Newman University is positioning itself at the forefront of artificial intelligence education, launching new degree programs and professional bootcamps designed to meet growing regional demand for AI-skilled workers.
The university will debut undergraduate degrees in data science and applied AI this fall, joining expanded graduate offerings that include a new Master of Business Administration (MBA) concentration in AI strategy, according to David Cochran, dean of the School of Business and Technology.
“I’m super pumped about that new concentration,” Cochran said during a recent presentation to local data professionals. “You can get the four courses as a standalone thing if you want the graduate certificate.”
The expansion comes as industry surveys show rapid AI adoption across sectors. In accounting alone, current AI integration sits at 8% but is projected to jump to 21% in 2025 and reach 79% by 2027, Cochran said.
Philosophy of enhancement, not replacement
Newman’s approach reflects a specific philosophy about AI’s role in education and the workforce. Rather than viewing AI as a tool for completing tasks faster, Cochran emphasized enhancing output quality.
“The goal is not to get a paper done in less time,” he said. “The goal is to get a really cool project that’s 50% more than it would’ve been last year.”
This philosophy extends to workforce preparation. Cochran rejected the notion that humans should contribute only 20% while AI provides 80%.
“They bring their 100%, but what we get at the end should be like 200% of what we would’ve had last year,” he said. “It should be a lot better result.”
Addressing job market concerns
Cochran acknowledged widespread anxiety about AI’s impact on employment, noting that prominent figures including Bill Gates have suggested AI could replace jobs within five years.
“I feel a need to at least be aware of what’s coming and maybe how soon,” he said. “But honestly, from everything we can tell to date the job situation will be dynamic as it is in a capitalist economy.”
He predicted the job market will experience “some interesting churn over the next several years” but emphasized that opportunities will emerge requiring workers to “reposition ourselves” and “develop some new habits or skills.”
New academic offerings
Newman’s expanded data and AI curriculum includes several new options:
Undergraduate programs:
- Data science degree launching fall 2025
- Applied AI degree launching fall 2025
- Updated computer science curriculum with data engineering focus and cybersecurity options
Graduate programs:
- Data science master’s program, now in its second year
- MBA concentration in AI strategy (four courses, also available as a standalone graduate certificate)
- MBA and data analytics program, established five years ago
- Doctor of Business Administration students pursuing AI integration research
The data science program will welcome new faculty member Fernando Rubio Garcia, a data scientist with Emprise Bank who was among Cochran’s first students when he arrived at Newman in 2018.
“Fernando is an interesting person for a number of reasons, but he’s actually hands-on developing AI tools in-house at Emprise,” Cochran said.
Professional bootcamps address industry needs
Beyond degree programs, Newman is launching professional bootcamps to help working professionals integrate AI into their roles.
Starting in August, the university will offer a six-week Power BI bootcamp covering beginner to intermediate skills, followed by an “AI for Professional Productivity” bootcamp.
“We can do a range of things from how do good policies look to how do I get work done faster and better,” Cochran said of the AI bootcamp.
Beginning in mid-October, the university plans to continue both programs at intermediate to advanced levels.
Regional Industry Partnerships
Newman’s AI initiatives benefit from partnerships with regional employers that are already implementing AI solutions. Advisory experts include professionals from Koch Engineered Solutions, Textron Aviation, Invista, Cornerstone Data and Emprise Bank.
Cochran noted a shift toward regional AI development, citing local examples like Hall’s Culligan building internal developer teams.
“A lot of these developers are gonna be finding work in companies like yours and mine,” he said, referring to professionals leaving major tech companies.
He described AI work as “just a new form of being a software developer,” suggesting expanded opportunities for regional employers.
Graduate-level research applications
At the graduate level, Newman can address sophisticated AI implementation questions, Cochran said. He cited research from companies like Salesforce documenting productivity gains and model effectiveness.
“When it comes to finding out what’s really possible and doable, I mean when companies like Salesforce are releasing research papers where they’re documenting what they’re finding in terms of productivity gains among the sweep of their employees,” he said.
Such research informs strategic planning, including decisions about which AI models provide the most value per cost for specific applications.
Meeting growing demand
The university’s rapid expansion of AI offerings reflects urgent industry needs. Cochran noted that accounting firms, legal practices and higher education institutions are all integrating AI tools.
“We need to be in it as a regional university,” he said, emphasizing the importance of preparing students for an AI-enhanced workforce.
Newman’s approach focuses on practical applications while maintaining academic rigor, with curriculum updates spanning multiple disciplines.
“We’re revamping lots of our assignments in some really exciting ways,” Cochran said.
The university’s AI initiatives represent a comprehensive response to technological change, combining new degree programs, professional development opportunities and industry partnerships to serve regional workforce development needs.
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