Course Syllabus
Welcome to CS205: Building with Artificial Intelligence
Specific information about this course and its requirements can be found below. For more general information about taking Saylor Academy courses, including information about Community and Academic Codes of Conduct, please read the Student Handbook.
Course Description
Get a broad, foundational introduction to the rapidly evolving field of artificial intelligence by learning how to build intelligent software solutions in today's business applications.
Course Introduction
After using a really smart app that produced amazing results within seconds, you must have asked yourself: "How did it do that?" After you take this course, you will be able to start answering that question yourself! This course provides you with the fundamentals of the rapidly evolving field of artificial intelligence. Topics we will cover include:
- Intelligent Agents
- Various kinds of machine learning models
- Search algorithms (including heuristic and uninformed search)
- Iterative improvement algorithms
- Game playing, logic and automated reasoning
- Knowledge bases
- Natural language processing, including generative AI
- Reasoning under uncertainty
You will need to know how to program in a modern language like Python, C#, or Java, and how to apply libraries that are readily available to apply the concepts you learn.
Course Learning Outcomes
Upon successful completion of this course, you will be able to:
- Analyze the definition of "intelligence", from the Turing test to the four basic orientations of modern AI
- Analyze the concept of "agents" in contemporary AI business solutions
- Analyze the different types of "agents" and their capabilities
- Describe the different kinds of machine learning algorithms and their significance in building AI business solutions
- Apply supervised machine learning algorithms and contemporary libraries to build AI business solutions
- Explain the principles of unsupervised machine learning and reinforcement learning models
- Apply general AI-based problem-solving methods and their computational characteristics
- Apply heuristically based search algorithms to improve their optimality
- Apply natural language processing concepts and techniques with existing libraries for analysis and generative applications
- Discuss the principles of logical reasoning and reasoning under uncertainty
- Explain the basics of two-person, adversarial game-playing
Throughout this course, you will also see learning outcomes in each unit to help organize your studies and gauge your progress.
Course Materials
This course's primary learning materials are articles, lectures, and videos. All course materials are free to access and can be found in each unit of the course. Pay close attention to the notes that accompany these course materials to understand how they fit into the course as a whole. You can see a list of all the learning materials in this course by clicking on Resources in the navigation bar.
Evaluation and Minimum Passing Score
Only the final exam is considered when awarding you a grade for this course. To pass this course, you will need to earn a 70% or higher on the final exam. If you do not pass on your first try, you may retake the exam with a 7-day waiting period between each attempt. After passing, you will be awarded a free Course Completion Certificate.
Tips for Success
CS205: Building with Artificial Intelligence is a self-paced course. There is no instructor or assigned schedule, but the average student will take 48 hours to complete this course. We recommend setting a study schedule and making regular progress. Here are some strategies to help you succeed:
- Take notes on important terms, practices, and theories to help contextualize each concept and create a study refresher.
- Test yourself regularly on the material to reinforce your understanding and long-term memory.
Technical Requirements
This course is delivered entirely online. You will need a computer or web-capable mobile device with consistent internet access to view or download resources and complete assessments. To access all course features, including assessments, ensure you are logged into your Saylor Academy account. Create a free account here.
Fees
This course is free to enroll in and access. All materials, including the final exam and completion certificate, are available at no cost.
Saylor Study Assistant
Important AI Disclaimer
Although the Study Assistant provides valuable insights, it is still evolving, and not all answers may be perfectly aligned with the course objectives. If you ever come across discrepancies between the assistant's advice and the content provided, default to the course's official materials for accuracy. Remember, the assistant is a tool to assist your learning, but it does not replace the comprehensive resources designed by the course creators.