What is the structure of the certificate?

The Applied AI and Innovation Certificate consists of three required 4-unit courses, taken in any quarter and in a flexible order:

MGMNT X440 – AI Essentials for Innovation

MGMNT X441 – AI Applications for Business Impact

MGMNT X442 – Leading AI-Driven Change

Students may take the courses in a single quarter or spread them across multiple terms. The only sequencing requirement is that students must be enrolled in, or have already completed, both X440 and X441 when they take X442. X442 may be taken concurrently with the other two courses, but it cannot be taken before them.

Each course builds applied skills in areas such as AI fundamentals, generative AI, prompting, business use cases, workflow design, data storytelling, responsible AI, and organizational change. Together, the three courses provide a complete applied AI toolkit.

Throughout the certificate, students create portfolio-ready work including business briefs, dashboards, prompt sets, workflow diagrams, and responsible AI assessments. These artifacts demonstrate practical skill development and can be shared with employers.

To earn the certificate, students must complete all three courses with passing grades.

Over the quarter, you’ll produce portfolio-ready artifacts (dashboards, prompt libraries, executive summaries, prototypes) in labs and apply these tools directly in your collaborative capstone project. The program culminates in a final presentation of your team’s AI-enabled solution, clearly framed in terms of strategy, impact, and responsible innovation.

To earn the certificate, you must enroll in all four courses for the same quarter, actively participate in all components, and achieve a passing grade of "C" or better in each.

Technology Requirements

Students must bring a personal laptop computer to participate in hands-on activities, complete assignments, and access course materials.

Recommended: A modern operating system (Windows 10+, macOS 11+), reliable internet access, webcam/mic for presentations, and the ability to access browser-based tools or install software if needed.

Note: Most tools used in the program will be web-based or no-code/low-code. Any required software installations (e.g., Python, IDEs, or cloud SDKs) will be guided by instructors during class or lab sessions - no prior installation or technical setup is expected before the course begins.

Certificate Eligibility and Requirements – Applied AI and Innovation

A UCSB PaCE Professional Certificate in Applied AI and Innovation is awarded upon successful completion of all required courses in the integrated program sequence, totaling 12 units (approximately 120 contact hours of instruction).

The certificate program is composed of three core courses combining live lecture/discussion sessions, weekly lab activities, asynchronous modules, and a team-based project work. Each course must be completed with a letter grade of “C” or better.

Students not pursuing the certificate are welcome to enroll in individual courses from the program curriculum. There are no prerequisites, and a bachelor’s degree is not required.

Becoming a Certificate Candidate
Students intending to complete the full program are encouraged to submit the Declaration of Candidacy form. This allows us to provide program updates and ensures the certificate is formally associated with your student profile, enabling automatic awarding once all four courses are successfully completed within the same quarter.

Declare Candidacy

What is Applied AI and Innovation?

Applied AI and Innovation is a hands-on, career-focused certificate program that teaches you how to use today’s AI tools to design and deliver practical business solutions. Over the course of the program, you’ll learn to:

• Identify high-impact opportunities for AI in real-world settings
• Use generative AI, prompt engineering, and workflow automation tools
• Apply the Lean Startup framework to develop and refine solutions
• Communicate AI-driven strategies to technical and non-technical audiences
• Build a professional portfolio of AI-enabled projects and artifacts

The program blends live instruction, lab workshops, and a collaborative group project work, so you gain both the skills and the confidence to apply AI in your work, studies, or entrepreneurial ventures. No coding background is required.

Offering Digital Credentials.
Learn More.

Marketing & Branding

To earn this Digital Credential, the student has learned to analyze brands and define branding; create functional and strategic marketing plans; identify the impact of consumer demographics and behavior; and recognize the factors that impact brand strategy.

Successful completion of 2 UC Santa Barbara PaCE Professional Courses:

• 2 Professional Courses
  • BUSAD X409.65 Marketing Principles & Practices 
  • MGMNT X479 Business and Personal Branding
• 72 Contact hours 
• 8 Professional units

Transfer credit available!

Have you previously earned academic or professional units at another institution? You can apply for transfer credit towards this certificate.

Transfer credit available for courses in:
Management | Communication | Sociology

Apply Contact

Transfer credit available!

Have you previously earned academic or professional units at another institution? You can apply for transfer credit towards this certificate.

Transfer credit available for courses in:
Business Administration | International Business | Entrepreneurship & Innovation | Leadership | Management | Marketing

Apply Contact

Transfer credit available!

Have you previously earned academic or professional units at another institution? You can apply for transfer credit towards this certificate.
Transfer credit available for courses in:
Business | Leadership | Management

Apply Contact

Transfer credit available!

Have you previously earned academic or professional units at another institution? You can apply for transfer credit towards this certificate.

Transfer credit available for courses in:
Programming & Coding | Computer Science | Multimedia Arts & Technologies

Apply Contact

Transfer credit available!

Have you previously earned academic or professional units at another institution? You can apply for transfer credit towards this certificate!
Proposed transfer courses taken at other schools must be comparable in content and length to the UCSB Paralegal Program equivalent and must have been taken from an accredited college or university within the last five years. A maximum of two courses (8 quarter units) may be substituted if the program is not approved by the American Bar Association (ABA). A maximum of three courses (12 quarter units) may be substituted if the program is ABA approved.

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