CSC-145 AI-Partnered App Creation

Turn your imagination into working applications - no coding experience required! Designed for students across all majors, this course teaches you to collaborate with AI to create websites, games, utilities, and interactive experiences. Through hands-on projects, students develop digital literacy, creative problem-solving skills, and the ability to bring ideas to life using natural language and AI tools. Explore web technologies, design principles, and critical thinking about technology while building a portfolio of functional applications.

Credits

3

Lecture Contact Hours

3

Lab Contact Hours

0

Other Contact Hours

0

Department

• Computer Science

Grading Scheme

• Letter

SUNY Gen Ed Credit

• No

Semesters Course Will Be Offered

• Fall
• Spring
• Summer

Course Learning Outcomes

1. Create functional applications of increasing complexity (from simple websites and tools to interactive games and browser extensions) by effectively prompting AI development tools and iteratively refining generated code.
2. Debug, customize, and improve AI-generated applications by identifying errors, understanding code structure, implementing responsive design principles, and integrating real-world data sources.
3. Design and build accessible applications that prioritize user privacy, security, and inclusive design while critically evaluating AI's capabilities, limitations, and societal impact.
4. Develop and present a professional portfolio that showcases multiple completed projects, documents the development process, and communicates technical decisions and problem-solving approaches to diverse audiences.

View Course Outline

CSC 145: AI-Partnered App Creation

Department

Computer Science

Course Description

Turn your imagination into working applications - no coding experience required! Designed for students across all majors, this course teaches you to collaborate with AI to create websites, games, utilities, and interactive experiences. Through hands-on projects, students develop digital literacy, creative problem-solving skills, and the ability to bring ideas to life using natural language and AI tools. Explore web technologies, design principles, and critical thinking about technology while building a portfolio of functional applications.

Credit Hours

3

Contact Hours

Lecture	3
Lab	0
Other	0

Grading Scheme

Letter

Semester(s) Course Will Be Offered

Fall, Spring, Summer

First Year Experience Course

No

Capstone Course

No

Course Learning Outcomes

1. Create functional applications of increasing complexity (from simple websites and tools to interactive games and browser extensions) by effectively prompting AI development tools and iteratively refining generated code.
2. Debug, customize, and improve AI-generated applications by identifying errors, understanding code structure, implementing responsive design principles, and integrating real-world data sources.
3. Design and build accessible applications that prioritize user privacy, security, and inclusive design while critically evaluating AI's capabilities, limitations, and societal impact.
4. Develop and present a professional portfolio that showcases multiple completed projects, documents the development process, and communicates technical decisions and problem-solving approaches to diverse audiences.

Topic Outline

Phase 1: Getting Started & Building Confidence (Weeks 1-5)

• Learning to "talk" to AI to create applications
• Your first wins: making websites, simple games, and useful tools
• Understanding how to customize and improve AI-generated apps
• Figuring out what went wrong (and how to fix it)
• Making apps that look good on any device
• Building a collaborative knowledge base with classmates
• Small projects, big confidence

Phase 2: Creating More Sophisticated Apps (Weeks 6-10)

• Using advanced AI tools for better results
• Building apps that remember information and respond to users
• Creating interactive experiences and browser tools
• Connecting your apps to real-world data
• Planning before building: designing with intention
• Learning from each other through peer feedback
• Medium-sized projects that solve real problems

Phase 3: Professional Polish & Your Portfolio (Weeks 11-15)

• Working with professional-grade AI development tools
• Creating complex projects: advanced games and interactive experiences
• Building automations and custom scripts
• Publishing your apps so others can use them
• Assembling a portfolio that showcases your work
• Presenting your creations and explaining your process
• One or two bigger projects, refined to professional quality

Throughout the Course

• Understanding what AI can (and can't) do well
• Making apps that are safe, private, and accessible to everyone
• Reflecting on your process and documenting your journey
• Thinking critically about technology's role in society
• The joy of bringing your ideas to life