<a href="/live/image/gid/730/width/650/112759_109720_DIV-D1-0325-0063.jpg" class="lw_preview_image lw_disable_preview" tabindex="-1"><picture class="lw_image lw_image112759"><source media="(max-width: 500px)" type="image/webp" srcset="/live/image/scale/2x/gid/730/width/500/height/479/crop/1/112759_109720_DIV-D1-0325-0063.rev.1781026372.webp 2x, /live/image/scale/3x/gid/730/width/500/height/479/crop/1/112759_109720_DIV-D1-0325-0063.rev.1781026372.webp 3x" data-origin="responsive"/><source media="(max-width: 500px)" type="image/jpeg" srcset="/live/image/scale/2x/gid/730/width/500/height/479/crop/1/112759_109720_DIV-D1-0325-0063.rev.1781026372.jpg 2x, /live/image/scale/3x/gid/730/width/500/height/479/crop/1/112759_109720_DIV-D1-0325-0063.rev.1781026372.jpg 3x" data-origin="responsive"/><source media="(min-width: 501px)" type="image/webp" srcset="/live/image/scale/2x/gid/730/width/720/height/690/crop/1/112759_109720_DIV-D1-0325-0063.rev.1781026372.webp 2x, /live/image/scale/3x/gid/730/width/720/height/690/crop/1/112759_109720_DIV-D1-0325-0063.rev.1781026372.webp 3x" data-origin="responsive"/><source media="(min-width: 501px)" type="image/jpeg" srcset="/live/image/scale/2x/gid/730/width/720/height/690/crop/1/112759_109720_DIV-D1-0325-0063.rev.1781026372.jpg 2x, /live/image/scale/3x/gid/730/width/720/height/690/crop/1/112759_109720_DIV-D1-0325-0063.rev.1781026372.jpg 3x" data-origin="responsive"/><img src="/live/image/gid/730/width/720/height/690/crop/1/112759_109720_DIV-D1-0325-0063.rev.1781026372.jpg" alt="" width="720" height="690" srcset="/live/image/scale/2x/gid/730/width/720/height/690/crop/1/112759_109720_DIV-D1-0325-0063.rev.1781026372.jpg 2x, /live/image/scale/3x/gid/730/width/720/height/690/crop/1/112759_109720_DIV-D1-0325-0063.rev.1781026372.jpg 3x" data-max-w="3200" data-max-h="2133" loading="lazy" data-optimized="true"/></picture></a> <div class="hero-split_image_caption collapsable-caption"></div>

/ Artificial Intelligence

Artificial Intelligence

Artificial intelligence is a consummate liberal arts topic, involving both technical details and questions about the human world. This interdisciplinary minor, drawing on courses across departments, will give you the understanding you need for a rapidly evolving world.

Why Choose a Minor in Artificial Intelligence?

Artificial intelligence and machine learning, including recent advances like large language models, can no longer be ignored. Knowing how these systems work and thinking critically about how they change the way we live are vital skills. Our minor welcomes students from all majors and encourages them to develop the skills, passion, and wisdom needed to build a better future for everyone.

Apply

Visit

What You’ll Study

Our interdisciplinary curriculum teaches you about how artificial intelligence systems work (and how they are built), including the social and environmental opportunities and threats created by AI. Critical thinking will be needed to separate the powerful new abilities of these systems from the hype and to use these systems responsibly rather than going all-in or completely abstaining.

Outside the classroom, social events include an annual pumpkin carving contest and the legendary Chinese Food and German Board Games parties. The Computer Science department hosts a regular colloquium series featuring presentations by students, faculty, and guest speakers. Our faculty mentor students in research experiences during the academic year and through the paid Rogers Summer Science Program.

