Smith AI Fellows

Artificial Intelligence is reshaping modern enterprise across every dimension, from decision-making to product development, customer experience, and organizational leadership. Across industries such as financial services, healthcare, retail, and logistics, AI-driven tools, automation, and intelligent systems are fundamentally transforming how work gets done and how value is created.

Are you passionate about learning how AI and emerging technologies can drive innovation and competitive advantage in business?

Unlock your potential to:

  • Combine business strategy, data fluency, AI literacy, and communication skills to become a future leader.
  • Understand how to apply artificial intelligence to create measurable business value.
  • Develop a technical and domain-specific understanding of AI and its applications, including:
    • Generative AI and large language models in business contexts
    • AI-driven data analytics and business intelligence
    • Designing Agentic AI systems for businesses
    • AI ethics, governance, and responsible deployment
    • Automation and intelligent process transformation

Professors Zeinab Karake and Louiqa Raschid are the faculty champions for Smith AI Fellows.

Smith AI Fellows: One-Year Curriculum

SemesterCourses
FallBMGT301 – Information Systems, AI, and Digital Transformation*
BMGT302F – Essential Programming and AI Skills for Business Analytics
BMGT398I – AI Fellows: Emerging Topics I (1 credit)
SpringBMGT398K – AI Fellows: Emerging Topics II (1 credit)
BMGT402F – AI Augmented Database Systems

*BMGT301 is preferred before starting the program. If not completed beforehand, students may take BMGT301 concurrently with BMGT302F and BMGT398I in the fall.

Spring Study Abroad: Pre-approval is required. Contact Professor Karake at zkarake@umd.edu.

Co-Curricular Activities

  • Co-curricular activities with a dual focus on AI technology and organizational strategy.
  • Smith AI Fellows are encouraged to represent the Smith School and to participate in relevant case competitions and AI-in-business challenges, including the CoMIS case competition.

Companies Where Our Student Fellows Have Interned or Received Full-Time Offers:

  • Deloitte
  • KPMG
  • Accenture
  • PwC
  • Grant Thornton LLP
  • Google
  • Amazon

Smith AI Fellows: Eligibility & Application

EligibilityApplication Requirements
Open to: All business majorsOnline Application Form
Internal Transfer Applicants: Students applying to Smith as an internal transfer may apply. Acceptance is contingent on admission to the Smith School.Cover Letter: Maximum 2 pages, addressed to the faculty champions. Details about what to include in the cover letter can be found on the application.
Submit as a PDF.
Minimum GPA: 3.0Resume: Submit as a PDF.
BMGT301 is preferred before starting the program. If not completed beforehand, students may take BMGT301 concurrently with BMGT302F and BMGT398I in the fall.File Format: Cover letter and resume must be submitted as PDFs via the application form.

Questions? Contact smithfellows@umd.edu.

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