SKYCTC to Offer New “AI for Everyone” Course Beginning Fall 2026
Bowling Green, KY – Artificial Intelligence is rapidly changing how we live, learn, and work, and its influence is expected to continue growing in the months and years ahead. In response to this expanding impact, Southcentral Kentucky Community and Technical College (SKYCTC) has developed a new course designed to introduce students to AI concepts and practical tools in an accessible way.
The new course, CIT 299 – AI for Everyone (Section 1001-85046), will be offered for the first time in Fall 2026. This hands-on, beginner-friendly course is open to students of all academic backgrounds and does not require prior coding experience. A co-requisite or pre-requisite of CIT 105 is recommended.
AI for Everyone provides students with an overview of the past, present, and future of artificial intelligence while emphasizing real-world applications. Students will gain experience using popular generative AI tools such as ChatGPT, Claude, Copilot, and image generators to support academic success and professional productivity.
Throughout the course, students will learn about:
- The history of artificial intelligence and the types of AI systems shaping today’s world
- Ethical and effective use of generative AI tools
- Prompt engineering, including drafting, refining, and iterating prompts
- Using AI to summarize, edit, rephrase, and create documents
- Basic data analysis and study skills using AI
- Core AI concepts such as machine learning, expert systems, and multi-agent systems
- Critical issues including bias, fairness, deepfakes, copyright, and equitable access
- Cybersecurity fundamentals and strategies for protecting personal data
- Hands-on AI projects that can be showcased in a digital portfolio
The course follows a competency-focused learning model. By the end of the semester, students will be able to describe the evolution of AI, evaluate AI systems through ethical and social perspectives, apply cybersecurity best practices, and leverage AI-powered tools to improve collaboration and productivity in both academic and workplace settings.
AI for Everyone is designed to prepare students for real-world applications of artificial intelligence across a wide range of career fields and serves as a strong addition to a digital résumé or professional portfolio.
The course will be offered as a 16-week online class in Fall 2026, meeting on Thursdays from 9:30 a.m. to 10:45 a.m. The instructor for the course is John Gilbert, a Computer & Information Technologies Instructor. Prior to his teaching career at SKYCTC, he was a managing partner of Build Cyber, Chief of Cybersecurity at VAON LLC, and a Computer Network Defense Researcher at Electronic Warfare Associates. John began his information security career while in Army Intelligence.
Students are encouraged to register early, as enrollment is limited.
For more information, contact John Gilbert at john.gilbert@kctcs.edu.
