This certificate program teaches students how to use Artificial Intelligence (AI) safely and effectively in their daily work.

Students will learn:

• The basics of AI, how AI thinks and why it sometimes makes mistakes.
• Prompt Engineering" (the art of giving AI clear instructions to get the best results).
• How to use AI to write reports, analyze data, and save time on big projects.
• The rules for keeping data private and using AI fairly.

The General AI Certification gives industry the rapid response workforce training they currently need. The modular design is specifically built for stackable credentials. Each course can earn a digital badge/microcredential to ensure employers are aware of their up-to-date skillset. Partnering with the CIT department, these credentials can then be transferred into a CIT degree program if the student decides to continue on a degree.

The General Artificial Intelligence (AI) program consists of an overview of the following topics, which can be customized for student or industry need.

Foundations of Applied AI:

• What AI is (LLMs, machine learning, multimodal AI, agents, automation tools)
•  Capabilities & limitations of LLMs
• AI safety basics: hallucinations, bias, prompt reliability
• Concept of "AI as a collaborator"
• Understanding AI outputs: verification, citation, validation
•  Data privacy, security, responsible usage
•  Hands-on intro: using ChatGPT, Claude, Gemini, Copilot

Prompt Engineering & AI Workflow Design:

• Prompt structures: role, context, constraints, output format
• Chain-of-thought prompting (safe/controlled methods)
• Multi-agent prompting (planner + executor patterns)
• Advanced prompting frameworks such as: RICCE, CRISP, TARS, ReAct, and SCHEMA
• Using AI for automation (e.g., Zapier, Make, API-level usage)
• Designing repeatable AI workflows for business, IT, and education
• Troubleshooting prompts & hallucination control

AI for Productivity, Business, & Education:

• AI for writing, editing, research
•  AI for communication: emails, presentations, reports
• AI for teaching & learning
• AI for project management & planning
• AI for coding assistance (Copilot, ChatGPT Code Interpreter)
• AI-driven analysis of spreadsheets, data trends
• AI for customer service & operations automation

Ethics, Security & Risk Management in AI:

• Ethical principles: transparency, fairness, privacy
•  Data governance for AI tools
• Handling sensitive data, PII, proprietary info
• AI in cybersecurity (defensive & offensive use)
• AI misuse scenarios (deepfakes, phishing, data leakage)
• Creating responsible AI use policies
• Understanding regulatory frameworks (NIST AI RMF, EU AI Act, U.S. EO 14110, FERPA implications, HIPAA considerations)

Demand is surging across the Upstate as local manufacturers and healthcare providers pivot toward automation. While major universities offer high-level theory, a local gap exists for applied training that non-technical workers can use immediately. This program directly serves TCTC's service where AI is now critical for maintaining competitive productivity.

Internally, this curriculum is fully customizable, allowing us to tailor the curriculum for specific industry partners across the tri-county region.

***This course will count for 3 credit hours toward an IT degree.

Fee Breakdown

Category	Description	Amount
Course Fee (Basic)	Registration/Tuition	$2,500.00