Course Overview
This course introduces students to the use of generative AI in content creation, focusing on how advanced AI models can be leveraged to produce text, images, audio, and other forms of media. Students will explore AI-driven tools that enhance creativity, streamline workflows, and support diverse content needs across industries. Through hands-on exercises, case studies, and ethical discussions, students will learn how to apply generative AI responsibly and effectively in areas such as marketing, digital media, and storytelling. The course emphasizes practical skills while also considering the ethical and societal implications of AI-generated content.
All students who successfully complete the course will receive a Certificate of Completion and have the opportunity to request a Syracuse University credit or noncredit transcript.
Learning Objectives
- Understand the underlying technologies powering generative AI models, such as GPT, GANs, and transformer-based architectures, and how they generate various forms of content.
- Gain hands-on experience with popular generative AI platforms (e.g., ChatGPT, DALL-E, Stable Diffusion) to create text, images, and other multimedia assets suitable for digital content creation.
- Analyze real-world examples of AI-driven content creation in industries such as advertising, journalism, and social media.
- Discuss key ethical concerns, including authenticity, copyright, and potential biases in AI-generated content.
Course Information
Course Prefix and Number: TBD
Format: Online
Eligibility: Students must be of rising high school sophomore, junior, or senior status – or a 2025 high school graduate.
Credit: 3 credits or noncredit
Grading:
- Credit: A-F
- Noncredit: Pass/Fail
3 Credits: $3,165
Noncredit: $1,995
Program Information
Summer College – Online: Explore college life before stepping foot on campus! High school students can enroll in a college-level course, pursue their academic interests, and meet likeminded students in daily virtual events and activities.
“Syracuse University Summer College – Online was a way to experience what taking classes at Syracuse would be like. I was able to interact with other possible classmates and get to know professors and former students which gave me a greater understanding of what kinds of people I would be interacting with.”
—Aiden J., Summer College – Online Student, 2020
Course Dates and Details
| Program | Course Dates | Synchronous Class Time (Eastern Time) | Credit/Noncredit |
|---|---|---|---|
| Summer College – Online | 3-Week Online Session I: Monday, July 7 – Friday, July 25, 2025 | Tuesdays; 9 a.m. – Noon | 3 credits or Noncredit |
To see if this course is ‘open,’ refer to the full course catalog.
Course Requirements
Required Supplies
Please know that any supply purchases are not included in the overall tuition fee. Students will need to budget for additional course supplies, textbooks, supply kits, etc.
Students need a computer with Internet access. The computer should have a camera, audio, and video capabilities for Zoom sessions. Students should have basic computer literacy.
Textbook Requirement
Creative Prototyping with Generative AI
- ISBN: 9781484295809
- Author: Patrick Parra Pennefather
- Publication Date: 2023-01-01
- Edition: 1st
Typical Day
Tentative Schedule
A typical class session for Generative AI for Content Creation: Innovation and Practical Application would likely include the following components to provide a balance of theory, hands-on practice, and collaborative learning:
- Introduce the day’s topic, including specific tools, concepts, and applications of generative AI for content creation.
- Present the core concepts of generative AI being covered that day
- Showcase an AI tool (e.g., ChatGPT, DALL-E, Midjourney) to generate content, walking through a step-by-step guide on configuring prompts, selecting settings, and interpreting outputs.
- Show real-world examples of generative AI in content creation, including marketing campaigns, creative writing, or visual storytelling, to highlight industry applications.
- Students log into a generative AI tool (or use one provided in class) to create their own piece of content based on prompts or parameters you assign, such as crafting social media content, blog posts, or visuals.
- Students work in pairs or small groups to brainstorm ideas, create variations on generated content, and share feedback on how each output meets (or doesn’t meet) creative objectives.
When class is over, and on weekends, students can look forward to various Summer College virtual activities to meet and connect with other students across the world. Check out our Virtual Campus Experience page for more information!
Faculty Bios
Rupananda (Rupa) Misra
I am an Associate Teaching Professor in the Master of Business and Science (MBS) program at Rutgers University, where I teach and oversee the User Experience Design and Product Design concentrations. I hold a master’s degree in communications/journalism from Fort Hays State University and a doctoral degree in Education from Teachers College, Columbia University. Additionally, I completed a post-doctoral National Library of Medicine (NIH) fellowship in Health Informatics at Columbia University.
With over 25 years of teaching experience and more than 12 years of research consulting with doctoral students at Columbia, I am committed to mentoring students through complex projects, helping them build the confidence and skills needed to address real-world challenges.
In my courses, I emphasize practical, hands-on experiences where students tackle real-world design challenges. They conduct primary research to understand user behaviors, motivations, and needs, employing methods such as field visits, ethnography, and surveys. Their findings culminate in both written reports and interactive prototypes, providing a comprehensive learning experience in user-centered design.
My passion lies in developing innovative design solutions for complex health problems, with a specific focus on technology-mediated information interventions that support effective decision-making and behavior change. I bring extensive expertise in web/mobile technologies, databases, human-computer interaction, and design thinking.
In addition to publishing a book, eight peer-reviewed papers (including three book chapters), and presenting at eight conferences, I’ve had the privilege of teaching in diverse settings, further refining my approach to impactful, inclusive education.