Governance and Policy for AI and Data Technology Graduate Certificate

Available Two Ways

• Current Purdue graduate students: Students enrolled at the West Lafayette or Indianapolis campus may add the certificate to their graduate program and enroll in online and in-person courses.
• Online certificate students: Individuals who hold a bachelor's degree and are not currently Purdue graduate students may apply to earn the certificate through online courses.

This certificate provides applied training in the institutions and processes related to policymaking and governance of artificial intelligence (AI), data, and data technology in the public and private sectors. Students become equipped to understand policies and processes in U.S. and non-U.S. settings, including how and why policies are proposed and passed and how they are implemented and monitored for compliance. Students will learn how to conduct impact assessments and develop compliance audit plans.

Courses are offered online and in hybrid formats. 

Certificate Requirements

12 credits required

Required Courses (9 credits)

• • • POL 52101 – Applied Public Policy: Institutions, Processes, Practices — 3 credits
    • POL 52601 – Technology, AI, and Ethics in Public Policy and Public Administration — 3 credits
    • POL 52701 – Local to Global Governance of Data, AI, and Emerging Technology — 3 credits

Selective Course (3 credits)

Choose one of the following courses:

• • GRAD 50600 – Big Data Tools and Technologies — 3 credits
  • POL 60101 – Introduction to Political Methodology — 3 credits
  • POL 50601 – Data, Machine Learning, and Artificial Intelligence for the Public Sector — 3 credits
  • POL 52000 – Special Topics in Public Policy — 3 credits
    The course title or topic must relate to artificial intelligence, applications of data science, emerging technology, or a related area.
  • POL 52901 – Applied Policy and Program Evaluation — 3 credits
  • SCLA 51000 – Data and AI Storytelling — 3 credits
  • SCLA 52100 – Societal Impacts of Artificial Intelligence — 3 credits
  • SCLA 52200 – Artificial Intelligence Policy, Governance, and Ethics — 3 credits

Learning Outcomes

Students will:

• Describe the policy ecosystem surrounding new technology, data, and AI, including how and why policies are proposed, passed, implemented, evaluated, and changed.
• Analyze trends in current policies, definitions of policy problems, and proposed policy solutions, including assessments of policy needs, stakeholder goals, and public attitudes toward policy problems and proposed solutions.
• Assess legal and ethical considerations related to AI, data, and other new technologies and consider the roles of different entities in mitigating risks.
• Construct professional-level work products such as policy trends reports, compliance audit plans, impact analyses, policy designs, or program evaluations related to the use of AI, data, or other emerging technologies in public and private settings.

Admission Process

All applicants to the Governance and Policy for AI and Data Technology Graduate Certificate must complete and submit the Purdue graduate application.

Students may apply before, during, or after completing the course requirements. Applications must be submitted by August 1 to qualify for a December certificate or December 1 to qualify for a May certificate.

How to Choose this Certificate:

• Please indicate "Political Science" under "Proposed graduate Major"
• Select "Artificial Intelligence and Policymaking" as Area of Interest
• Choose "Governance and Policy for AI & Data Technology Graduate Certificate
• For Course Delivery Method
  • Select "Residential" if you are a current Purdue West Lafayette or Indianapolis graduate student
  • Select "Distance" if you are not a current Purdue West Lafayette or Indianapolis graduate student
• This certificate is not available to current undergraduate students

Questions? Email polgradcoordinator@purdue.edu.