Document Type

Article

Publication Title

ACM SIGCSE Bulletin

Abstract

This paper describes the design and implementation of an undergraduate course in Artificial Intelligence (AI) within a liberal arts college curriculum. The course aims to introduce students to both the theoretical foundations and practical applications of AI while aligning with the ACM Curriculum ’78 guidelines. It emphasizes an interdisciplinary approach that integrates computer science concepts with broader ethical and societal considerations relevant to AI’s impact on human life.

The course content includes foundational topics such as problem solving, search strategies, knowledge representation, inference, and heuristic programming. Lisp is employed as the primary programming language to facilitate symbolic computation and the exploration of AI algorithms. Students engage in hands-on programming assignments and projects that cover key AI paradigms, including expert systems, robotics, natural language processing, and game playing. The paper also highlights the pedagogical strategies used to make AI accessible to students from diverse academic backgrounds, focusing on conceptual clarity and critical thinking rather than rote technical proficiency.

Assessment methods combine theoretical exams, project work, and written reports, encouraging students to reflect on both the technical mechanisms and philosophical implications of artificial intelligence. The authors discuss challenges encountered in teaching AI to undergraduates, such as balancing depth with breadth and selecting appropriate software and hardware resources for a liberal arts setting. The paper concludes with observations on student engagement, learning outcomes, and the broader value of introducing AI education at the undergraduate level as a means of fostering computational literacy and ethical awareness in future graduates.

DOI

https://doi.org/10.1145/45202.45211

Publication Date

1-1988

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