Artificial intelligence is reshaping how organizations operate, compete, and innovate. As AI becomes integrated into everyday business decisions, organizations need leaders who can evaluate opportunities, manage risk, communicate across teams, and guide responsible implementation.
The Graduate Certificate in Strategic AI for Business helps you understand where AI can create value, where it introduces risk, and how organizations can use it effectively. You'll learn how to assess new technologies, weigh tradeoffs, communicate across functions, and contribute to important business decisions as AI becomes more integrated into the workplace.
Current Opus graduate students and graduate alumni
12 credits, 4 courses
Finish in 9 months (up to 3 years), Hybrid
$17,604
$1,467 per credit
The 12-credit curriculum combines a required foundational course with three flexible electives that explore AI applications, ethics, communication, innovation, and leadership. Together, these courses help you understand how organizations evaluate opportunities, make informed decisions, and use AI responsibly.
Required Course: 3 Credits
This course explores how organizations can use AI to drive growth, improve operations, enhance customer experiences, and support innovation. Through real-world case studies and applied projects, students examine technologies such as generative AI, machine learning, natural language processing, and computer vision while learning how to evaluate AI opportunities, develop adoption strategies, and lead responsible AI implementation.
Elective Course: 3 Credits
This course examines the legal and ethical challenges organizations face as they adopt AI and emerging technologies. Through case studies and business simulations, students learn how to evaluate AI-related risks, address issues such as data privacy, bias, intellectual property, and regulation, and support responsible, compliant AI use in business settings.
Elective Course: 3 Credits
This course introduces principles that link storytelling to influencing business outcomes ethically and effectively. Students will learn how information impacts organizational strategy and culture, develop structured thinking processes for building compelling business stories, and strengthen their ability to confidently use data and communication channels to inform and influence decision-makers.
Elective Course: 3 Credits
This course is designed for entrepreneurs, managers, and consultants interested in fostering innovation within established organizations. It examines how managers influence innovation through culture, structure, communication, and reward systems, with emphasis on launching and managing ventures within corporate settings. Theory and practice are integrated through readings, discussions, cases, field work, and projects.
Elective Course: 3 Credits
This course prepares students to lead transformation in customer-centric and omnichannel organizations. Topics include agile innovation, customer experience strategy, modern business models, and managing change while maintaining profitability and resiliency. Students will learn from business leaders and complete practical challenges.
Through applied projects, case discussions, and real-world business challenges, you'll examine how organizations are approaching AI in practice. You'll develop practical skills that can help you evaluate opportunities, navigate challenges, and contribute to informed business decisions.
Learn how organizations are using AI to improve operations, enhance customer experiences, support decision-making, and strengthen competitive advantage.
Examine the ethical, legal, and organizational considerations of AI while learning how to make thoughtful, informed decisions about its implementation and use.
Build your ability to explain AI-related opportunities and challenges to stakeholders with different backgrounds, priorities, and levels of technical expertise.
Explore how AI can support organizational goals, improve performance, and create value across business functions.
Develop an entrepreneurial approach to identifying opportunities, solving business problems, and contributing to innovation within your organization.
Explore how organizations respond to emerging technologies and the leadership decisions that support successful adoption.
Whether you work in marketing, finance, operations, healthcare, technology, consulting, or another field, the ability to evaluate and apply AI is becoming increasingly valuable. This certificate helps you build the business knowledge and perspective to contribute to AI initiatives, support innovation, and make informed decisions in your organization.
The Graduate Certificate in Strategic AI for Business is available exclusively to current graduate students and graduate alumni of the Opus College of Business.
Current Opus College graduate students can add specialized expertise in AI to their graduate business education while earning an additional graduate credential.
If you're currently enrolled in an Opus College of Business graduate program, contact your academic advisor to add the certificate to your program of study. A separate application is not required.
To apply, you'll need:
You can either download a fillable PDF of the essay question and upload that form once you’ve answered the question, or upload your own document that answers the essay question.
To apply to this program, you must have a bachelor’s degree from a regionally accredited U.S. institution (or the international equivalent). We need original transcripts from all undergraduate and graduate institutions you have attended, sent directly from the school. The only exception is for advanced placement courses and study abroad transfer credits – we don’t need transcripts for those.
Send via Email
If your institution offers electronic transcripts, ask them to email your transcript(s) to gradadmissions@stthomas.edu.
