El Camino College will begin two classes in artificial intelligence in fall 2026 as part of a broader AI associate degree initiative.
The Fundamentals of AI, AI and Ethics classes are offered in the Department of Computer and Information Systems.
“We’re basically starting the process one step at a time, but in the long run you’ll end up with an associate’s degree or a bachelor’s degree,” said computer information systems lecturer Professor Joanna Tan.
The National Applied AI Consortium is a mentorship program that helps universities create curricula to expand AI education.
ECC was selected to be part of the program last year.
Google, Microsoft, and Intel support the program by providing real-time insights into their internal AI needs.
Miami Dade College, Houston City College, and Maricopa Community College were among the first colleges to join the program and are now serving as a guide by sharing the AI curriculum they developed and being transparent about what worked and what didn’t.
Integrated Systems Lead Instructor Hac Le applied to the NAAIC Mentorship Program, but Professor Khai Lou was already working on an AI class with a team from the Department of Computer Information Systems (CIS).
The CIS program now teaches AI literacy, or “how to use AI in practice ethically, efficiently and responsibly…as a learning tool,” Lee said.
Since then, other faculty members have also participated in developing the course curriculum for the AI associate degree.
“I think this is great. It’s a great move for the ECC sector. The goal is really to expand access to artificial intelligence education,” said Chief Technology Officer Loïc Audeceau.
The team is also developing certifications.
The Local Business, Industry and Leadership Team (BILT) is also being developed.
“We really want to let our students know what skills they need because we want to provide them with a path to employment,” Lee said.
The AI Degree Working Group is also working with a “different emphasis and focus,” Le said.
“What we want to do through that program is to become a true regional leader in artificial intelligence education in community colleges…To me, this particular initiative embodies leadership…At El Camino, we are determined to lead,” Audusault continued.
