Chicago, Aug. 19, 2026 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE)<\/a> — North Park University (NPU) has added two academic programs for the 2026\u201327 academic year, which begins August 24: a\u00a0Bachelor of Science in Computer Science<\/a>\u00a0and an\u00a0artificial intelligence (AI) for business minor\/certificate<\/a>.\u00a0Employer demand for these skills is growing\u00a0rapidly, and NPU is betting that graduates will need more than technical fluency\u2014they’ll\u00a0need to know when and how to use it responsibly.<\/p>\n A More Technical Pathway in Computer Science<\/b> The program\u00a0expands\u00a0NPU’s existing Bachelor of Arts in Applied Computer Science, adding the theoretical and systems-level rigor of a traditional computer science degree\u00a0and providing\u00a0students\u00a0with two pathways.<\/p>\n \u201cThe BA in Applied Computer Science emphasizes the practical application of computing and provides students with a flexible pathway into technology-related careers, while the BS\u00a0in Computer Science adds greater mathematical and theoretical depth through areas such as algorithms, computer systems, databases, and artificial intelligence,\u201d said\u00a0Assistant Professor of Computer Science\u00a0Dr. Clement Essien.\u00a0\u201cTogether, they\u00a0allow students\u00a0to choose the path that better\u00a0aligns with their\u00a0goals.\u201d<\/p>\n Alongside the technical coursework, students take a required philosophy course, “Ethics in Technology,” to instill a habit of asking about a system’s human and social consequences.<\/p>\n Teaching Students to Ethically Approach AI<\/b> The coursework\u00a0comprises\u00a0four integrated areas: 1)\u00a0understanding what AI is and how it transforms business, 2) learning to apply AI tools and analytics to real-world problems, 3) exploring the moral, legal, and social implications of AI adoption, and 4) combining these skills to inform ethical, data-driven decision-making.<\/p>\n Dr. Trevor James MBA \u201904, MA \u201905\u2014NPU\u2019s associate\u00a0provost\u00a0for\u00a0institutional effectiveness, research, and academic innovation\u00a0and professor of business and theology\u2014said,\u00a0\u201cAI is quickly becoming part of how organizations make decisions, solve problems, and create new opportunities.\u00a0Our goal is not simply to teach students how to use the latest AI tools, but\u00a0also\u00a0to help them understand where\u00a0they add\u00a0value, when\u00a0they create\u00a0risk, and how to use\u00a0them\u00a0ethically and responsibly. At North Park, that means approaching AI from a human-centered perspective grounded in faith, integrity, and service.\u201d<\/p>\n Courses are delivered through a combination of existing SPS offerings and\u00a0Acadeum<\/a>\u00a0partner institutions, giving students access to a range of vetted, transfer-approved instruction.\u00a0Acadeum’s\u00a0quality-assurance process allows North Park to review learning outcomes, faculty credentials, and assessment methods before students enroll,\u00a0maintaining\u00a0alignment with institutional standards.<\/p>\n Both the BS in Computer Science and\u00a0the\u00a0AI for business minor\/certificate\u00a0address the\u00a0growing\u00a0demand for graduates with technical skills and AI literacy. NPU’s pairing of skill-building with ongoing ethical formation will result in students grounded in faith and integrity and prepared for lives of significance and service.<\/p>\n About North Park University<\/b> Frequently Asked Questions<\/b> Why does ethics play such\u00a0<\/b>a central role<\/b>\u00a0in both programs?<\/b>\u00a0Both pair technical training with required ethics coursework\u2014Ethics in Technology for computer science students and a digital ethics course for AI for business students\u2014reflecting North Park University’s mission as a Christian university and its commitment to graduating students prepared for lives of significance and service, not just technical competence.<\/p>\n How is the BS in Computer Science different from the existing BA in Applied Computer Science?<\/b>\u00a0The new BS adds the theoretical and systems-level rigor associated with a traditional computer science degree. Students can now choose between the BA’s applied track and the BS’s more technical one, depending on their career goals.<\/p>\n Who is the AI for business minor\/certificate for?<\/b>\u00a0The program is for North Park University School of Professional Studies students who want to build skills in AI-informed decision-making, analytics, and digital ethics.\u00a0It’s\u00a0designed to complement a major.<\/p>\n
The 60-credit-hour BS in Computer Science, offered through the Division of Sciences within the College of Arts and Sciences, gives students a rigorous foundation in programming, data structures, algorithms, software development, computer systems, databases, and AI and machine learning. Graduates will be well-positioned for careers in software development, data science, and AI, or for graduate study in computer science.<\/p>\n
The 13-credit-hour AI for business minor\/certificate, offered through the School of Professional Studies (SPS), helps students understand and apply AI in corporate and nonprofit settings. Ethical reflection carries as much weight in the curriculum as technical skills; the program asks students to weigh not just what AI can do for an organization, but\u00a0also\u00a0what it should do.<\/p>\n
North Park University is city-centered, intercultural, and emerging as the model for Christian higher education in 21st-century America. Visit us at\u00a0northpark.edu<\/a>\u00a0and follow us on\u00a0Instagram<\/a>,\u00a0Facebook<\/a>, and\u00a0LinkedIn<\/a>.<\/p>\n
What are the two <\/b>new\u00a0<\/b>programs<\/b>\u00a0North Park University is launching?<\/b>\u00a0A Bachelor of Science in Computer Science, offered through the College of Arts and Sciences, and an artificial intelligence (AI) for business minor\/certificate, offered through the School of Professional Studies.<\/p>\n
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