Create Technology Responsibly.
A multidisciplinary program integrating courses from the Computer Science and Philosophy Departments and the Lam Family College of Business.
Artificial Intelligence (AI) is becoming an integral technology in many areas (medicine, health, autonomous driving cars, business, loan approvals, law enforcement, distribution of government and health services, news filtering, etc.) and is often considered the driving force of a 4th technological revolution.
The impact of AI is expanding rapidly, but due to its complexity it offers challenges to ensuring proper, ethical, unbiased and transparent operations. This is evidenced by increasing reporting on the use and misuse of AI in government and media, and calls for greater scrutiny and oversight. Skills related to ethical use of AI will be more and more important for both developers and users of AI technology.
The Certificate Program
To address these needs, the Computer Science Department, the Lam Family College of Business and the Philosophy Department established a multi-college Graduate Certificate in Ethical AI (10 units). Detailed certificate requirements and courses are outlined on the San Francisco State University bulletin
Our approach to this certificate is unique in its multidisciplinary and multi-college nature, which involves three critical areas necessary to understanding this subject:
AI Technologies and Applications
Courses in this core area focus on algorithmic and technical principles of AI and can be selected to fit the background of graduate students from Computer Science, Business or Philosophy.
Ethics and Compliance in Business
A focus on integrity, understanding and applying managerial ethical decision-making; understanding regulatory compliance as it relates to organizational functions; developing ethics training, and evaluating stakeholder impacts.
Ethics Principles
Courses on the ethical, political, and social ramifications of current and emerging uses of AI.
Self-Reflection Research Paper: the certificate program requires a culminating research paper to demonstrate student self-reflection on specific issues in AI ethics. Students take a 1-unit independent study in conjunction with this course, to be supervised by one of the faculty advisors (see list of advisors).
Since the certificate program has multiple overlapping courses with current MS, MBA and MA programs in Computer Science, Management, and Philosophy, our matriculated graduate students can easily complete the program with minimal overhead.
The certificate program is also designed to fit the needs of professionals from industry who can use it to continue their education and gain an additional credential that will be appealing to employers who are concerned about being good stewards of AI and responsibly managing their business practices as more regulation and public scrutiny of AI comes to pass.
How to Apply
We welcome applications from current matriculated San Francisco State University graduate students and non-matriculated post-baccalaureate domestic students interested in the multidisciplinary study of Artificial Intelligence and Ethics.
Current MBA, MSA or MSBA students are not required to apply for admissions into a graduate business certificate program – the requirements can be met while seeking the graduate business degree.
All other interested students must formally apply to the Graduate Certificate in Artificial Intelligence (AI) Ethics through Cal State Apply (external link). Applicants are required to upload unofficial transcripts, a statement of interest, and current CV/résumé. In addition, as part of the application, you must identify your preferred faculty mentor whose field of research most closely aligns with your background and interests (see the faculty list below). Important: to apply for certificates, please go to your EXTENDED PROFILE and under DEGREE GOAL select CERTIFICATE, then choose Graduate Certificate in Ethical Artificial Intelligence and SAVE.
Applications are accepted on a rolling basis with deadlines in May and October.
Award of Certificate
Students in the certificate program will be guided and advised by the Supervisory Committee comprising faculty from San Francisco State’s programs in Computer Science, Business and Philosophy, and these programs’ graduate advisors.
In consultation with your faculty mentor and upon completion of certificate requirements, you must apply for award of the graduate certificate in Artificial Intelligence (AI) Ethics. To apply for award, you must submit a Certificate Approved Program (CAP) form to the Division of Graduate Studies and submit a $7.00 processing fee to the Bursar's Office.
For More Information
If you have questions about the program, please contact one of the following faculty on the AI Certificate Supervisory Committee. All are available to respond to inquiries, but you should start by contacting the one whose field of research most closely aligns with your background and interests.
Prof. D. Kleinrichert, Lam Family College of Business
Expertise in business ethics, corporate social responsibility, risk management, and environmental sustainability. At SFSU since 2007.
Prof. C. Montemayor, Philosophy Department
Expertise in philosophy of mind, cognitive science, philosophy of psychology and epistemology. At SFSU since 2009.
Prof. D. Petkovic, Computer Science Department
IEEE Life fellow. Expertise in AI, Usability and SW Engineering. 20 years of industry experience. At SFSU since 2003.