MBA SPECIALIZATION: APPLIED ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE AND MACHINE LEARNING
Applied Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Machine Learning (ML) capabilities are transforming our business communities and our leaders.
Are you interested in better understanding the application and ethical implications of AI/ML? Our Professional MBA is at the forefront of unpinning these connections and analyzing how AI will continue to bring transformative changes to our society.
AI/ML is rapidly shifting our business world making it critical for business leaders to gain an in-depth understanding of how to apply AI across industries.
Villanova's MBA specialization is rooted in business practices, not coding, which will equip you with analytical thinking skills to turn data into actionable steps.
Recently featured in Fortune and U.S. News & World Report, our specialization goes beyond technical aspects to provide you with a bigger picture while covering AI’s good, bad and ugly impacts on society.
While earning your AI/ML specialization, you will:
- Build prototype intelligent systems.
- Gain hands-on experience in natural language processing, expert systems and robotics.
- Explore ethical concerns of AI, allowing you to appreciate the implications of endowing intelligent systems with decision-making capabilities.
- Obtain an understanding of automation in business processes, decision-making and user interfaces.
- Become well-versed in digital tech including IoT, blockchain and virtual reality.
AI/ML plays a pivotal role when examining emerging technologies in business, but many companies struggle to harness its potential and they often find AI destructive rather than transformational.
The concepts and functions of AI have spanned decades, which has allowed analytical and predictive tools to evolve. Now with the emergence of Generative AI (Gen AI), business leaders must lean into automation to add value and problem solve. Our MBA with AI allows you to:
- Embrace AI's transformative power by applying Gen AI to business cases to demonstrate how digital technology affects various industries including hospitality, healthcare, manufacturing, banking, construction, real estate and more.
- Learn among a diverse cohort of working professionals – all of whom are seeking to develop their artificial intelligence skills and advance their careers.
- Leverage AI applications to help you reach your career goals of becoming a researcher, engineer, data scientist, data analyst or AI/ML project manager.
Our AI/ML specialization is available through the Professional MBA program's elective requirements. Each student receives their specialization by earning 7.5 credits in this subject area while taking the MBA courses.
AI/ML CURRICULUM
This course aims to provide students with a comprehensive understanding of AI trends and their impact on the future of work. It covers the effects of AI on digital disruption, headwinds, and tailwinds for AI adoption in the enterprise. Furthermore, the course examines the various components of an AI-powered organization, including team and roles, data infrastructure, and platforms. The curriculum also explores AI algorithms, encompassing different types of learning and representation. Students will gain valuable insights into how AI systems learn from data, natural language processing, computer vision, generative AI, and ethical AI. Completing this course will lay the foundation for MBA 8137 and MBA 8138.
This course comprehensively explores AI and ML applications in all industries. Students will develop a business case for an AI problem in their industry by analyzing real-world examples. They will examine specific use cases in various sectors, including real estate, banking, finance, agriculture, automotive, consumer, education, energy, fashion, food, healthcare, insurance, law, manufacturing, media, retail, technology, transportation, and telecommunications. This course will equip students to identify and prioritize AI opportunities, measure the success of AI programs, and identify the benefits of AI to an organization. Additionally, students will learn how to foster AI thinking and generate ideas in the organization. This practical course gives students the knowledge and skills to apply AI in business, including creating a business ROI for AI investments.
This course provides students with hands-on experience using AI/ML to tackle real-world business challenges. The focus is modeling their business case from MBA 8137 and creating a functional prototype using a low-code no-code platform. The course is tailored to students seeking to develop practical AI/ML skills for business purposes using accessible software tools such as Orange Data Mining, Dataiku, or IBM Watson.
Along with developing their business case prototype, students will gain expertise working with real datasets and applying AI/ML modeling techniques. The course covers various business use cases that can be solved with classification, regression, forecasting, recommendations, natural language processing, chatbots, computer vision, and generative AI techniques like prompt engineering. By the end of the course, business leaders will have a deeper understanding of how to apply AI/ML techniques to solve real-world business problems.
