Digital Badge Helps Students Use AI Responsibly
Artificial intelligence (AI) is rapidly reshaping how people learn, communicate and work. From classrooms and research labs to workplaces across nearly every industry, AI tools are becoming part of everyday life. In fact, more than half of U.S. workers (55%) now report using AI on the job, according to recent U.S. Census Bureau data, highlighting the technology's growing role in the workplace. As these technologies continue to evolve, the College of Arts and Sciences (A&S) at Syracuse University is ensuring students are prepared not only to use AI effectively, but also to think critically about when, why and—most importantly—whether it should be used.
To help students develop those skills, A&S and Syracuse University Libraries have launched the AI Literacy Digital Badge, a free, self-paced microcredential available exclusively to A&S undergraduate students. The program is designed to help students understand AI within a broader framework of information literacy, ethical decision-making and technological agility, all hallmarks of a liberal arts education.
According to Laura Machia, associate dean for academic initiatives and curriculum in A&S, the idea for the AI Literacy Digital Badge emerged directly from conversations with students.
“We asked A&S undergraduates what they were looking for regarding AI and their education, and overwhelmingly we heard that they wanted something to help them use these tools thoughtfully within their own field of study while also thinking hard about the bigger questions AI raises,” Machia says. “They were asking for a liberal arts response to AI, in other words.”
As a result, A&S faculty from across the humanities and sciences collaborated to create a program that explores how different disciplines use, evaluate and think about AI, giving students a broader understanding of both its possibilities and limitations.
The badge reflects A&S's commitment to preparing students for an increasingly AI-enabled world while reinforcing the deeply human skills that remain essential regardless of technological change. Critical thinking, communication, creativity, research skills and ethical judgment continue to be among the most valuable competencies students can develop, and these are precisely the areas where a liberal arts education excels.
Mastering AI
The badge's guiding philosophy is reflected in its theme of “putting AI in its place.” Rather than treating AI as a solution for every challenge, the program emphasizes the importance of human judgment and expertise.
“AI is a really powerful tool that has the potential for great innovation, but, like all tools, requires a user with skills and an understanding of the tool to wield it effectively,” Machia says. “We wanted to emphasize the human skills needed to use AI well, and acknowledge that there are uses in which this isn't the right tool at all.”
Students who complete the AI Literacy Digital Badge will gain a stronger understanding of how generative AI tools work, how to evaluate AI-generated information and how AI is being used across academic disciplines. Participants will explore key information literacy concepts, learn about responsible and effective AI use and examine real-world applications of AI in fields ranging from the sciences to the humanities.
Designed with busy students in mind, the program is fully online and self-paced. Each module takes approximately 30 to 60 minutes to complete, and students can move through the content at a pace that fits their schedules. There is no prior AI experience required, making the badge accessible to students from every major and academic background.
In addition to expanding students' knowledge of emerging technologies, the badge offers a valuable credential that can be shared on résumés, LinkedIn profiles and professional portfolios. As employers increasingly seek graduates who can adapt to new technologies, evaluate information and use AI responsibly, earning the digital badge demonstrates those capabilities and signals readiness for a rapidly changing workforce.
How it Works
To earn the badge, students complete a series of online modules that combine foundational information literacy concepts with discipline-specific explorations of AI. Along the way, they learn from A&S faculty members who are actively examining AI's opportunities and challenges within their own fields. Explore the modules below.
AI Literacy Modules
Information Literacy
Kelly Delevan, information literacy librarian
This module introduces the foundations of information literacy and helps students develop the skills needed to evaluate, locate and use information effectively. Students explore why information literacy matters, how to select appropriate digital sources and how to critically assess the credibility and reliability of information.
Could a Machine Think?
Martin Abreu Zavaleta, assistant professor of philosophy
Students explore whether machines can truly think through a brief history of AI, interactive activities and accessible explanations of technologies such as large language models.
Using AI to Learn, Not to Substitute Learning
Yasir Ahmed-Braimah, associate professor of biology
Students learn how to use AI as a tool that supports learning rather than replaces their own knowledge and judgment through case studies, real-world examples and hands-on activities. They develop skills for evaluating AI-generated content, identifying appropriate uses of AI and using it to deepen their understanding of subjects they already know.
Why Scientific Misinformation Exists and Why AI Makes it More Dangerous
Jonathan French, associate teaching professor of chemistry
Using a case study on creatine and cognitive performance, students examine how scientific misinformation spreads and how AI can amplify misleading claims. They learn to treat AI-generated answers as a starting point, verify evidence independently and assess the quality and limitations of scientific research.
AI's Water Footprint: What the Evidence Can and Cannot Tell Us
Tao Wen, associate professor of Earth and environmental sciences
Students evaluate claims about AI’s environmental impacts by examining peer-reviewed research and a real-world proposal in Central New York. They practice evidence-based reasoning to weigh competing claims and distinguish between supported conclusions and speculation.
Foregrounding Language in Large Language Models
Joe Wilson, assistant professor of writing and rhetoric
Students examine how language shapes identity, community and communication, and how large language models interact with different writing styles and conventions. They explore the ethical implications of AI-generated writing and learn to evaluate how AI represents and reproduces different voices.
Does AI Care?
Jiwoon Yulee, assistant teaching professor of women's and gender studies
Students investigate the social, ethical and environmental impacts of AI through perspectives from critical AI studies. They learn to evaluate AI within broader social contexts and consider how human values influence the design and use of emerging technologies.
You Are the Gift: AI Ethics for Counselors-in-Training
Lastenia Francis, assistant teaching professor of human development and family science
Students apply information literacy, ethical reasoning and critical AI evaluation skills within the context of the counseling relationship. The module emphasizes maintaining professional judgment and human-centered decision-making when AI tools are introduced into practice.
AI Across Disciplines
Together, these faculty perspectives demonstrate that AI is not confined to a single discipline. Rather, it is a topic that touches nearly every field of study and one that benefits from the broad, interdisciplinary approach that defines an A&S liberal arts education.
“One takeaway message from the modules in the badge is that domain experts are using AI to help them do their work, but that it’s not replacing their expertise,” Machia says. “A liberal arts education gives students the opportunity to develop their own domain expertise, and we hope this badge gives them the space to formulate their approach to using AI to enhance their work.”
Ultimately, the AI Literacy Digital Badge is about more than learning a new technology. It is about helping students become informed, adaptable thinkers who can navigate an increasingly complex information landscape. By combining the strengths of a liberal arts education with practical AI knowledge, A&S is equipping students with the tools they need to thrive in graduate school, their careers and a world where AI will continue to play an expanding role.
Published: Aug. 26, 2026
Media Contact: asnews@syr.edu