Eastern West Virginia Community & Technical College (Eastern) is enrolling students for its new Artificial Intelligence Certificate in Applied Science program, which begins in the fall 2026 semester. The certificate is West Virginia’s first undergraduate AI certificate program.
Eastern was awarded a $169,440 Technical Program Development Grant from the West Virginia Council for Community and Technical College Education (WVCCTCE) last August to develop the curriculum, which has since received approval from both the state and the Higher Learning Commission. The program moves from vision to reality this fall under the leadership of Eastern President Dr. Thomas Striplin, who championed it from its inception.
The fully online, 30-credit-hour certificate is a one-year program. Upon completion, students will be equipped to use AI ethically, write Python programs using libraries such as NumPy and Pandas, apply machine learning algorithms, and efficiently leverage AI across various industries. Classes will be taught by Deepak Mehra, Ph.D., who was hired by Eastern to develop and instruct the program.
“Every industry needs people who understand AI,” Mehra said. “In one year, our students go from their first line of Python to building machine learning models and pitching real AI solutions to business audiences — practical skills employers are hiring for right now.”
Eastern offers in-state tuition rates to out-of-state students enrolled in fully online programs. Tuition for the AI program is $193 per credit hour. Additionally, Eastern’s Workforce Education department will introduce a stackable micro-credential in artificial intelligence designed to run alongside the credit-bearing program.
To learn more about the program, visit easternwv.edu/artificial-intelligence/.