Overview
Build practical AI communication skills for the workplace. The AI Communication Skills Microcredential combines foundational communication expertise with applied generative AI training, helping you use AI effectively, critically and responsibly to create and evaluate workplace content, and apply your skills through an AI Capstone Industry Project.
Develop skills to use generative AI across technical writing, web communication and other workplace tasks. The program takes a practical, responsible approach to AI, focusing on ethical and legal considerations, human-in-the-loop guardrails, inclusivity, and accessibility.
About the program
- Three intakes: January, April, and September
- Fully online
- Four 5-credit courses and a total of 90 hours of asynchronous instructor-led learning
- Approximately four hours of homework per week for each course
- Complete an AI Capstone Industry Project that brings together the skills developed throughout the program
See the Program Details to learn more about the courses and learning experience.
Who should complete the AI Communication Skills Microcredential?
The program is open to anyone interested in developing practical AI communication skills. It may be particularly relevant to professionals and students who expect AI to become part of their work and want to move beyond experimentation to more effective, critical and responsible use of AI.
The Microcredential is also suited to those who want to build on their communication skills while developing practical experience with AI.
If any of these sound like you, please check the Entrance Requirements.
What AI Communication Skills grads can do
Graduates can apply AI and communication skills to workplace projects, including the responsible use of generative AI for communication and content development.
The Microcredential also provides a pathway for learners who want to continue developing their communication expertise, including laddering into BCIT’s Technical Communication Essentials Microcredential and Technical Writing Associate Certificate.
Entrance Requirements
Scheduled intakes
Ongoing Flexible Learning (Part-time Studies) intakes: January, April, and September.
Application processing
Ongoing throughout the year.
Recommended for success
To be successful in this program, students are recommended to have:
- English language proficiency: Category 2 – English Studies 12 (67%) or equivalent
International applicants
This program is available to international applicants who will complete the program from outside Canada or who currently have a valid status in Canada other than study permit.
Study permit: International applicants accepted into this program are not eligible for a study permit.
Apply to program
Formal application to the microcredential is not required. Upon successful completion of the courses, email the program contact with your full name, student number, and mailing address to be issued a microcredential.
Costs & Supplies
Tuition fees
Flexible Learning (Part-time Studies) tuition is charged on a course-by-course basis. Please see the Flexible Learning Tuition & Fees page for more information on domestic and international tuitions.
Courses
Program matrix
Check current availability of courses for this program.
| Required courses | Credits | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| XCOM 1007 | Technical Writing | 1.5 | |
| XCOM 1110 | Writing for the Web | 1.5 | |
| XCOM 3110 | Using AI for Technical Writing | 1.5 | |
| XCOM 3210 | AI Capstone Industry Project | 1.5 | |
| Total Credits: | 6.0 | ||
Check current availability of courses for this program.
Transfer credit
Do you have credits from another BC/Yukon post-secondary school? Do you want to know if they transfer to courses here at BCIT? Check out BCIT's Transfer Equivalency Database to find out.
Program Details
Program structure
The AI Communication Skills Microcredential consists of four required courses that combine communication fundamentals with applied AI skills:
- Using AI for Technical Writing: introduces AI and large language models, prompt patterns, AI tools, emerging trends, and ethical and legal considerations.
- Technical Writing: develops the ability to create clear, professional documentation and communication strategies, including the responsible integration of generative AI.
- Writing for the Web: focuses on communicating effectively for online audiences, including information organization and information architecture.
- AI Capstone Industry Project: gives students the opportunity to design, implement, and evaluate an applied generative AI project in a workplace context.
Learning experience
Across the program, you will:
- Participate in weekly learning activities, short assignments with instructor feedback, peer reviews and/or team activities, and longer assignments that integrate concepts and skills developed throughout the courses.
- Develop the communication expertise needed to evaluate and improve AI-generated content, including assessing whether content is clear, accurate, credible and appropriate for its intended audience.
- Develop skills for effective, critical and responsible AI use, including consideration of ethical and legal issues, human-in-the-loop guardrails, inclusivity and accessibility.
AI Capstone Industry Project
The Capstone brings together the skills developed throughout the Microcredential through an applied AI project.
The Capstone can be completed as a workplace project with a willing employer or as an applied portfolio project that showcases your AI competency.
Students will:
- Design and scope an AI project
- Consider its anticipated benefits and risks
- Implement the project and measure its results
- Provide recommendations for responsible implementation, including ethical and legal considerations, human-in-the-loop guardrails, inclusivity, and accessibility
Industry-informed curriculum
The courses have been developed and informed through ongoing engagement with industry partners, alumni research and BCIT’s Communication Department Academic and Curriculum Committees. The department has been integrating AI competencies into its curriculum since 2023.
Grading
The passing grade for each course is 50%.
Program delivery
Online: This program is delivered fully online.
Asynchronous instructor-led courses are delivered online on a set schedule of six weeks with weekly deliverables.
Program location
Continue your education
This microcredential ladders directly into the BCIT Technical Writing Associate Certificate. To receive the BCIT Technical Writing Associate Certificate, students must achieve a minimum grade of 70% for each course.
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Programs and courses are subject to change without notice.