University of Montana Launches Human-Centered AI Certificate
The nine-credit career certificate is the first of its kind in Montana and is offered entirely online.
Updated on Nov. 8, 2026 in Language Learning
Live Poll
Do you think AI is making you better or worse at thinking for yourself?
The University of Montana has launched Montana's first career certificate in Human-Centered AI, a nine-credit series that any university student can earn by passing three asynchronous online courses. The program is designed to prepare students for the realities of an AI-centered workforce.
Why it matters
Faculty at the university considered what students will face after leaving campus, and judged that a certificate focused only on mastering generative AI would not be the right approach. The program instead emphasizes ethics and critical thinking alongside practical use of the technology.
The certificate totals nine credits, earned by completing three online courses that are all asynchronous. Enrollment figures and tuition costs have not been disclosed.
The players
University of Montana
The Missoula-based public research university is the institution that launched Montana's first Human-Centered AI career certificate.
Michael Cassens
Cassens is the University of Montana faculty member who plans to eventually open the certificate to anyone, including those outside the Montana University System.
The details
The three courses are Creatively Exploring AI, Calling Bullshit in the Age of AI, and a course developing students into leaders in an AI-centered world. Students evaluate how AI affects their fields of study, push chatbots to their limits, and discuss ethical issues including copyright, labor, misinformation, and environmental impacts.
Timeline
The Calling Bullshit course began several years ago as a news literacy course.
The certificate launched in 2026.
Roadmap
The certificate extends the Calling Bullshit course, which began as a news literacy offering at the University of Montana several years ago, into a broader framework for AI literacy. It reflects a shift from teaching information evaluation toward preparing students to lead in AI-driven fields.
Montana residents can now earn a state-first AI credential through a fully online, self-paced format that fits around existing schedules. The program is open to University of Montana students now, with plans to eventually extend access beyond the Montana University System.
The takeaway
Ethical reasoning and critical evaluation are being built into AI training alongside technical skills, offering a model for preparing students for work shaped by the technology.
Further reading
Explore more on Language Learning to see how educational programs are adapting to new technologies.
Source note: This article includes information reported by The Daily Inter Lake.
Live Poll
Do you think AI is making you better or worse at thinking for yourself?
