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Harvard Online
Harvard Online · delivered by SkillsPro360

Microcredential in
Principles of AI

A practical foundation in AI beyond generative tools — machine learning, NLP, neural networks and computer vision — and how to lead responsible adoption.
  • What you study: The difference between rules-based automation and adaptive AI, natural language processing and neural networks, why data is the fuel of AI, how computer vision and IoT reshape work, and how to lead AI adoption with governance and ethics.
  • Who it is for: Employees and teams who want to understand AI fundamentals, assess data readiness and lead ethical AI adoption in their organizations.
  • For teams: Ideal for building shared AI understanding across a whole team or organization.
Course fee
USD 225
Single course enrollment
Duration
3 hours
On-demand, self-paced
Microcredential fromHarvard Online
Enroll now Get more information
Request a callGet it for your team
Duration
3 hours
Four sections
Format
On-demand
Start any time
Pace
Self-paced
Start immediately
Prerequisites
None
Introductory course
Credential
Harvard Online
Microcredential
How you learn

Learn on your own schedule.

Start immediately and work through four short sections at your own pace, guided by Professor Dustin Tingley.

A professional working with an AI tool
What you receive

Earn a Microcredential from Harvard Online.

Complete the course and Harvard Online issues your digital Microcredential.

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Designed and taught by Harvard faculty

Taught by Professor Dustin Tingley, Thomas D. Cabot Professor of Public Policy at Harvard and Deputy Vice Provost for Advances in Learning.

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A badge you can verify and share

Your Microcredential carries a verification code, ready to add to your LinkedIn profile.

✓

Built for teams

A short, practical course that gives whole teams a common foundation in AI.

Sample Harvard Online Microcredential for Principles of AI
Sample Microcredential issued by Harvard Online. Design subject to change by Harvard Online.
Course syllabus

What you study.

Four short sections that close the gap between rising expectations of AI at work and real understanding of how it works.

Topics covered
  1. Decoding AI: From Concept to Everyday Reality — telling rigid rules-based automation from adaptive AI, moving from keyword search to context-aware inference, and using natural language processing and neural networks to turn large volumes of text into insight.
  2. The Fuel of AI: Understanding Data’s Crucial Role — synthetic data to fill historical blind spots and model rare “gray swan” events, and data fusion that connects separate streams — from satellite imagery to customer logs — into holistic insight.
  3. AI in the Workplace: Shaping How We Work — computer vision and NLP as force multipliers for high-frequency analysis, and combining the Internet of Things with anomaly detection to prevent “silent failures.”
  4. Leading with AI: Strategy, Ethics, and the Future — turning ethics into practice with governance frameworks and compliance-by-design, and driving adoption through psychological safety and role-specific upskilling.
Learning outcomes

Understand AI foundations

  • Explain core AI technologies beyond generative AI and how AI systems are trained and evaluated for reliability

Assess data readiness for AI success

  • Identify what “high-quality” data looks like

Lead responsible AI adoption at work

  • Apply governance and frameworks to bring employees on board
Format: on-demand, self-pacedStart: immediately

Syllabus topics are set by Harvard Online and may be revised.

Who it is for

Built for professionals who need to understand AI, not build it.

This course is for employees and teams across industries who are expected to work with AI and want real understanding.

An introductory course; no prerequisites. Taught in English; participants should be 18 or over.

At work

Understand AI well enough to use it with confidence.

Expectations to use AI at work are rising faster than understanding. This short course closes that gap for people in non-technical roles.

Who teaches you

Learn from Harvard faculty.

Your coursework is designed and delivered by Professor Dustin Tingley.

Dustin Tingley

Dustin Tingley

Thomas D. Cabot Professor of Public Policy, Harvard Kennedy School and Harvard Government Department

A data scientist at Harvard and Deputy Vice Provost for Advances in Learning, who has helped organizations apply data science tools and develop machine learning algorithms.

Course fee

What is included.

One fee covering the full Harvard Online course and your Microcredential.

USD225
per participant · complete course
  • The complete Harvard Online course, all four sections
  • A digital Microcredential from Harvard Online
  • A verification code to share on LinkedIn
  • On-demand access, starting immediately
  • Advisor support from enrollment to completion
Enroll now

Enrolling a team?

Organizations are invoiced directly, and multi-seat rates apply from ten participants.
Fees are quoted in US dollars and paid by international card or bank transfer; your bank applies its own conversion rate. We can also provide a scope document for employer-funded participants.
Request a proposal
Enrollment

From inquiry to first day.

Four steps, usually completed within a week.

Step one

Book a call

A twenty-minute conversation with an advisor to check the course fits your role and goals. No obligation.

Step two

Pick your start

The course is on-demand, so you can begin whenever suits you.

Step three

Enroll

Complete payment by international card or bank transfer.

Step four

Begin

We enroll you directly with Harvard Online. Your access details arrive by email so you can start right away.

Common questions

Everything you might be wondering.

What will I study in Principles of AI?

Four short sections: decoding AI, from concept to everyday reality; the role of data; AI in the workplace; and leading with AI: strategy, ethics and the future.

Do I need a technical background?

No. The course covers AI concepts and responsible adoption without any coding.

Can my whole team take it?

Yes. Principles of AI is well suited to team enrollment. Contact us for group and account pricing.

How long does the course take?

About three hours in total. It is on-demand, so you can start immediately and learn at your own pace.

What does it cost?

USD 225 for the complete course and your Microcredential from Harvard Online.

What is a Microcredential?

A digital credential issued by Harvard Online when you complete a short course. It carries a verification code you can share on LinkedIn.

Who awards the Microcredential?

Harvard Online. SkillsPro360 is an authorized delivery partner — we are not Harvard University.

Understand AI. Prove it with Harvard Online.

Start today, at your own pace, and earn your Microcredential from Harvard Online.

Enroll now