Harper launches artificial intelligence and cloud computing degree program

Harper College has launched the Artificial Intelligence and Cloud Computing degree program to put students at the leading edge of innovation in generative AI and cloud computing and prepare them to create, repair and maintain AI systems.

The two-year program began with Harper’s Innovation Accelerator, which develops and deploys emerging technology programs to meet regional employment needs, and was created with input from Harper’s Business and Industry Leadership Team (BILT) advisory council and Harper faculty. It has evolved into a credit program offering an Associate in Applied Science degree. 

Graduates of the program will be prepared for careers such as AI technology specialist, junior data scientist, prompt engineer and cloud security analyst. Related roles have an average salary of more than $100,000, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. Because the bureau does not yet track specific wage data for many of these emerging careers, the figures are estimates based on current industry trends.

“I think one of the things that we do well at Harper is identifying career opportunities, and we do that by looking at the data,” said Dr. Joanne Ivory, dean of Career and Technical Programs. “We take a look and see where the jobs are, where they’re going to be in the next 10 years and how we’re going to prepare our students. When we’re looking at data, we look at the six-county region around Cook so that students can have options in our community.”

Ivory said the program is essential because it fills a pressing need.

“We have ChatGPT and all of these other software and platforms, but who’s minding the store?” she said. “Things break. Technology malfunctions. So there is a need to have people to do the behind-the-scenes work, and in order for them to do it, they need to be prepared.”

Annabel Hasty, Continuing Professional Education (CPE) instructor and the program’s technical consultant, said the curriculum blends content from Intel – through Harper’s membership in the Intel AI for Workforce program – with customized material developed by Harper faculty to meet student needs. Students begin with foundational courses such as careers and artificial intelligence, machine learning, Python programming and ethics, before advancing to specialized classes like data-centric artificial intelligence. Along the way, they gain hands-on experience and access to internship opportunities, ensuring they are prepared to keep pace with the rapidly evolving field of AI.

Harper College Instructor Annabel Hasty, the AI degree program’s technical consultant, said the new program uses AI robots and the latest platforms to educate students about AI and cloud computing.

"The first semester provides the foundation, and as you move on, you take courses that deepen your understanding,” Hasty said. “Machine learning models can get very in-depth, but we try to teach them in a very hands-on way with programs like Teachable Machine, an online program that allows a student to train a machine with images. We teach about agentic AI, automation in manufacturing and AI robots, and then all of a sudden, the abilities of what you just trained become much more real-world. The students start to see that they can use AI in their everyday life or for the security of a school building or for drone deliveries of packages.”

Hasty said Harper’s position on the cutting edge of the AI boom helps it provide students with valuable experiences.

“Many colleges still don't have an AI program,” she said. “We utilize AI robots and the latest machine learning and cloud computing platforms and collaborate with professors and professionals around the world to introduce students to what is happening with AI in our community and show them how AI is transforming industries.”

Because the classes build on one another, the program is perfect for people who don’t know much about AI and those changing careers, Hasty said.

“This program is for everyone,” she said. “You can start at the beginning, and we’ll help you. Young, old, any level ofexperience or whether you’re changing fields, this is a great way that you can get started with AI and machine learning. You can start taking courses while you’re doing what you're doing, and it might help in your current job or help you pivot to a different career.”

Prepare for the future of AI and cloud computing. Learn more about Harper’s Artificial Intelligence and Cloud Computing degree program at harpercollege.edu/aicloud.