Northwestern University in Qatar has launched a new minor in artificial intelligence (AI) and media, designed to equip students with technical skills and ethical understanding to navigate the rapidly evolving intersection of AI, media, and communication.
The new minor is part of the University’s commitment to advancing excellence in education by integrating rigorous academic and ethical standards, offering students an opportunity to engage with a diverse range of courses tailored to the unique challenges and opportunities in AI and media industries. It allows students to conduct scientific data analyses, apply data science skills to communication and media studies, and critically evaluate the ethical and social implications of AI in the media landscape.
Combining both scientific and humanistic approaches, the program addresses critical skills required in media-related fields, including AI tools for media design, data journalism, digital ethics, automated journalism, and strategic communication. All courses for the minor will be offered by Northwestern Qatar, with potential courses available at other Education City universities for cross-registration.
"With AI transforming the media landscape, our new minor empowers students to critically engage with these technological developments while maintaining a robust ethical foundation,” said Dean Marwan M. Kraidy of Northwestern Qatar. “This minor is aligned with Northwestern Qatar’s mission to advance academic excellence and contribute to a well-informed and innovative media environment in Qatar and beyond. Our students will be equipped to navigate the complex realities of AI in media with both intellectual rigor and ethical responsibility.
Designed by a multidisciplinary team of faculty with expertise in AI and media, the minor offers students an immersive educational experience, featuring courses such as “AI and Machine Learning”, “AI Tools for Digital Media Design,” "Digital Media Ethics," "Automated Journalism," "AI and Cyberpolitics," "GenAI and Natural Language Processing in Media Innovation," and “Datafication and Society.” The curriculum is structured to support students with understanding AI’s technical aspects alongside its social, cultural, and ethical dimensions.
“This minor is aligned with Northwestern Qatar’s mission to advance academic excellence and contribute to a well informed and innovative media environment in Qatar and beyond. Our students will be equipped to navigate the complex realities of AI in media with both intellectual rigor and ethical responsibility.”
The program leverages faculty expertise in areas such as AI deepfakes and disinformation, digital media ethics, and innovation in strategic communication further enriches the program, providing a comprehensive approach to AI education within the context of media studies.
Associate Dean for Education S. Venus Jin emphasized the collaborative and community-oriented aspects of the minor. “The AI and Media minor equips students with essential skills and also encourages them to think critically about the broader social impact of AI in media,” said Jin. “By learning to make informed and ethical decisions in AI applications, our students will become thoughtful leaders in a field that is increasingly shaping public perception and cultural narratives.”
A unique feature of the minor is its interdisciplinary nature, allowing students to choose from courses across multiple disciplines, such as communication, journalism, strategic communication, and liberal arts.
This new minor is the latest addition to Northwestern Qatar's diverse academic offerings, reflecting the University’s commitment to delivering a multifaceted and comprehensive education. Alongside the AI and Media minor, students at Northwestern Qatar can choose from a range of other minors, including Film and Design, Strategic Communication, Middle East Studies, Africana Studies, and Media and Politics.
These programs provide students with an interdisciplinary toolkit that prepares them to engage with global media, cultural narratives, and critical issues shaping contemporary society. Together, these offerings underscore the University's dedication to advancing academic excellence, ethical leadership, and innovative thinking in a complex media landscape.
