IT Applications of Artificial Intelligence
Putting AI to work inside an organization: automating routine IT tasks, connecting applications to AI services, and judging where AI helps and where it does not.
Builds onProgramming, Linux, and databases
Department of ComputingBlueSky Tennessee Institute
Enterprise Information TechnologyProposed Bachelor of Science · Concentration in Applied Artificial Intelligence
A full ETSU bachelor's degree, earned year-round in Chattanooga in partnership with BlueCross BlueShield of Tennessee. Students build real technical skills first (programming, web, databases, Linux, networking, and security) and then learn to use AI on top of them, responsibly and where it actually helps.
124credit hours, same as a 4-year degree
~2½years, 7 semesters plus a winter term, Fall 2027 to Dec 2029
3semesters of paid internship at BlueCross
2+Red Hat certifications (goal)
The 124 credit hours
Where the hours go
In ETSU's Department of Computing, we're turning the IT concentration in our B.S. in Computing into its own degree: a B.S. in Enterprise Information Technology with three concentrations in Applied AI, System Administration, and Network Administration.
BlueSky students meet the same degree requirements as students on ETSU's main campus. Nine of those hours are three paid, semester-long internship rotations at BlueCross BlueShield of Tennessee. The bar below is drawn to scale.
EIT Core
52 credit hours · 17 coursesProgramming, web development, databases, Linux and servers, and software teamwork.
Applied AI
13 credit hours · 4 coursesHow AI actually works, how to use it in IT work, how to secure it, and a capstone project to pull it together.
Technical Elective
9 credit hours · 3 coursesNetworking, network defense, and advanced Linux administration.
Internship
9 credit hours · 3 semestersThree paid, semester-long rotations at BlueCross, each with a different team and role.
General Education
41 credit hours · 16 courses with labsWriting, speaking, math, science, history, ethics, and economics.
Semester by semester
The degree plan
Students go through the program as a cohort and take every course together. Summer counts as a full semester, which is how a four-year degree fits into about two and a half years. Click a semester to jump to its courses.
Semester 1
Fall 2027
18 credit hours
Hello, World! A First-Year Experience
Using Information Technology
Using Information Technology Lab
Practical Applications of Artificial Intelligence
Essentials of Web Development
Computer Hardware and Network Administration
Foundations in Writing
Semester 2
Spring 2028
19 credit hours
Intro to Programming & CS
Intermediate Topics in Web Development
Math for Computer Science
Fundamentals of Database
Probability & Statistics
Written Communication & Critical Thinking
Semester 3
Summer 2028
17 credit hours
Object-Oriented Programming
UNIX Fundamentals
Database Advanced Topics
Career Readiness for Computing
Argumentation and Debate
Intro to Service-Learning in the Community
Semester 4
Fall 2028
19 credit hours
Server-Side Web Programming
IT Applications of Artificial Intelligence
Intro to Ethics
Networking Fundamentals
Applied AI in Digital Media
Principles of Macroeconomics
Semester 4.5
Winter break
3 credit hours
The United States since 1877
Semester 5
Spring 2029
18 credit hours
Intro to System Administration
Network Defense
Software Engineering I
Advanced Topics in Web Development
Intro to Artificial Intelligence
Internship
Semester 6
Summer 2029
16 credit hours
AI Security
System Administration II
IT Project Management
Earth & Society Lecture
Earth & Society Lab
Internship
Semester 7
Fall 2029
14 credit hours
AI Capstone
Human Computer Interaction
Earth through Time Lecture
Earth through Time Lab
Internship
EIT Core
Applied AI
Technical Elective
Internship
General Education
New course being designed for this degree
Graduation · December 2029
The philosophy behind the degree
Fundamentals come first
The employers we work with keep telling us the same thing: new hires need strong fundamentals now more than ever.
AI can write code and answer questions, but somebody still has to understand the systems underneath, catch it when the AI gets something wrong, and fix things when they break. That's who we're training.
So about half the degree, 61 of the 124 credit hours, goes to these six areas, and all of it is hands-on.
