The University of Washington Foster School of Business has launched a new Graduate Certificate in AI in Business, focused on a growing need across industries: professionals who understand not only what AI can do, but how to apply it to business problems and decisions.
The nine-month, part-time program requires a minimum of 16 graduate credits. Classes are held in the evenings at the University of Washington’s Seattle campus. Applications are now open.
The program approaches AI through a business rather than a purely technical lens. Students learn to evaluate where AI can create value, understand its capabilities and limitations, and make informed decisions about its adoption and implementation. No programming or technology experience is required for admission.
“AI is changing how work gets done across industries, and professionals need opportunities to build these capabilities without stepping away from their careers,” says Cassady Glass Hastings, Assistant Dean, Stacked Degrees, Foster School of Business. “We designed this certificate to give working professionals a flexible, focused way to develop practical AI fluency they can begin applying immediately, while keeping the commitment manageable alongside work and other responsibilities.”
The curriculum, led by Associate Professor of Finance and Business Economics Thomas Gilbert, moves from AI fundamentals to specific business applications. All students take two core courses: AI Fundamentals for Business, offered as an intensive course in autumn, and Strategic AI Leadership, an intensive course in spring. The deadline to apply for the first cohort is September 15, 2026.
Students choose three additional courses from:
- Business Analytics: Tools for Big Data
- AI-Driven Product Development and Commercialization
- Building Generative AI Applications using Large Language Models
- Digital Lean and AI Process Automation
The result is a curriculum that spans analytics, generative AI, product development, commercialization, process automation, and the leadership challenges involved in adopting AI within an organization.
The new certificate builds on AI expertise already embedded across Foster. Faculty, including Léonard Boussioux, Yong Tan, Uttara Ananthakrishnan, Stephanie Lee, and Gilbert, teach and conduct research on AI and its business applications, spanning generative AI, machine learning, analytics, decision-making, and strategy.
Learn more about the Graduate Certificate in AI in Business.