No question, artificial intelligence (AI) is changing how people learn, work and create. As technology advances, the ability to think critically, communicate clearly, make ethical decisions, evaluate information and solve problems creatively becomes even more important. These are the enduring strengths of a liberal arts education, and they remain essential whether you're conducting research, launching a career or deciding when to trust an AI-generated response.
We’re Ready
The College of Arts and Sciences (A&S) has spent more than 150 years preparing students for the world they live in. That work didn't start with AI, and it won't end with it. We're ready for what's next, and we'll make sure you are too.
A Credential That Sets You Apart
To help you use AI responsibly and effectively, A&S and Syracuse University Libraries have created the AI Literacy Digital Badge, a free, self-paced micro-credential designed exclusively for A&S undergraduate students.
Through a series of online modules, you'll explore how generative AI tools fit within the broader framework of information literacy. You'll also hear from A&S faculty across the humanities and sciences about how they use AI in their research, teaching and professional work.
Complete the program and earn a digital badge you can add to your résumé, LinkedIn profile and professional portfolio, demonstrating to employers that you're prepared to work thoughtfully and effectively and confidently in an AI-enabled world.
What You'll Learn
To earn the badge, you'll complete a series of self-paced online modules covering:
- Key information literacy concepts and research skills
- Effective and responsible use of generative AI tools
- AI applications across multiple academic disciplines
Designed for Busy Students
Build AI literacy in manageable, flexible modules that fit easily into even the busiest student schedule.
- Free for A&S students
- Fully online and self-paced
- Modules generally take 30 to 60 minutes each
- Recommended pace: one to two modules per week
- No prior AI experience required
Stand Out to Employers
Employers increasingly seek graduates who can evaluate information, adapt to new technologies and use AI thoughtfully and responsibly. Earning the AI Literacy Digital Badge provides a visible credential that demonstrates these skills and enhances your professional marketability in a rapidly evolving workforce.
Why Information Literacy Matters
Long before AI tools existed, scholars relied on keenly honed information literacy, developed by their liberal arts training, to find, evaluate and use information effectively. Those same skills are now essential when working with AI.
Yale University's 2026 Task Force on Artificial Intelligence called for renewed emphasis on critical thinking, asking questions, drawing from historical and philosophical traditions, applying ethics and being creative as the surest way to prepare students to work alongside AI. These are the same habits of mind cultivated through a liberal arts education.
Whether you're reading a scholarly article, conducting online research or reviewing an AI-generated response, information literacy helps you evaluate credibility, identify bias, ask better questions and arrive at stronger conclusions. The Association of College and Research Libraries identifies six core information literacy concepts:
- Authority Is Constructed and Contextual
- Information Creation as a Process
- Information Has Value
- Research as Inquiry
- Scholarship as Conversation
- Searching as Strategic Exploration
The AI Literacy Digital Badge builds upon these foundational skills, helping you apply them confidently in an increasingly AI-driven world.