Curriculum

<div class="statistics_slide swiper-slide"> <div class="statistics_box" style="text-align:left;"> <div class="statistics_box_inner"> <h4 class="statistics_headline" style="font-size: 3rem;"> Favorite Class </h4> <h6 class="statistics_summary" style="font-size: 2rem;"> <strong>Philosophy: Ethics with Visiting Assistant Professor Eli Lichtenstein</strong> </h6>  <div class="statistics_summary"> <p> I left with a vast array of knowledge and critical-thinking procedures that I was not aware I lacked. What’s more, I got the experience of having a professor who cares about and values his students, and is someone who wants to get involved even outside of class.</p> </div> <div class="profile-box_name" href="/live/profiles/17735-kenan-imamovic"> <a href="/live/profiles/17735-kenan-imamovic">Kenan Imamovic BA ’25</a> </div>  <div class="profile-box_field"> Major: Computer Science and Psychology (double) </div> </div> </div> </div>
<div class="statistics_slide swiper-slide"> <div class="statistics_box" style="text-align:left;"> <div class="statistics_box_inner"> <h4 class="statistics_headline" style="font-size: 3rem;"> Favorite Class </h4> <h6 class="statistics_summary" style="font-size: 2rem;"> <strong>Network Security with Professor of Computer Science Jens Mache</strong> </h6>  <div class="statistics_summary"> <p> This class challenged my problem-solving skills and taught me about the intricacies of our modern network systems. This class was also a lot of fun because, as students, we were able to apply what we learned through real-world scenarios.</p> </div> <div class="profile-box_name" href="/live/profiles/14638-natalie-zoz"> <a href="/live/profiles/14638-natalie-zoz">Natalie Zoz BA ’23</a> </div>  <div class="profile-box_field"> Major: Computer science </div> <div class="profile-box_field"> Minor: Chinese, Data Science (double) </div> </div> </div> </div>
<div class="statistics_slide swiper-slide"> <div class="statistics_box" style="text-align:left;"> <div class="statistics_box_inner"> <h4 class="statistics_headline" style="font-size: 3rem;"> Favorite Class </h4> <h6 class="statistics_summary" style="font-size: 2rem;"> <strong>The Undead in Russian Literature and Film with Assistant Professor Maria Hristova</strong> </h6>  <div class="statistics_summary"> <p> It was a really cool course that blended history and art with a specific focus—pretty different from most of my coursework. We had to submit a creative project that reflected the themes of the class, and I made a video with friends reimagining a short story by Dostoevsky called “Bobok.” We shot it in the graveyard near campus.</p> </div> <div class="profile-box_name" href="/live/profiles/19814-sam-peers-nitzberg"> <a href="/live/profiles/19814-sam-peers-nitzberg">Sam Peers Nitzberg BA ’19</a> </div>  <div class="profile-box_field"> Major: Computer Science and Psychology (double) </div> </div> </div> </div>
<div class="statistics_slide swiper-slide"> <div class="statistics_box" style="text-align:left;"> <div class="statistics_box_inner"> <h4 class="statistics_headline" style="font-size: 3rem;"> Favorite Class </h4> <h6 class="statistics_summary" style="font-size: 2rem;"> <strong>Operating Systems with Computer Science Lecturer Alain Kägi</strong> </h6>  <div class="statistics_summary"> <p> <span style="font-weight: 400;">This class taught me the building blocks of computers, and showed me the assumptions I had about operating systems. I was able to put theory into practice by working on fundamental programming problems.</span> </p> </div> <div class="profile-box_name" href="/live/profiles/14558-carlos-garcia-moran"> <a href="/live/profiles/14558-carlos-garcia-moran">Carlos García Morán BA ’24</a> </div>  <div class="profile-box_field"> Major: Computer Science </div> <div class="profile-box_field"> Minor: Philosophy </div> </div> </div> </div>
<div class="statistics_slide swiper-slide"> <div class="statistics_box" style="text-align:left;"> <div class="statistics_box_inner"> <h4 class="statistics_headline" style="font-size: 3rem;"> Favorite Class </h4> <h6 class="statistics_summary" style="font-size: 2rem;"> <strong>Digital Media with Assistant Professor Brian House</strong> </h6>  <div class="statistics_summary"> <p> The class simultaneously introduced me to the world of coding and expanded my views on what art can be; I have yet to take a class as fun and impactful as that one has been.</p> </div> <div class="profile-box_name" href="/live/profiles/16681-julian-diaz"> <a href="/live/profiles/16681-julian-diaz">Julian Diaz BA ’24</a> </div>  <div class="profile-box_field"> Major: Computer Science </div> <div class="profile-box_field"> Minor: Japanese </div> </div> </div> </div>
<div class="statistics_slide swiper-slide"> <div class="statistics_box" style="text-align:left;"> <div class="statistics_box_inner"> <h4 class="statistics_headline" style="font-size: 3rem;"> Favorite Class </h4> <h6 class="statistics_summary" style="font-size: 2rem;"> <strong>Operating Systems with Assistant Professor Alain Kägi and Computer Security with Professor Jens Mache</strong> </h6>  <div class="statistics_summary"> <p> Both classes were brand new to the computer science department at the time and were taught by two professors I’ve had before. This was the moment when I discovered that there was so much more to computer science than just coding programs.</p> </div> <div class="profile-box_name" href="/live/profiles/19707-ross-miyabuchi"> <a href="/live/profiles/19707-ross-miyabuchi">Ross Miyabuchi BA ’22</a> </div>  <div class="profile-box_field"> Major: Computer Science </div> </div> </div> </div>
<div class="statistics_slide swiper-slide"> <div class="statistics_box" style="text-align:left;"> <div class="statistics_box_inner"> <h4 class="statistics_headline" style="font-size: 3rem;"> Favorite Class </h4> <h6 class="statistics_summary" style="font-size: 2rem;"> <strong>I always had a smile on my face going into my Japanese courses!</strong> </h6>  <div class="statistics_summary"> <p> I love that, over the many courses I took in the Japanese program included plenty of relevant cultural information along with the vocabulary and grammar we were learning. A little bit of folklore here, a little bit of modern Japanese food culture there—we were always learning on multiple fronts, and each class felt like a long, pleasant conversation.</p> </div> <div class="profile-box_name" href="/live/profiles/19756-terin-trachtenberg"> <a href="/live/profiles/19756-terin-trachtenberg">Terin Trachtenberg BA ’21</a> </div>  <div class="profile-box_field"> Major: Computer Science </div> </div> </div> </div>
<div class="statistics_slide swiper-slide"> <div class="statistics_box" style="text-align:left;"> <div class="statistics_box_inner"> <h4 class="statistics_headline" style="font-size: 3rem;"> Favorite Class </h4> <h6 class="statistics_summary" style="font-size: 2rem;"> <strong>Screenwriting by Fernley Phillips</strong> </h6>  <div class="statistics_summary"> <p> Fernley has so much insight about breaking into the industry and how to write a spec script. Most of the class is focused on writing and workshopping our own screenplays, which includes reading them aloud and discussing them as a class. It’s so much fun to hear everyone’s ideas and see their screenplays come to fruition.</p> </div> <div class="profile-box_name" href="/live/profiles/14637-william-lew"> <a href="/live/profiles/14637-william-lew">William Lew BA ’23</a> </div>  <div class="profile-box_field"> Major: Computer science </div> </div> </div> </div>
<div class="statistics_slide swiper-slide"> <div class="statistics_box" style="text-align:left;"> <div class="statistics_box_inner"> <h4 class="statistics_headline" style="font-size: 3rem;"> Favorite Class </h4> <h6 class="statistics_summary" style="font-size: 2rem;"> <strong>Culture and Power in the Middle East</strong> </h6>  <div class="statistics_summary"> <p> I really enjoyed what I was learning in Culture and Power in the Middle East.</p> </div> <div class="profile-box_name" href="/live/profiles/21550-jermisha-hinton"> <a href="/live/profiles/21550-jermisha-hinton">Jermisha Hinton BA ’25</a> </div>  <div class="profile-box_field"> Major: Computer Science </div> <div class="profile-box_field"> Minor: Rhetoric and Media Studies </div> </div> </div> </div>

