Artificial intelligence impacts nearly every industry, process and facet of life, as Dr. Yasamin Hadavi, assistant professor of information systems and analytics at Marquette University, can attest.
Through her extensive research on the topic, Hadavi knows firsthand the exciting opportunities and key considerations that come with the integration of AI in businesses and our everyday lives. As a core contributor to the creation of Marquette Business’s new Artificial Intelligence in Business major, Hadavi shares insight into its creation and how the major will prepare future professionals to lead ethically in today’s AI-integrated business world.
What inspired the creation of the Artificial Intelligence in Business (AIBU) major?
The artificial intelligence revolution is not merely a technical shift; it is a fundamental transformation of global economies and social structures. The AIBU major at Marquette was conceived to provide students with more than just technical literacy. It offers ground-breaking insight into how AI tools are actively re-engineering the DNA of modern business.
The primary catalyst for this major was the growing disparity between rapid technological advancement and the available talent pool. As organizations pivot toward AI in pursuit of competitive advantage, the demand for “AI-fluent” candidates has reached a critical threshold. We are at a turning point where practical AI knowledge is no longer a luxury but a professional necessity, and Marquette is investing heavily in faculty and resources to innovate student learning, faculty exploration, and industry partnership in the age of AI.
How does the AIBU major incorporate Marquette’s Catholic, Jesuit values?
Beyond technical proficiency, the AIBU major was inspired by the need for ethical stewardship. In an era where algorithms can influence everything from hiring biases to credit scores, the world doesn’t just need smart employees — it needs wise leaders. The AIBU major ensures students don’t just ask, “Can we build this?” but rather “Should we build this, and how does it serve the common good?” This focus on responsible AI use prepares graduates to lead with integrity.
What unique skills can students expect to gain through this major?
Students in the AIBU major will graduate with a unique set of skills that bridge the gap between technical data science and strategic business leadership. Beyond basic interactions, students master generative intelligence and prompt engineering — the art and science of crafting high-precision inputs to elicit optimal outputs from Large Language Models (LLMs). This skill transforms AI from a simple search tool into a sophisticated co-pilot for business problem-solving.
Secondly, students gain hands-on experience with applied machine learning & model governance by working with diverse datasets to deploy and evaluate supervised machine learning algorithms. The curriculum focuses on Model Evaluation and Data Quality Assessment, teaching students to identify the specific conditions under which AI provides a competitive advantage versus when it might introduce risk.
Thirdly, the major empowers students to develop functional business applications using Low-Code/No-Code environments. By exploring “Vibe Coding” — using natural language and intuitive design to guide code generation — students learn how technical logic is applied through modern, AI-assisted development workflows.
Lastly, a core competency of the Marquette graduate is ethical AI leadership. Students learn to evaluate the transparency, fairness, and bias of data and algorithms, ensuring they can lead AI initiatives that are socially responsible and aligned with organizational values.
How will this major prepare students for success after graduation?
The AIBU major is specifically designed to transform students into AI-literate business leaders who can navigate the complexities of a highly automated corporate landscape. Graduates will be prepared for success through strategic decision-making, model governance and a balanced perspective. They are trained to maximize the competitive advantages of AI (such as predictive analytics and operational efficiency) while remaining aware of its limitations (such as hallucinations, data drift and “garbage-in, garbage-out” risks).
What sets Marquette’s program apart?
Marquette’s AIBU major is a distinctive program that balances technical proficiency with the ethical framework required of modern business leaders. Marquette is truly leading the charge in redefining how business and technology intersect. While many institutions are just beginning to integrate AI, Marquette has established it as a dedicated, standalone major within the College of Business Administration — one of the first of its kind in the nation.
What advice would you give to students interested in enrolling in this major?
If you are considering a major in Artificial Intelligence in Business, my advice is to hold a flexible mindset and get comfortable with ambiguity. This major is for those who are eager to “unlearn” old methods and embrace a state of constant evolution. You aren’t just learning a subject; you are learning how to learn at the speed of technology.
This program is not designed to teach you how to offload your workload to an algorithm. It is designed to empower you to use AI with awareness and responsibility. The most successful students will be those who use AI to amplify their own creativity and analytical depth, rather than using it as a substitute for critical thought.
There is a common saying in the industry: “AI won’t replace you, but a person using AI will.” If rely solely on the output of the tool, you become replaceable. This major gives you the “under-the-hood” knowledge — the understanding of algorithms, data quality and ethics — that makes you indispensable.
Finally, come prepared to be the “moral compass” of your future organization. As an AIBU major, you will often be the most knowledgeable person in the room regarding AI. Use that power to advocate for fairness, transparency and human-centric solutions.
Learn more about the Artificial Intelligence in Business major launching in Fall 2026.
