Spring 2025: February 10 — April 14
Subject: CS
Course Level: 300
Number of Credits: 1 U.S. / 2 ECTS
Max Enrollment: 22
Schedule: Tue 17:00 – 20:00 CET (Berlin) | 11:00 AM – 2:00 PM EDT (New York)
Language of Instruction: English
Course Prerequisites: English B2 / Equivalent or higher

This course examines how generative AI is transforming the global media landscape, with a focus on real-world applications, emerging business models, and ethical dilemmas. Students will gain a high-level understanding of how AI models like GPT work, why recent progress has accelerated, and what this means for newsroom workflows, content generation, and audience engagement. Lectures will feature examples from leading outlets experimenting with AI-driven storytelling, as well as practitioners and technologists who pioneered early uses of generative AI in art and data visualisation. Guest speakers—ranging from major newsrooms in the U.S. to smaller, independent outlets in the Global South—will discuss the challenges they face, including copyright disputes, financial considerations, and cultural sensitivities.

Guidelines for the Statement of Purpose:
Craft a reflective statement of purpose explaining your interest in the Smolny Beyond Borders online course. The file should be saved with your name and course title as the filename and uploaded accordingly. Your statement’s clarity and substance will significantly influence our selection. Convey your motivations and aspirations for this course succinctly but thoroughly. Kindly write your statement in the course’s Language of Instruction.

Application Portal Instructions:
1) Use the Latin alphabet for all entries on the portal, including your name. If the Language of Instruction is Russian, you may use Cyrillic only within the Statement of Purpose file, and the title of the file should still be in English.
2) Refrain from using email addresses associated with Russian or Belarusian educational institutions.
3) While completing the “Required Information” section, ensure you fill in the “Province” field for your address.
4) Provide an address outside Russia or Belarus in both the “Required Information” and “Geographic Location Confirmation” sections of the “Online Course Application”. This ensures we can send your transcript.
5) You must press the “Sign” button twice during the application.
6) If you hold a bachelor’s degree, select “4th+” in the “Academic Year (online)” section.
7) Applicants either unaffiliated or affiliated with educational institutions in Russia and Belarus should list ‘Smolny Beyond Borders’ as their educational institution.
8) In the student ID section, enter ‘SBB’.
9) Consider drafting your motivation letter ahead of time. Save it as a separate file with this format: LastName_FirstName_CourseTitle for a smoother application process.