The UT Austin Women in STEM (WiSTEM) Externship: Artificial Intelligence & Semiconductors is a virtual learning experience for current and future STEM undergraduate students to gain career skills and earn digital badges or microcredentials during the winter or summer break. The WiSTEM Externship is designed to give you credentialed accomplishments for your resume, talking points for interviews, confidence in your professional skills, and training/knowledge/learning to advance your STEM skillset. 

Learning Plan Overview

The WiSTEM Externship: Artificial Intelligence & Semiconductors consists of a learning plan with three learning modules (short eLearning courses), each carefully designed to bolster your professional profile. You will be awarded a digital badge upon completion of each learning module.

Knowledge Badge: Artificial Intelligence Fundamentals – Does artificial intelligence (AI) spark your interest? Here’s your chance to visualize yourself in an AI career! You’ll explore AI’s history and then see how it can change the world. Along the way, you’ll dive deep into how AI makes predictions, understands language and images, and learns using circuits inspired by the human brain. After a hands-on simulation in which you build and test a machine learning model, you’ll finish with tips on how to find your own career in artificial intelligence. Complete the following required courses (~10 hours) to earn an industry-recognized IBM SkillsBuild digital credential called Artificial Intelligence Fundamentals: 

1. Introduction to Artificial Intelligence
2. Natural Language Processing and Computer Vision
3. Machine Learning and Deep Learning
4. Run AI Models with IBM Watson Studio
5. AI Ethics
6. Your Future in AI: The Job Landscape

Knowledge Badge: Agile Explorer – Agile is a set of values, principles, and practices that helps change the culture and behaviors of the way people work. Learn the foundational concepts of Agile and earn the Agile Explorer credential when you complete three courses (~7 hours):

1. A Taste of Agile
2. Agile Operations Fundamentals
3. Agile Program Fundamentals

Knowledge Badge: Semiconductor 101 – The one-hour Semiconductor 101 course is hosted on the Cadence company learning platform. This course is an introduction to semiconductors and EDA (Electronic Design Automation), the industry that Cadence is a part of. You will explore Moore’s Law and its impact on chip manufacturing, performance, and costs. You will identify how chip design differs from the other designs and be introduced to IC design flow with Cadence EDA tools. You will get an overview of the semiconductor markets and Cadence Intelligent design strategy.

What to Expect

IBM SkillsBuild Platform: The entire experience is facilitated through the IBM SkillsBuild platform. You will receive a digital badge (microcredential) via Credly upon completing each of the 3 learning modules within the WiSTEM Externship learning plan.

Cadence Platform: From the IBM SkillsBuild platform, participants will be directed to the Cadence platform to complete the Semiconductor 101 learning module. Participants will receive a login email from Cadence to access their learning system.

Time Commitment: To earn the digital badges, you’ll need to dedicate approximately 18 hours to complete all the learning modules.

Email Newsletters Prompts and STEM Career Path Connections: Participants will receive emails throughout the experience that prompt completion of the next learning module and provide STEM role model highlights and career pathway connections to the content in the learning plan.

Completion Badge: By participating in this experience and completing all 3 learning modules within the WiSTEM Externship: Artificial Intelligence & Semiconductors learning plan, you’ll earn the WiSTEM Externship: Artificial Intelligence & Semiconductors completion badge. This badge will enhance your resume and help you advance your career.

Gaining Skills, Boosting Confidence

Remember, the WiSTEM Externship: STEM Career Success Skills isn’t just about accumulating credentials—it’s about gaining valuable skills, boosting your confidence, and advancing your STEM expertise. Plus, you’ll receive regular eNewsletters to keep you engaged and on track toward completion.

Registration and participation are open to current and future UT Austin STEM undergraduate students, regardless of major. Everyone is welcome!