Collaborative research: educateai: CUE-t: designing artificial intelligence curricula for all undergrads

The National Science Foundation awarded Northeastern Illinois University $300,000 on October 1, 2025, for a collaborative research project developing undergraduate artificial intelligence curricula designed for students across a range of AI and computing backgrounds.

The project, titled "EDUCATEAI: CUE-T: Designing Artificial Intelligence Curricula for All Undergrads," operates under the IUSE: CUE Pathways program within the Computer and Information Science and Engineering assistance program (CFDA 47.070). The recipient will design and test AI curricula grounded in five principles: a zero-background entry point, a non-programming option, discipline-specific application, and an invitation to deeper study. The curriculum will be tested and refined across multiple institution types—community colleges and four-year institutions with varying resource levels, staffing, and technology access—to ensure scalability and adoptability. The project includes development of a comprehensive evaluation plan to assess both the design principles and the resulting programs.

Performance of work occurs in Chicago, Illinois, through September 30, 2029. The project involves collaboration among four institutions of different types to explore how to adapt programs to institutional needs while serving each institution's student population, with the goal of expanding AI literacy and competency among undergraduates with limited prior exposure to AI or computing.

Abstract

Artificial intelligence (AI) is drastically changing how we approach problems and the ways we craft solutions. AI awareness and competency are critical for the next generation workforce to stay competitive in the global economy. Improved AI literacy also leads to more responsible use and adoption of AI in society. While many institutions have increased their offerings of AI and AI-related courses, IT is a challenge to ensure these are scalable and relevant for students who have had limited exposure or experiences in AI. To enable all institutions to better serve all students interested in AI, this iuse: CUE pathways project will develop undergraduate AI curricula that is appealing and approachable for students with a range of experiences in and knowledge of AI and computing technologies. The project will also be tested at community colleges and 4-year institutions with a range of resources, personnel, and access to technology to ensure wide adoptability across institution types. To design AI curricula that can appeal to all students so that every student interested in AI can have an opportunity to take AI courses, the project identifies five principles in the design that allow for technical competency regardless of the student?s background in AI or computing in general. These five principles include a zero-background entry point, a non-programming option, a discipline-specific application, and an invitation to go deeper. The collaboration among four institutions of different types explores how to adapt programs to the needs of different institutions while still serving each institution?s student population. The project develops a comprehensive evaluation plan that can be used to evaluate these principles and the programs created using them. The project is expected to reveal new ways to provide effective AI education to the widest possible population of undergraduate students. This award reflects NSF's statutory mission and has been deemed worthy of support through evaluation using the foundation's intellectual merit and broader impacts review criteria.- subawards are not planned for this award.