The AI coursework sits on top of that foundation. It doesn't replace it. We're not interested in turning out graduates who can only prompt a chatbot. We want people who understand how AI works, use it ethically, and know where it's actually useful in an IT job. Students start using AI tools carefully and responsibly in their first semester, in Practical Applications of Artificial Intelligence. Introduction to Artificial Intelligence then goes deeper into how AI actually works: how machine learning models learn from data, including supervised and unsupervised learning.
Programming
11 hrsTwo programming courses plus the math behind them.
CSCI 1250 · 1260 · 1900Web development
13 hrsFrom first web pages to full applications with a back end.
CSCI 1210 · 1720 · 2910 · 3110Databases
6 hrsDesigning databases and getting answers out of them with SQL.
CSCI 2020 · 3020Linux & systems
12 hrsHardware, the Linux command line, and running servers, through RHCSA-level skills.
CSCI 2400 · 2200 · 4417 · System Administration IINetworking & security
6 hrsHow networks work and how to defend them.
CSCI 3400 · 4647Professional practice
13 hrsTeamwork, software engineering, user-centered design, and leading projects.
CSCI 1510 · 3000 · 4250 · 4927 · IT Project ManagementNew courses
Five courses we're building for this degree
Three of them are AI courses and two are fundamentals courses. Every one of them builds directly on the core classes that come before it.
AI-focused
AI Security
Powerful AI models are now everywhere, both as online services and as free downloads. Students learn to secure the AI systems an organization adopts and to defend against attackers who use AI.
Builds onNetworking Fundamentals and Network Defense and Countermeasures
AI Capstone
The follow-on to Software Engineering I. Teams take a real software project from requirements to delivery, using AI where it helps, and present the result to faculty and industry partners.
Builds onSoftware Engineering I and everything before it
Fundamentals-focused
System Administration II
Advanced Linux server administration: storage, services, automation, and troubleshooting. This course completes the preparation for the RHCSA exam.
Builds onUNIX Fundamentals and Introduction to System Administration
IT Project Management
Leading technology projects from start to finish: planning, scheduling, budgeting, managing risk, and keeping a team on track.
Builds onSoftware Engineering I and the internship
Industry certification · Partnership in progress
Red Hat Academy
We're working on a partnership with Red Hat Academy so that certification prep is built into the program. Red Hat Enterprise Linux runs servers at companies and government agencies all over the world, and a Red Hat certification tells an employer a graduate can actually do the work.
2+
Red Hat certifications per student
Our goal is for every student to earn at least two before graduation.
Starting with the RHCSA Red Hat Certified System Administrator
The RHCSA is a hands-on exam. There's no multiple choice. You get real Linux systems and a time limit, and you have to configure, secure, and fix them. It's one of the most respected Linux certifications out there, and it's the one we're most focused on.
Semester 3 · Summer 2028UNIX FundamentalsThe Linux command line, files, permissions, and scripting (CSCI 2200).
Semester 5 · Spring 2029Introduction to System AdministrationUsers, services, storage, backups, and keeping servers running (CSCI 4417).
Semester 6 · Summer 2029System Administration IIAdvanced, hands-on Linux administration, built as the final step toward the exam (new course).
GoalEarn the RHCSAThen at least one more Red Hat certification before graduation.
Paid internships · BlueCross BlueShield of Tennessee
Three internships, three different teams
Starting in Semester 5, students spend weekday mornings, 8 a.m. to noon, working at BlueCross BlueShield of Tennessee. It isn't one long internship on a single team. Each semester is its own rotation with a different team and different job responsibilities, so by graduation students have seen three different sides of IT work at a large company.
Before the first rotation starts in Spring 2029, students get to list their preferences for the kinds of teams they'd like to work with.
Rotation 1 · Semester 5 · Spring 2029First teamStudents start their first role on a BlueCross team, working with mentors on real projects.
Rotation 2 · Semester 6 · Summer 2029A new team, new responsibilitiesStudents move to a different team and take on a different kind of work.
Rotation 3 · Semester 7 · Fall 2029A third teamOne more team and role, completed alongside the AI Capstone in the final semester.
Fall 2027
Semester 1 18 credit hours · 7 courses
Getting started: college skills, building first websites, and learning to use AI tools well.
