In today’s rapidly evolving workplace, artificial intelligence (AI) has become an essential tool in every industry, transforming the way companies operate and make decisions.
“For business schools, equipping students with the skills to use AI effectively and ethically is no longer an option, but a necessity,” he said. Nikunj KapadiaPh.D., Associate Dean, Isenberg School of Management. “As AI reshapes the workplace, Eisenberg’s curriculum ensures our graduates are prepared to navigate and lead in an evolving business environment.”
Isenberg launches new AI certification program for undergraduate and graduate students
In spring 2025, Isenberg launched its first AI-specific programs, the Graduate Certificate in Artificial Intelligence in Business and the Undergraduate Certificate in Artificial Intelligence in Business. Both certificates are designed to meet the growing demand for business leaders skilled in integrating AI strategies, tools and technology into their businesses, Kapadia said.
Students pursuing the undergraduate certificate develop an understanding of AI and the different forms of AI used in the workplace. Students will learn about generative AI, machine learning, and strategies for integrating AI across business functions.
The graduate certificate goes deeper, preparing professionals to harness the power of machine learning and stay ahead of evolving trends in business applications of AI. This curriculum focuses not only on the technical and strategic integration of AI models into business decision-making, but also on the important ethical and legal considerations associated with implementing AI in the workplace.
Design an AI-savvy graduate curriculum
This fall, Isenberg overhauled its education by integrating AI resources across all core business areas of the online and on-campus MBA curriculum, including accounting, economics and financial systems, integrated information systems and operations management, marketing, and statistics.
“We took a hard look at our curriculum and looked for every opportunity to expose students to AI tools and technology to enhance their learning and prepare them for the demands of the workplace,” Kapadia said. “This initiative parallels efforts by the broader business community around the world to reimagine workplace processes.”
Monidipa TarafdarPh.D., Charles J. Dockendorf Endowed Professor of Information Systems (IS), teaches information systems and digital strategy at the Eisenberg MBA and is a global authority on how artificial intelligence impacts business operations, processes, and decision-making. “We are still in the early stages of full-scale adoption of AI,” she said. “We need to use AI repeatedly so that we can have confidence in the decisions it makes. For graduate students, this means teaching them the skills to identify the key capabilities and critical practices that help companies use AI to transform their operations.”
Tarafdar gives MBA students special challenges that encourage them to use generative AI tools carefully. Students first repeat the process by having the AI do at least 80 percent of the work when answering a question, then ensuring the AI does no more than 20 percent of the work. Tarafdar said the real insight for students comes when they compare their experience with the quality of answers from each mode.
Graduate School Faculty Director Albert Assaf Eisenberg’s MBA, who teaches statistics and economics, began incorporating AI tools into his classes to generate real-world data scenarios, create practice problems of varying difficulty, and learn how AI can assist with data interpretation, coding, and statistical inference. “More broadly, I think Eisenberg’s AI curriculum is evolving in a very positive direction, with greater integration of AI literacy, applied analysis, and ethical considerations across core and elective courses,” Assaf said.
Beyond technical proficiency, students must also be prepared to address the ethical challenges posed by AI, such as data privacy, algorithmic bias, and the social impact of automation. To help students address these complex issues, Eisenberg is launching a new “AI and Ethics” course in the MBA and Master of Business Analytics programs in spring 2025.
“We need to prepare students for a work environment where the use of AI will be pervasive,” he said. jennifer martonVice Chair and Senior Lecturer in Management at Eisenberg, led Eisenberg’s business ethics efforts and co-developed the curriculum. This course will help you understand AI technology, its potential benefits, and the ethical implications of its use. Students will identify and articulate the key legal principles that apply to AI technologies and critically evaluate the ethical challenges that arise from using AI in business. By incorporating AI ethics into the curriculum, business schools can prepare future leaders to leverage AI responsibly and ensure that innovation is aligned with ethical principles and fair outcomes, Merton said.
“At Eisenberg, students will learn to harness the power of machine learning and stay ahead of evolving trends in business applications of AI,” Kapadia said. “Our AI curriculum emphasizes not only the technical and strategic integration of AI models into business decision-making, but also the important ethical and legal considerations associated with implementing AI in the workplace.”
The Eisenberg School of Business at the University of Massachusetts Amherst has one of the top public business school graduate programs in New England, according to the University of Massachusetts Amherst.US News & World Report. Founded in 1947, Isenberg is accredited by AACSB and has more than 2,000 students enrolled in nationally and internationally recognized on-campus and online graduate programs. The school’s more than 50,000 alumni live and work in more than 80 countries, many of whom serve as Eisenberg mentors, guest lecturers, and network connections.
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