Emerging business technologies disrupt how we innovate, communicate, collaborate, travel, develop products, serve customers, market products and services, and execute financial transactions – among just about every other business process.
The course examines the range of digital technologies transforming and disrupting business processes and whole business models, including artificial intelligence, machine learning, cryptocurrency, augmented reality, virtual reality, blockchain, social media analytics, autonomous vehicles, quantum computing, 3D manufacturing, robotics, and cloud computing, among other technologies. The course examines how these technologies disrupt business processes in numerous industries, including banking, real estate, insurance, healthcare, finance, accounting, law, entertainment, travel, transportation, and energy.
The Gen AI for Business Practitioners course will guide you through the landscape of Generative AI, highlighting its role in streamlining business processes and decision-making. It provides an in-depth view of how Generative AI, including LLMs, is engineered to grasp and generate human-like text.
We will investigate how multimodal capabilities expand AI’s reach beyond text to a richer interaction with various data types. You will learn the strategic value Gen AI brings to businesses, analyzing real-world cases demonstrating its impact on innovation and competitive advantage. The course includes hands-on experience with prompt engineering, leveraging OpenAI's API to solve business problems. We'll also critically assess the risks, ethical considerations, and challenges in measuring the effectiveness and impact of Generative AI systems. This course is crafted to equip you with the knowledge to utilize Gen AI and navigate its complexities in the business environment.
The AI Ethics and Bias for Business Practitioners course will comprehensively examine AI systems' ethical considerations and biases. We'll begin by introducing ethical theory and its relevance to AI technology. Students will explore the multifaceted nature of bias in AI, from data selection to algorithmic discrimination. The course will cover case studies where AI has impacted various demographics differently, emphasizing the importance of diverse datasets. We'll analyze frameworks for ethical decision-making in AI implementation and discuss legal and regulatory considerations. Students will develop strategies to mitigate bias in AI systems within business contexts. We will also look at the global impact of AI ethics, considering cultural and societal norms.
The curriculum includes collaborative projects that simulate real-world scenarios, challenging students to apply ethical principles in AI development. Finally, students will learn about the ongoing research in explainable AI and its role in fostering transparency and trust. This course will equip business students with the skills to lead AI initiatives responsibly.
FACULTY SPOTLIGHT
Arup Das is a distinguished expert in Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning, with a robust background in applied AI and a significant footprint in the generative AI industry. Currently serving as the Head of AI & Gen AI Industry Specialists at UiPath, Arup leads initiatives that drive AI and generative AI-based document and communication automation across various sectors, including financial services, healthcare, manufacturing, and the public sector. His work is focused on enhancing revenue growth, operational efficiency, and agility for large enterprises.
With over two decades of experience in technology leadership roles, Arup has left an indelible mark on the industry. Arup has been instrumental in developing AI and data-driven solutions, spearheading digital transformations, and building high-performing AI/ML teams. He has also successfully led multiple venture capital raises and exits, a testament to his strategic acumen. His professional journey includes significant stints at Avenue One, Compass, and Machine Analytics, where he developed low-code AI platforms and advanced natural language processing (NLP) solutions, further solidifying his reputation as a trailblazer in the field. Arup's expertise extends to digital strategy, product management, process engineering, and the development of modern data infrastructures, making him a well-rounded and highly sought-after consultant.
Arup is also an esteemed educator, holding an Executive in Residence position at the Villanova School of Business. His courses span various topics, including AI ethics, business applications of AI/ML, and advanced NLP techniques. He is committed to nurturing the next generation of digital business leaders and AI practitioners. In addition to his academic roles, Arup is an accomplished author with upcoming books on generative AI and AI ethics.
Arup holds an MBA from Cornell University, a Master's in Analytics from Villanova University, and a Master's in Computer Engineering from Stony Brook University. He has also received several honors, including the Villanova University Student Spotlight and Thought Leader of the Year awards.
Arup's passion for AI and technology, combined with his strategic vision and operational expertise, positions him as a leading voice in the AI industry. His dedication to solving complex business problems and driving innovation through AI is a testament to his ability to navigate the ever-evolving landscape of technology, inspiring confidence in his peers and collaborators.