluency · 3 Bridge + 3 Core + 4 electives

Courses are listed with undergraduate/graduate numbers. Graduate students take the 6000-level section.

Wanna do AI?

Wanna show off your AI knowledge and ace that interview?

All the AI hype getting you down?

Wanna get the facts?

No math?No code?No problem.

  • Spring 2027
  • New course
  • Open to every major
  • No prerequisites

COMP 1100The Power of AI: Fundamentals to Applications

An accessible introduction to the technology and applications of AI for students in every discipline and at every level. No prior computer science, math, or programming knowledge is required. Whatever your major, freshman or senior, this course is for you. You'll finish by using an AI model to solve a problem in a hands-on project.

What you'll explore

  • History & principles of AI
  • AI models
  • Machine learning
  • Neural networks
  • Computer vision
  • Natural language processing
  • AI's impact across fields
  • Benefits & limitations
  • AI ethics
When
MWF1:00–1:50 PM
Where
Shelby 1103Shelby Center
Instructor
Dr. Vishalini Ramnath
Register
From Nov. 2via AU Access

Course list

Every course on the pathway

Bridge and Core courses have an undergraduate and a graduate section. Take the one that matches your level and your route.

CourseUndergraduateGraduateNotes
Beginning AI literacy
The Power of AI: Fundamentals to ApplicationsCOMP 1100—Open to every major. No prerequisites. First offered Spring 2027.
3-course AI Bridge · Advanced AI literacy
Foundations of AICOMP 5230COMP 6230Bridge course 1
Computation for AICOMP 5100COMP 6100Bridge course 2
Algorithms for AICOMP 5250COMP 6250Bridge course 3
3-course Core · AI proficiency · Bridge + Core earns the Certificate
Artificial IntelligenceCOMP 5600COMP 6600Core
Machine LearningCOMP 5630COMP 6630Core
Data MiningCOMP 5130COMP 6130Core
Four AI electives · AI fluency · completes the MS
AI electives of your choice (4)——Up to two may come from your home department or college.

The Certificate in AI Engineering takes 6 courses (Bridge + Core). The MS in AI Engineering takes 10 (Bridge + Core + 4 electives). COMP 1100 comes before both counts.

Questions

Common questions

Do I need to be a computer science major?
No. The AI Bridge is built for students in every major. COMP 1100 has no prerequisites, and up to two of the four MS electives may come from your home department or college.
I've never studied AI. Where do I start?
Start with COMP 1100, The Power of AI. It assumes no computer science, math, or programming background, and it builds beginning AI literacy before you take on the Bridge.
What's the difference between the Certificate and the MS?
The Certificate in AI Engineering takes six courses: the three Bridge courses and the three Core courses. It marks AI proficiency. The MS in AI Engineering takes ten: the same six plus four AI electives. It marks AI fluency.
Can certificate courses count toward both a bachelor's and a master's?
Yes, through CSSE's Accelerated Bachelor's/Master's (ABM) program. Students admitted to ABM (3.4+ GPA, 45+ credit hours) may take selected certificate courses at the graduate level and count up to 9 hours toward both degrees. Ask your advisor about eligibility.
How can I finish the MS in five years?
Take the three Bridge courses at the graduate level (COMP 6230, 6100, 6250) in your junior or senior year and pass all three. This fast track is for eligible students.
I'm a graduate student. Which sections do I take?
The 6000-level sections. Courses are listed with both numbers, such as COMP 5230/6230, and graduate students enroll in the 6000-level one.

Questions? Talk to us

Contact the AI Bridge team

Dr. Sathya Aakur

AI Curriculum Lead

san0028@auburn.edu

Dr. Clint Lovelace

Student Advising Lead

jcl0014@auburn.edu

COMP 1100

Taught by Dr. Vishalini Ramnath, COMP 1100 Lead. Registration opens Nov. 2 in AU Access.

Support

Supported by the Center for Inclusive Computing at Northeastern University

The AI Bridge is funded by an Implementation Grant from the Center for Inclusive Computing (CIC) at Northeastern University. We thank CIC for supporting our work to bring AI education to every Auburn student.

Funded project

AI Bridge: Pathway from AI Literacy to Proficiency and Fluency for All Auburn Students

NEU Center for Inclusive Computing (CIC) Implementation Grant

Visit the Center for Inclusive Computing

Project team

  • Hari NarayananPrincipal Investigator
  • Richard ChapmanCo-PI · Student Recruitment Lead
  • Clint LovelaceCo-PI · Student Advising Lead
  • Sathyanarayanan AakurCo-PI · AI Curriculum Lead
  • Vishalini RamnathCo-PI · COMP 1100 Lead
  • Xiao QinCo-PI · GTA Training Lead