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Minor in Responsible AI

Minor in Responsible Artificial Intelligence

Directors: Yi Fang and Susan Kennedy

The Minor in Responsible AI is designed to provide students with the technical proficiency needed to develop AI systems and the ethical foundation to ensure AI is developed and deployed equitably, transparently, and for the broader good of society. This minor will bridge the gap between technology and ethics to equip students with a multifaceted understanding of the rapidly evolving world of artificial intelligence.

Requirements for the Minor in Responsible Artificial Intelligence

All undergraduate students are eligible for the minor in Responsible Artificial Intelligence. Students must fulfill the following requirements for the minor; multiple options are available for these requirements, affording students a great deal of flexibility in completing the minor. Students should check the prerequisites of the classes and make sure they can be met before planning their schedule and/or registering for them.

Computing Foundation:

Select one of the following options:

  • Option A: CSEN 10&10L. Introduction to Programming (5 units); CSEN 11&11L. Advanced Programming (5 units); CSEN 12&12L. Abstract Data Types and Data Structures (5 units); CSEN 19 (cross-listed as MATH 51). Discrete Mathematics (4 units).
  • Option B: CSCI 10. Introduction to Computer Science (5 units); CSCI 60. Introduction to C++ and Object-Oriented Programming (5 units); CSCI 61. Data Structures (5 units); CSCI 62. Advanced Programming; CSEN 19 (cross-listed as MATH 51). Discrete Mathematics (4 units).
  • Option C: OMIS 30: Introduction to Programming (5 units); OMIS 114: Data Science with Python (5 units).

Technology Ethics. Select one of the following two courses:

  • *ENGR 19. Ethics in Technology (4 units)
  • *PHIL 22. Ethics in the Digital Age (4 units)

AI Ethics:

  • *PHIL 130. Ethics in AI. (5 units)

AI Technology:

  • CSEN 166. Artificial Intelligence (5 units) or OMIS 116. Applied Machine Learning (5 units)

Elective Courses (4 units minimum):

  • BIOE 180: Clinical Trials: Design, Analysis and Ethical Issues
  • COMM 141. AI and The Human in Cinema
  • COMM 155. Media Psychology
  • COMM 170A: Human Centered AI
  • COMM 171: Tech & Inequality in Silicon Valley
  • COMM 173: Big Data Analysis
  • *COMM 185. Identity, Privacy, and Politics in the Digital Age
  • *ENGL 25. Textual Editing
  • ENGL 26. Introduction to Writing in STEM
  • *ENGL 108. Writing in STEM
  • *ENGL 109. Internet Culture and Information Society
  • *ENGL 112. Technical Writing and Communication
  • ENGL 189. Professional/Digital Writing Internship
  • ENGR 16: Values in Technology
  • *FREN 177. Technology, Science, and Society: From Romanticism to the Digital Age
  • *HIST 27/127: Digital and Public History
  • *HIST 79/179: Technology: Steam to Cyborgs
  • HIST 86: Technology, Labor, and Capitalism
  • *PHIL 40. Science, Technology, and Society
  • *PHIL 165. Philosophical Issues in Virtual Reality
  • *SOCI 49. Tech, Social Media, and Society
  • *SOCI 127a: Leadership4Good: Ethics and Social Justice in the Digital Age
  • *SOCI 128. Spirituality and Ethics in the Digital Age
  • SOCI 142. Change Agents and Tech4Good
  • *SOCI 149. Tech, Innovation, and Culture

The asterisk * indicates these courses cannot be used to satisfy university core requirements.

Table 1. A summary of course requirements for the minor. The asterisk * indicates these courses cannot be used to satisfy university core requirements.

Requirement Category Available Course Options
Computing Foundation Option A (4 courses): CSEN 10, 11, 12, 19
Option B (5 courses): CSCI 10, 60, 61, 62, CSEN 19
Option C (2 courses): OMIS 30, 114
Technology Ethics* PHIL 22 or ENGR 19
AI Ethics* PHIL 130
AI Technology CSEN 166 or OMIS 116
Elective* At least one course from the humanities-focused elective list

Table 2. Course plan for different majors to complete this minor. The + indicates the courses beyond the major and university core requirements.

Requirement Philosophy OMIS CSEN/ECEN/WDE CS
Computing Foundation Option C + Option C Option A Option B
Technology Ethics PHIL 22 + PHIL 22 + ENGR 19 + PHIL 22 +
AI Ethics PHIL 130 PHIL 130 + PHIL 130 + PHIL 130 +
AI Technology OMIS 116 + OMIS 116 CSEN 166 CSEN 166
Elective An upper division Philosophy course A course from the elective list + A course from the elective list + A course from the elective list +
Total Number of Courses 6 8 8 9
# of Computing Courses 3 3 5 6
# beyond Major/Core 4 3 3 3