Curious about AI but not sure where to start? This fall, the School of Computing is offering a series of introductory AI courses designed for undergraduate students from all faculties and programs. Whether you’re studying Arts, Science, Business, Engineering, Health Sciences, or anywhere in between, these courses will help you understand how AI works and how to use it effectively in your studies and future career (no programming experience required).
New and Returning Courses for Fall 2026
ARIN 100 – Fundamentals of Artificial Intelligence
Learn the foundations of modern AI, how today’s AI systems work, and how to use them effectively and responsibly. Explore the history of AI, ethical considerations, and the growing impact of AI across education, industry, and everyday life.
ARIN 101 – Artificial Intelligence in Society
Discover how AI is shaping society through social media, business, law, and public life. Topics include generative AI, bias and fairness, ethics, public perceptions, and the opportunities and challenges AI presents for the future.
ARIN 121 – Algorithmic Problem Solving with Artificial Intelligence
Develop computational thinking skills by learning how to solve problems using Large Language Models (LLMs) and generative AI tools. You’ll learn how to break down complex problems, design effective prompts, and apply practical problem-solving techniques—all without needing prior coding experience.
These courses combine practical, hands-on learning with an accessible introduction to AI concepts, helping you build valuable skills that are increasingly relevant across every discipline.
Course Information
- Course Codes: ARIN 100, ARIN 101, ARIN 121
- Units: 3.0
- Prerequisites: None
- Who Can Take Them: Undergraduate students from any faculty or program
- Programming Experience Required: No
Whether you’re looking to better understand AI, strengthen your digital literacy, or prepare for an AI-enabled workplace, these courses provide an excellent place to start.
We hope you’ll consider adding one of these courses to your Fall 2026 schedule. For further information or to discuss integration opportunities within your programs, please feel free to contact the School of Computing at advising@cs.queensu.ca
For more information on the differences between each course, please refer to the chart below:
| ARIN 100 | ARIN 101 | ARIN 121 | |
| Main Topics | History of AI How AI works, explained for a non-technical audience. Ethical issues and concerns. Guest lecturers explaining AI’s effect on specific fields. | Current social controversies around AI, including data centers, surveillance, AI art, and autonomous weapons. Some topics can be chosen by the class. | Computational thinking and problem solving. Working with LLMs and generative AI. Designing effective prompts and workflows. Introduction to coding concepts using AI. |
| AI Use? | Learning to use AI is not the primary focus, and personal use of AI is not mandatory, but plenty of advice will be given about effective, thoughtful, and ethical use. | This course is not about personal use of AI, but about understanding broader social changes and thinking critically. | AI is used throughout the course as a practical tool for solving problems and developing simple programs. Students learn how to use it effectively and responsibly. |
| Assessment | Tests and final exam, with a combination of factual questions and open-ended questions designed to allow imagination and reflection. | Tests with both factual questions and open-ended reflection questions, as well as a participation mark for technology-mediated class discussion. | Tests focused on computational thinking and problem solving. Hands-on assignments and practical exercises using AI. |
| Prerequisites | Not currently required for any other course. | Required for ARIN 201 and 210. | Not currently required for any other course. |