Howard University Brings Applied AI to HBCU Classrooms with Game-Changing CodePath Partnership
Howard University will launch an “Intro to Artificial Intelligence” course in spring 2026, partnering with CodePath and with financial support from the Thurgood Marshall College Fund, according to a press release shared with AfroTech.
Howard faculty and CodePath’s faculty network will jointly teach instruction spanning data structures, AI literacy, and agentic workflows, the release said. The program positions applied AI-assisted software development inside a core academic setting rather than treating it as an extracurricular credential. “Our work is rooted in the idea that HBCUs are not only equipping students for coursework but also building skills vital to succeeding and leading in the workplace,” said Dr. Harry L. Williams, TMCF president and CEO, in the press release. “Through programs like this and professional development such as what our Innovation & Partnership arm provides, our HBCUs are elevating excellence and creating pathways to opportunity in the fields that are defining the economy of the future.”
Howard said enrolled students will receive free access to Claude Code during the instruction period. The release said students will complete a portfolio-ready project intended to demonstrate “competency in real-life AI applications.”
“Howard has a long history of preparing students to not just succeed in today’s jobs, but to become leaders in the economy of tomorrow,” said Dean of the College of Engineering and Architecture Kimberly L. Jones, Ph.D., according to the news release.
“Building on many years of introducing students to traditional AI concepts, this course has been reimagined to reflect AI’s ongoing evolution and respond to what our students are asking for, and what employers now expect. By embedding applied AI directly into the curriculum, students who have successfully completed the class have both the foundational knowledge and the practical experience to lead in an AI-driven world of work.”
What does it all mean?
The partnership reflects how AI tooling has shifted from a specialized research track to an expectation across mainstream software engineering roles. Curriculum changes now often follow employer screening practices, where portfolios and applied workflows can carry as much signal as course titles. CodePath’s role highlights a broader redistribution of curricular influence. Third-party training organizations increasingly shape what gets taught in credit-bearing environments, especially when paired with philanthropic capital that underwrites buildout and access. The inclusion of Claude Code connects the course to a fast-moving vendor ecosystem competing for mindshare in education. Free access during instruction creates early familiarity with a specific toolchain, a pattern common in enterprise software adoption. Howard, CodePath, and TMCF said they plan to continue working together to identify additional courses or programs “that align,” according to the release.