Send via Mail
Paper transcripts must be submitted in sealed envelopes and signed by the appropriate university official. Send to:
University of St. Thomas
Graduate Records - Admissions
1000 LaSalle Ave., Box 5
Minneapolis, MN 55403-2005
In addition to the application requirements described above, international student applicants must meet the following requirements:
All international applicants and non-native speakers of English must submit scores from the TOEFL, IELTS or Duolingo to be considered for admission. Score reports can be no more than two years old to be accepted. If you have completed an undergraduate or graduate degree at an accredited college or university in the U.S., Canada, the United Kingdom, Ireland, Australia, or New Zealand, then you are exempt from taking an English proficiency test upon verification of your completed transcript.
Minimum score requirements:
To apply to the Graduate Certificate in Business Analytics program, you must have at least the international equivalent of a four-year bachelor’s degree from a regionally-accredited U.S. institution. If you completed your undergraduate or graduate work at a college or university outside of the United States, you must complete a transcript evaluation.
There are two ways to complete this evaluation (choose one):
New students may begin a graduate certificate program in the Fall, Spring or Summer terms. With our rolling admissions process, applications are welcomed before or after the priority deadline and reviewed once the file is complete.
The Graduate Certificate in Strategic AI for Business consists of 12 credits. Tuition is charged on a per-credit basis. Additional costs may include course materials, technology and health fees, and parking for on-campus classes.
TOTAL PROGRAM COST: $17,604
TUITION PER CREDIT: $1,467
Certificate students are considered non-degree seeking and are not eligible for federal financial aid. However, many students receive employer tuition assistance or use personal or educational financing to help cover the cost of the certificate. We encourage you to explore the funding options available to you.
Many employers offer tuition assistance or reimbursement programs to support their employees' professional growth. Check with your employer's human resources department to learn about available benefits and eligibility requirements.
The University of St. Thomas is a Yellow Ribbon school and awards at the maximum Chapter 33 benefit rate (100%). Veterans can choose to defer acceptance and any scholarships for one year if your plans are delayed by your service.
Yellow Ribbon Program at St. Thomas
The Graduate Certificate in Strategic AI for Business is available exclusively to current Opus College of Business graduate students and Opus graduate alumni. Current students can add the certificate to their graduate program, while alumni may return to earn the certificate as a standalone credential.
Yes. The hybrid format is designed for working professionals. Coursework emphasizes practical application, allowing you to apply what you learn in your current role while balancing work, graduate study, and other commitments.
No prior AI experience is required. This certificate is designed to help current and future business leaders understand how AI is transforming organizations, decision-making, and the future of work.
Rather than focusing on coding or technical development, the program prepares students to evaluate AI opportunities, navigate organizational change, communicate across teams, and lead responsible implementation efforts within business environments. Students build practical, cross-functional skills that help them guide strategy, innovation, and transformation as AI becomes increasingly integrated into business operations.
Students build practical, leadership-focused skills for navigating how AI is changing business strategy, decision-making, and organizational leadership. The program emphasizes real-world application and helps students move beyond basic AI familiarity to confidently evaluate opportunities, guide adoption, and lead change across organizations.
Throughout the program, students develop skills in:
Rather than focusing on coding or technical development, the certificate prepares students to become AI-fluent business leaders who can translate emerging technologies into practical business value.
This certificate approaches AI from a business perspective. Rather than emphasizing programming or developing AI systems, the curriculum focuses on how organizations evaluate AI opportunities, make implementation decisions, manage risk, and use AI responsibly. You'll explore AI alongside business strategy, ethics, innovation, communication, and leadership.
The certificate is designed to fit alongside an existing graduate business program, allowing students to build specialized AI leadership skills without extending into a separate standalone degree experience. Completion timelines may vary depending on course selection and a student’s graduate program schedule.
Most students complete the certificate in approximately nine months, although you may take up to three years depending on your graduate program and course schedule. Because the certificate is designed for current Opus graduate students and alumni, it offers flexibility to complete coursework alongside your professional and academic commitments.
Yes. Current Opus College of Business graduate students can add the Graduate Certificate in Strategic AI for Business to their graduate program. It's an opportunity to add specialized expertise in AI while earning an additional graduate credential.
Connect with our team to talk through your goals, your experience, and whether the St. Thomas Graduate Certificate in Strategic AI for Business is the right next step for you.