Which jobs are safe from AI? Will I fall behind if I don’t use it? Is my degree still worth it?
If you’re a college student right now, you’ve probably asked yourself at least one of these. You’re not alone. In a new feature, The Panther’s Audrina Vega takes on exactly these questions. The story centers on a new program here in the Chapman University School of Communication built to help students answer them.
Meet COIN: the Minor in Collaborative Intelligence
This fall, the School of Communication launched the Minor in Collaborative Intelligence, or COIN. It’s a 27-credit minor open to students across majors.
COIN isn’t a coding bootcamp. It focuses on how people and AI can work together in fields from business and communication to the sciences and humanities. Students learn where AI can support their work, and just as importantly, where it falls short.
Dr. Erik Linstead on the “missing middle”
COIN is spearheaded by Dr. Erik Linstead, professor and Program Director of artificial and collaborative intelligence (COIN). His goal is to move AI beyond being seen as only a computer science topic and bring it into every discipline.
Linstead describes COIN as filling a “missing middle”: the space between the people who build AI systems and the uniquely human skills that make the technology useful, like critical thinking, communication, and problem-solving.
His take on what students need now is simple: “It’s no longer good just to be literate.” Knowing AI exists isn’t enough. Students need real fluency with these tools, while still learning the foundations of their field and keeping their own judgment in charge.
What students are saying
The Panther’s story doesn’t just celebrate AI. It gives students from very different fields room to share honest, sometimes conflicting views.
- Emma Kochenderfer, a junior in computer science and technical theatre, saw employers hand interns AI tools and expect them to use them. She also worries that sending struggling students to a chatbot can cut short real learning.
- Jerry Salas, a sophomore in software engineering, uses AI to clarify tough concepts and catch mistakes, not to do his assignments. He sees it as a tool, as long as students can still judge what it produces.
- Joshua Dowd, a sophomore in computer science, thinks the field moves too fast for a full major to stay current. He sees a focused minor like COIN as a practical fit, and wants AI studied alongside its ethical and social impact.
- Claire Gresham, a triple major in environmental science, political science and history, worries that leaning on AI could weaken the independent thinking that humanities fields depend on.
That range of opinion is the point. Whether you’re excited, skeptical, or somewhere in between, AI is now part of the conversation in every major.
Why it matters for every major
AI is reshaping workplaces far beyond tech. Communicators, artists, scientists and business leaders will all be expected to understand how these tools fit into their work. COIN gives Chapman students a way to build that fluency without giving up the critical thinking, creativity and human perspective that a School of Communication education is built on.
Read the full story: AI is changing college. How is Chapman keeping up? on The Panther.
Curious about COIN? Explore the Minor in Collaborative Intelligence in the Chapman course catalog, or connect with your academic advisor or reach out to coin@chapman.edu to see how it fits your plan.
COIN quick facts
What is COIN at Chapman University? COIN is the Minor in Collaborative Intelligence, a 27-credit minor in the Chapman University School of Communication. It teaches how humans and AI can work together across disciplines.
When did COIN launch? COIN launched in fall 2026.
Who leads the COIN minor? Dr. Erik Linstead, professor of artificial and collaborative intelligence at Chapman University, is spearheading the program.
Do I need to be a computer science major? No. COIN is designed for students across fields, including business, communication, the sciences, and the humanities.
Is COIN about coding? Not mainly. It focuses on using AI effectively and responsibly while building human skills like critical thinking, communication, and problem-solving.
Source: The Panther Newspaper, Oct. 26, 2026.
