Delaware and Chester Counties, PA)—Returning to college to add fresh skills to her resume after taking a break to raise her daughter, Esra Yilmaz believed DCCC’s Certificate of Competency in Artificial Intelligence (AI) Foundations was the best way to start her new chapter. “One of the things I appreciated most about the program was that it was designed for beginners. Even someone with no prior knowledge of AI could easily understand the material because the concepts were explained in a clear and accessible way.”  

Charles Schnur, a higher education administrator, agrees. While his background isn’t in technology, AI has become part of his daily work. He is completing the same certificate this month. “The courses ground you in what’s real—what AI can and can’t do yet, the ethics, the terminology and more,” he says. “In the workplace, you’ll know the right questions to ask before an AI tool is adopted.”

The US East Coast is home to two-thirds of Artificial Intelligence job postings nationwide and over 90% of AI startup activity, according to a July 2025 Brookings Institution report. Last January, DCCC became the first community college in Pennsylvania to offer low-cost certificate programs in AI.

DCCC’s three-course, nine-credit Artificial Intelligence (AI) Foundations Certificate is a concise introduction to AI, equipping students with the knowledge necessary to understand AI technologies in fields such as healthcare, finance, manufacturing and security. Delving deeper into the algorithms and techniques of AI, the Artificial Intelligence Specialist Certificate is for those who possess introductory programming skills and basic math knowledge.

Though the AI certificates are new this year, DCCC has a history of offering on-trend Computer Science degrees and certificates. In 2023 the College launched its associate degree in Applied Science in Cloud Computing as well as two certificates in the discipline.

“The Computer Science classes at DCCC set you up well to get your certifications, such as Microsoft Azure,” says 2024 DCCC graduate Rachel Day, an information security analyst for The Drexelbrook, a large event venue in Drexel Hill. “The College is also very focused on getting students involved in jobs, internships and co-ops.”

Current DCCC Network Engineering major Jaleel Whaley recently completed a summer IT internship with the County of Delaware, an opportunity he found through DCCC’s Office of Cooperative Education & Internships.

“DCCC provided an opportunity that truly changed my life,” he says. “Working alongside the County’s IT team helped me develop invaluable technical and problem-solving skills while confirming that IT is where I want to build my future.”
He adds, “DCCC’s Computer Science program gave me the opportunity to explore many areas of technology in a beginner-friendly environment. By building my skills one step at a time, I gained the confidence and technical foundation that helped me thrive during my internship.”

For more information on DCCC’s Computer Science programs, visit dccc.edu/comp-sci/.

Photo caption: DCCC student Jaleel Whaley.