New MBA elective prepares students for an AI-driven workplace

Artificial intelligence is reshaping fields ranging from healthcare and government contracting to manufacturing and education, making AI fluency an increasingly important skill for business leaders.

To meet that demand, James Madison University’s MBA program piloted a new elective course, MBA 678: Special Topic: Introduction to AI Practices in Business, co-led by Dr. Matt Rutherford and Dr. Mert Tokman.

“Our MBA students are already working across industries being transformed by AI,” said Tokman. “They all need AI fluency, which is quickly becoming as fundamental as financial literacy. It’s part of being a credible decision-maker when technology, strategy and ethics intersect.”

The course emphasizes hands-on learning, with students working directly with a range of AI tools and models through practical exercises, group assignments and conversations with industry guest speakers.

For MBA student Toffene Dione, the course provided an opportunity to move beyond basic familiarity with tools like ChatGPT and explore how AI can be applied more intentionally.

“One of the most valuable things I learned was how AI can help organize ideas, improve research and increase productivity,” Dione said. 

The experience also inspired Dione to pursue a project called Smart Africa Agri, a platform designed to use AI to support farmers with decision-making, production guidance and access to resources.

Doreen Liccione, another MBA student, said the course stood out for its immediate relevance and practical value.

“This was one of my favorite courses,” Liccione said. “I often left class excited to apply what I learned. I was able to make immediate improvements to processes in my office and share what I learned with colleagues.”

While much of the course focuses on application, Tokman emphasized that understanding the broader implications of AI is equally important. “The goal is for students to leave with the ability to ask better questions about ethics, regulation and real business use cases, not just to use the technology itself.”

Because AI continues to evolve rapidly, the course is designed to adapt alongside it. “Every day a new model or tool is going live. We framed the coursework to help students become comfortable researching and understanding how to use new tools as they become available,” said Rutherford.  

As organizations increasingly rely on artificial intelligence to drive innovation and efficiency, the JMU MBA program is positioning its graduates to lead in an environment where understanding AI is no longer optional, but essential.

In the spirit of this article, Microsoft CoPilot was used to help synthesize interviews and create this article.