Complement Your Education With One of These Majors

The most popular majors for our artificial intelligence minors are computer science, data science, and mathematics.

What Students Are Saying About Lewis & Clark

In the words of Peter Drake, I fell in love with computer science and math because of its ability to “automate the boring parts”.
Olivia Townsend BA ’26
Computer Science and Mathematics | Health Studies, Data Science | Reston, Virginia
More about Olivia
I appreciate the range of academic possibilities available at L&C, no matter your declared path and major.
Kenan Imamovic BA ’25
Computer Science and Psychology (double) | Tuzla, Bosnia and Herzegovina
More about Kenan
My favorite class has been Network Security with Professor Jens Mache. This class challenged me, taught me about the intricacies of modern network systems, and allowed me to apply what I learned to real-world scenarios.
Natalie Zoz BA ’23
Computer science | Chinese, Data Science (double) | Lincoln, Nebraska
More about Natalie

What Can You Do With a Degree in AI?

The artificial intelligence minor is a new program, but we can say that L&C alumni use their bachelor’s degree in a variety of careers in research, academia, and at companies such as Nike, Suplari, Downstream, and Mentor Graphics. Many start their own companies, or go on to pursue advanced degrees.

Dedicated Faculty

Our professors are your expert mentors. You will learn directly from faculty (no graduate assistants here!) that are nationally recognized in their fields of study and who love to work with and learn from their students. Your professors will inspire you to be a thoughtful and passionate participant in a diverse world. Your small classes will support you as you explore new ideas, find your voice, and speak your truth.

Meet the Professors

Invest in Yourself

A private liberal arts education is often more affordable than you think. Last year, Lewis & Clark distributed over $74 million in assistance from institutional, federal, state, and private sources. Additionally, we’re so confident that our first-year students will graduate in four years with their bachelor of arts degree that if you don’t, we’ll cover the extra semester of tuition.

Find Your People

The student-run Math Club and the student chapter of the Association for Computing Machinery organize social and academic events, including hackathons, workshops, and game jams.

L&C laid the groundwork of my acting training, and introduced me to the theatre community in Portland. I used that training o prepare myself for grad school auditions, and I’m now at Yale School of Drama.
Liam Beveridge BA ’20
Theatre and Computer Science (double) | Seattle, Washington
More about Liam
Lewis & Clark really helped me to learn how to be a team player, and I think that experience will be invaluable in my career. Beyond just learning about how to write code, I also learned how to talk about it to others and how to accept guidance and criticism from peers.
Terin Trachtenberg BA ’21
Computer Science | Lincoln City, Oregon
More about Terin
Computer science is the future! Well, more or less. Technology will always be evolving and I want to be there with it.
Ross Miyabuchi BA ’22
Computer Science | Maui, Hawai’i
More about Ross

Featured News

Each of the new minors helps prepare students for a wide range of paths after graduation.

Four New Minors Expand Academic Paths

Lewis & Clark is expanding its curriculum with four new minors in law and policy, education, cybersecurity, and artificial intelligence. Together, they give students fresh ways to connect a liberal arts education to rapidly changing fields and meaningful careers.

Read the story

Majors

Minors