Empowering the next generation of leaders who learn by doing, the University of Maryland’s Robert H. Smith School of Business is excited to announce enhancements to its curricula and the renaming of four graduate programs, placing human ingenuity at the core of its artificial intelligence and business curriculum.
The revised degree names include the Master of Science in Information Systems & AI and Master of Science in Business Analytics & AI, as well as Smith’s Online Master of Science in Business Analytics & AI and Online Master of Science in Information Systems & AI programs.
With this refresh, the Smith School underscores its commitment to remain at the forefront of emerging technologies and their impact on business, while also recognizing AI’s potential as a catalyst for tangible value creation in a reshaped business world.
Smith School Dean and Professor of Information Systems Prabhudev Konana says the changes reflect the Smith School’s emphasis and reputation for delivering consequential instruction with deep research that explores AI’s capabilities, ultimately helping industry and government stakeholders harness the technology’s full potential.
“I am excited that the new names of our programs reflect enhanced curricula built around AI and emerging capabilities like Agentic AI, while continuing to develop talent grounded in human skills, creativity and curiosity to drive value creation,” says Konana.
These latest changes reflect the Smith School’s continued embrace of AI, integrating it into cutting-edge instruction and experiential learning opportunities that prepare students to use it in their careers and everyday lives. One notable undergraduate student project, featured on CBS News, involved partnering with the Capital Area Food Bank to develop a 24/7 voice assistant to address food insecurity in the DC metro area.
Smith Associate Dean of MS Programs Emanuel Zur notes the significance of the level of exposure to AI that students across all levels at Smith have received through coursework and experiential learning.
Instilling that familiarity and building that knowledge foundation ensures that Smith graduates “are not only smart users of AI in the marketplace, but leaders who can strategically apply and shape these technologies,” he says.
“These programs elevate that preparation, positioning graduates to move beyond being informed users of AI to becoming leaders who drive innovation and impact in an AI-enabled economy,” says Zur.
One example of the Smith School’s commitment to AI education is its Artificial Intelligence and Career Empowerment Online Certificate, designed for professionals transitioning from federal civil service to build AI literacy. Since launching in May 2025, the free online certificate course has supported more than 37,000 learners worldwide.
In spring 2024, the Smith School also announced the creation of its Center for Artificial Intelligence in Business, working in conjunction with UMD’s Artificial Intelligence Interdisciplinary Institute to conduct research and outreach to realize the potential of AI through intentional design and governance frameworks centered on human judgment and creativity.
The center’s annual AI Symposium on Design and Governance serves as a forum for business and policy leaders to convene, share insights, address societal grand challenges and formulate AI-driven strategies across industries such as healthcare, education and government. This year’s event is tentatively scheduled for April 3, 2026.
Media Contact
Greg Muraski
Media Relations Manager
301-405-5283
301-892-0973 Mobile
gmuraski@umd.edu
About the University of Maryland's Robert H. Smith School of Business
The Robert H. Smith School of Business is an internationally recognized leader in management education and research. One of 12 colleges and schools at the University of Maryland, College Park, the Smith School offers undergraduate, full-time and flex MBA, executive MBA, online MBA, business master’s, PhD and executive education programs, as well as outreach services to the corporate community. The school offers its degree, custom and certification programs in learning locations in North America and Asia.