AI Courses at UTRGV

STARTER will provide educational training in AI technology through micro-credential courses, workshops, and AI enhanced courses. Micro-credential courses are enry level courses that will introduce students to AI concepts and will help serve as preparatory or seed material for the later and more advanced AI enhanced courses. Some AI enhanced courses may require students to have previously taken certain micro-credential courses in order to enroll.

Micro-Credential Format Courses

The following micro-credential courses have been developed by our senior personnel and consist of Computer Science, Cyber Security, and Physics & Astronomy courses. Year 1 courses will give students foundational material that will prepare them for Year 2 courses.

Year 1

• Python I

  Python is a high-level general-purpose language that can be used for prototype development, coding websites and applications, processing images, scientific data, and more. Join class.

• Intro to MATLAB

  MATLAB is a programming and numeric computing platform used by millions of engineers and scientists to analyze data, develop algorithms, and create models.

• Python II

  A deeper dive into the Python programming language.

• Intro to High Performance Computing

  Introduce basics of Linux and parallel computing using small allocations on the UTRGV HPC cluster.

• Intro to Artificial Neural Networks

  Introduce feedforward networks, backpropagation, and training/testing/validation.

• Intro to Cyber Security I

  Introduce security threats, malware, social engineering, and DDoS attacks.

Year 2

• Intro to AI Models using PyTorch

  PyTorch is a framework for Python programs that facilitates building deep learning projects.

• Convolutional Neural Networks and Image Classification

  Introduce the theory and practice of neural computation for machine learning.

• Intro to Cybersecurity II

  Introduce encryption concepts, cryptography, firewalls, and AI/ML in cybersecurity.

AI Enhanced Courses

Existing courses in Physics, Computer Science, and Cyber Security will be enhanced with AI-related content. These enhancements will provide training in practical use of AI tools, prepare students for participating in research projects, and motiviate students to further study AI-related topics.

Existing Courses

• Statistical Methods in Modern Astronomy

  Introduce advanced machine learning and AI methods used in modern astronomy, and high-performance computing such as GPU programming. The course will also include a project from a selected list of topics approved by the instructor.

• Special Topics: Gravitational Wave Data Analysis

  Provides a basic and broad description of astrophysics related to sources of gravitational radiation, gravitational wave detectors, numerical relativity, and data analysis.

• Introduction to Nanoscience

  Introduce nanoscale physics in order to understand nanoscience and nanotechnology. Investigate size effects and fabrication methods of nanoscale systems.

New PhD Courses

• Intro to Reinforcement Learning

  In-depth study of specific issues in computer science. Subject matter varies from semester to semester. May be repeated when subject matter changes. A total of six hours may be counted toward fulfillment of degree requirements.

• Computer Network Security

  Examine the internetworking architecture and routing, design and implementation issues related to secure and reliable networks, cryptography, firewalls, digital signatures, worms, viruses, logic bombs and spyware.