The University of Tampa scrapped its computer coding requirement. In its place is a new generative artificial intelligence course that every student must pass. This one-credit class launched during the fall semester and runs through Codio, an online learning platform.
Sophomores returned to campus Monday and discovered the new requirement waiting on their schedules.
The course zeroes in on building judgment when students work with AI. It doesn’t simply teach them which buttons to push. Instead, students learn to assess AI-generated outputs for accuracy. They practice using AI as a thinking partner. The curriculum tackles privacy concerns, too, teaching students to discuss AI expectations with professors before turning in assignments.
“We’re talking about privacy concerns. No, you can’t drop in your professor’s notes if they didn’t let you. Or you can’t drop in your roommate’s paper that was already submitted,” said Jessica O’Brien, UTampa’s coordinator of online learning, according to FOX 13 News. “Just getting them thinking about: What is privacy now with AI?”
The institution lacks a campus-wide AI policy. Because of this gap, the class equips students with skills to set clear expectations with individual professors for specific assignments.
School officials cite workforce readiness as the main driver behind the curriculum change.
UTampa isn’t alone. Saint Leo University is rolling out mandatory AI training modules this fall. All students at that institution must complete coursework on technological fluency alongside their traditional majors to earn a diploma.
The shift away from basic computer coding reveals how universities are adapting. They’re preparing students for workplaces where AI tools have become standard equipment. The course teaches students what information can be shared with AI systems. It shows them how to verify the accuracy of machine-generated content. Most importantly, it builds their ability to question rather than blindly accept what AI produces.