Walla Walla University Expands AI Training for Students and Faculty
Walla Walla University is building AI literacy across its campus, offering new degree programs and embedding AI instruction into existing courses. The move reflects growing demand from employers for workers who understand both how to build AI systems and their ethical implications.
The university's Department of Computer Science launched a Bachelor of Science in artificial intelligence that treats ethics as central to the curriculum, not peripheral. "I think a lot of programs treat AI as a purely technical skill set, but we want to graduate students who can build these systems and ask hard questions about them," said Chiké Abuah, visiting professor of computer science.
Business and Education Programs Add AI Focus
The MBA program now offers an AI specialization aimed at future organizational leaders. Paul Rhynard, MBA program director, said the curriculum addresses how managers should "manage and leverage AI effectively" as the technology reshapes white-collar work.
The School of Education and Psychology has integrated AI into education technology courses. Brian Hartman, associate professor of education, teaches an online class on using AI to support standards-based learning, helping teachers develop new curricula and assessments more efficiently.
Faculty and staff across the university will complete AI Ready training from the Council of Independent Colleges to support AI adoption in teaching and administration.
Ethical Framework Guides Curriculum
Abuah emphasized that the university's approach ties technical training to moral reasoning. "AI raises some of the deepest ethical questions out there about autonomy, fairness and core human values," he said. "WWU gives students a coherent moral framework to wrestle with those questions."
Educators looking to integrate AI into their own teaching can explore resources on AI learning paths for teachers.
More information is available at wallawalla.edu/cs and wallawalla.edu/mba.
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