- EIT Core 9
- General Education 9
CSCI 15103 credits
Hello, World! A First-Year Experience
The welcome course. Students learn how to succeed in college, explore careers in computing, work in teams, and get comfortable solving problems the way technology professionals do.
CSCI 11003 credits
Using Information Technology
Hands-on fluency with the tools every workplace runs on: spreadsheets, documents, presentations, file management, and staying safe and smart online.
CSCI 11500 credits
Using Information Technology Lab
The lab that goes with Using Information Technology, taken the same semester: guided, hands-on practice with the same tools.
CSCI 13003 credits
Practical Applications of Artificial Intelligence
How today's AI tools work, how to use them effectively, and where they fall short. Students practice prompting, checking AI output, and using AI responsibly.
CSCI 12103 credits
Essentials of Web Development
Students build and publish their own web pages using HTML and CSS, the languages behind every website, and learn the basics of good design.
CSCI 24003 credits
Computer Hardware and Network Administration
What is inside a computer and how to fix it. Students assemble and troubleshoot hardware, install operating systems, and set up a small network.
ENGL 10103 credits
Foundations in Writing
Clear, organized writing for college and work, from drafting and revising to writing for different audiences.
Spring 2028
Semester 2 19 credit hours · 6 courses
The first programming course, plus the math and database skills that everything else builds on.
- EIT Core 13
- General Education 6
CSCI 12504 credits
Introduction to Programming and Computer Science
The first programming course. Students write real programs and learn to break a problem into steps: variables, decisions, loops, and functions. No experience needed.
CSCI 17203 credits
Intermediate Topics in Web Development
Websites that respond and adapt. Students add interactivity with JavaScript and build pages that work on phones, tablets, and desktops.
CSCI 19003 credits
Math for Computer Science
The math computers think in: logic, sets, binary numbers, counting, and problem-solving patterns used throughout programming.
CSCI 20203 credits
Fundamentals of Database
How organizations store and find information. Students design databases and use SQL, the language used to ask questions of data.
MATH 15303 credits
Probability and Statistics - Noncalculus
Averages, probability, graphs, and drawing conclusions from data.
ENGL 10203 credits
Written Communication & Critical Thinking
Research-based writing: evaluating sources, building an argument, and supporting it with evidence.
Summer 2028
Semester 3 17 credit hours · 6 courses
A full summer semester. Programming goes deeper, Linux begins, databases get more advanced, and students start preparing for their internships.
- EIT Core 11
- General Education 6
CSCI 12604 credits
Object-Oriented Programming
The second programming course. Students learn to organize larger programs the way professional software is built, using classes and objects.
CSCI 22003 credits
UNIX Fundamentals
Working at the command line on Linux, the system that runs most servers and cloud services. Includes files, permissions, and writing scripts to automate tasks.
CSCI 30203 credits
Database Advanced Topics
Building on Semester 2: more powerful SQL, keeping data accurate and secure, and making databases fast as they grow.
CSCI 30001 credit
Career Readiness for Computing
Résumés, interviewing, professional networking, and workplace skills. Students start preparing for the BlueCross internships that begin in Semester 5.
COMM 20553 credits
Argumentation and Debate
Building a sound argument and presenting it with confidence. Good practice for meetings, interviews, and presenting technical work.
SRVL 10203 credits
Introduction to Service-Learning in the Community
Students work with local community organizations and reflect on how their skills can serve others.
Fall 2028
Semester 4 19 credit hours · 6 courses
The back end of the web, how networks run, and ethics, plus the first Applied AI course: putting AI to work in IT.
- EIT Core 4
- Applied AI 3
- Technical Elective 3
- General Education 9
CSCI 29104 credits
Server-Side Web Programming
The part of a website users never see. Students build the server code that handles logins, saves data, and connects a site to a database.
CSCI 3XXX3 credits
IT Applications of Artificial Intelligence
Putting AI to work inside an organization: automating routine IT tasks, connecting applications to AI services, and judging where AI helps and where it does not.
PHIL 20203 credits
Introduction to Ethics
How to reason about right and wrong, and how to apply that to real decisions, including the ones technology professionals face.
CSCI 34003 credits
Networking Fundamentals
How the internet actually works: addresses, routing, switching, and the rules that let devices talk to each other.
DIGM 16003 credits
Applied AI in Digital Media
Using AI tools to create images, video, audio, and design, along with the creative and ethical questions those tools raise.
ECON 22103 credits
Principles of Macroeconomics
How the national economy works: jobs, inflation, interest rates, and the decisions that shape them.
Winter break
Semester 4.5 3 credit hours · 1 course
A short winter term over the break with one relatively light gen ed course. It keeps students in the habit of class before their internships start in January, 8 a.m. to noon, Monday through Friday.
- General Education 3
HIST 20203 credits
The United States since 1877
American history from Reconstruction to today, and how those events shaped the country students live and work in.
Spring 2029
Semester 5 18 credit hours · 6 courses
The first internship rotation begins. Coursework covers running servers, network defense, team software development, modern web frameworks, and the second Applied AI course: how AI actually works.
- EIT Core 9
- Applied AI 3
- Technical Elective 3
- Internship 3
CSCI 44173 credits
Introduction to System Administration
Running the servers an organization depends on: managing users and permissions, backups, updates, and keeping systems available.
CSCI 46473 credits
Network Defense and Countermeasures
Hands-on network defense: hardening systems, monitoring traffic, spotting attacks as they happen, and responding to security incidents.
CSCI 42503 credits
Software Engineering I
How teams build software together: gathering requirements, planning, version control, testing, and working in short agile cycles.
CSCI 31103 credits
Advanced Topics in Web Development
Modern web development with current frameworks, bringing front end and back end together and deploying finished applications.
CSCI 42203 credits
Introduction to Artificial Intelligence
How AI actually works. Students look inside the tools they have been using: how computers search for solutions, represent knowledge, and learn from data, including the basics of machine learning.
CSCI 49053 credits
Internship
The first of three paid rotations at BlueCross BlueShield of Tennessee, weekday mornings from 8 a.m. to noon. Students work on a real team alongside mentors.
Summer 2029
Semester 6 16 credit hours · 6 courses
Securing AI systems, leading technology projects, and advanced Linux administration to finish preparing for the RHCSA.
- EIT Core 3
- Applied AI 3
- Technical Elective 3
- Internship 3
- General Education 4
CSCI 4XXX3 credits
AI Security
Powerful AI models are now everywhere, both as online services and as free downloads. Students learn to secure the AI systems an organization adopts and to defend against attackers who use AI.
CSCI 4XXX3 credits
System Administration II
Advanced Linux server administration: storage, services, automation, and troubleshooting. This course completes the preparation for the RHCSA exam.
CSCI 4XXX3 credits
IT Project Management
Leading technology projects from start to finish: planning, scheduling, budgeting, managing risk, and keeping a team on track.
GEOS 10403 credits
Geosciences: Earth and Society Lecture
How people and the planet affect each other: natural hazards, resources, water, and the environment.
GEOS 10411 credit
Geosciences: Earth and Society Laboratory
Hands-on lab work that goes with the lecture: maps, rocks and minerals, and real environmental data.
CSCI 49053 credits
Internship
A second rotation with a different BlueCross team and a different set of job responsibilities.
Fall 2029
Semester 7 14 credit hours · 5 courses
The final semester. Students bring everything together in the AI Capstone and graduate in December.
- EIT Core 3
- Applied AI 4
- Internship 3
- General Education 4
CSCI 4XXX4 credits
AI Capstone
The follow-on to Software Engineering I. Teams take a real software project from requirements to delivery, using AI where it helps, and present the result to faculty and industry partners.
CSCI 49273 credits
Human Computer Interaction
Designing technology people find easy to use: studying users, sketching and prototyping, and testing designs with real people.
GEOS 10503 credits
Geosciences: Earth through Time Lecture
The 4.6-billion-year history of the Earth and of life on it, told through rocks and fossils.
GEOS 10511 credit
Geosciences: Earth through Time Laboratory
Lab work that goes with the lecture: identifying fossils and reading the rock record.
CSCI 49053 credits
Internship
A third rotation with another new team, completed alongside the AI Capstone in the final semester.