Franklin University Launches Three AI Leadership Specializations for Working Professionals

Contact:

Sherry Mercurio
Executive Director, Office of Community Relations
(614) 947-6581
Email: sherry.mercurio@franklin.edu

New online graduate specializations prepare professionals to lead responsible AI adoption in public administration, healthcare and communication

Franklin University has launched three online AI Leadership for Professionals specializations designed for working professionals who want to lead the responsible adoption of artificial intelligence without becoming programmers or data scientists.

The new specializations are available within Franklin’s Master of Public Administration (MPA), Master of Healthcare Administration (MHA) and M.S. in Communication programs. Rather than focusing on technical AI development, the programs prepare professionals to evaluate AI opportunities, establish governance and safeguards, manage risk, design AI-enabled workflows and lead organizational change.

As artificial intelligence becomes increasingly integrated into workplace systems and decision-making, organizations need leaders who can determine where AI can create value, how it should be governed, what risks must be addressed and when human judgment and oversight remain essential.

AI is changing how organizations operate, but successful adoption requires more than technical expertise. Organizations also need leaders who understand their industries and can make informed decisions about where AI belongs, how to manage its risks and how to lead people through the change. These specializations were designed to develop that kind of leadership.

AI Leadership Applied Across Three Professional Fields
Franklin’s Master of Public Administration with AI Leadership for Professionals Specialization prepares government, nonprofit, agency and public-service professionals to evaluate AI opportunities while protecting transparency, accountability and public trust. The 36-credit online MPA focuses on areas including AI governance, risk, ethics, privacy, workflow design and organizational change and can be completed in as few as 14 months.

The Master of Healthcare Administration with AI Leadership for Professionals Specialization prepares experienced healthcare professionals to lead responsible AI adoption within healthcare organizations. The 36-credit online MHA applies AI leadership to quality care, patient outcomes, operational efficiency, regulatory compliance and value-based care, with an emphasis on governance, risk management, workflow redesign and responsible implementation. Students who stay on pace can complete the program in approximately 14 months.

Franklin’s M.S. in Communication with AI Leadership for Professionals Specialization prepares communication professionals to lead AI-enabled communication strategy and workflows while protecting accuracy, organizational reputation and audience trust. The 32-credit online program combines communication strategy with AI leadership, governance, analytics, text mining, workflow design and human oversight and can be completed in as few as 16 months.

FACT BOX
Programs: MPA, MHA and M.S. in Communication with AI Leadership for Professionals Specializations
Format: Online graduate programs
Designed for: Working professionals and organizational leaders
Approach: Applied, nontechnical AI leadership
Key areas: AI governance, responsible AI adoption, risk management, ethics, workflow design, human oversight and organizational change
MPA: 36 credits; as few as 14 months
MHA: 36 credits; approximately 14 months for students who stay on pace
M.S. in Communication: 32 credits; as few as 16 months
Institution: Franklin University, a nonprofit university based in Columbus, Ohio

Preparing Leaders for AI-Enabled Organizations
AI adoption creates different leadership challenges across industries. Public organizations must balance innovation with transparency and accountability. Healthcare organizations must evaluate AI within complex quality, privacy, compliance and patient-centered environments. Communication professionals must consider accuracy, ethics, disclosure, reputation and trust as AI becomes more integrated into communication processes.
Franklin’s AI Leadership for Professionals specializations address those challenges within each professional field, helping students develop the judgment and leadership capabilities needed to guide responsible AI adoption.

By integrating AI leadership education into established graduate programs in public administration, healthcare administration and communication, Franklin is preparing working professionals not simply to use AI, but to help their organizations make better decisions about where, when and how it should be used.

About Franklin University

Accredited, nonprofit, and dedicated to educating adults since 1902, Franklin provides onsite course options at our Main Campus in downtown Columbus, Ohio, and is an innovator in providing personalized online education. The University offers applied in-demand undergraduate, masters, and doctorate programs that enable adult learners to achieve their educational and professional goals. Through agreements with partner institutions, the University also offers international academic programs, including its top-ranked MBA.

Franklin University is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission and holds specialized accreditations for specific academic programs through the International Accreditation Council for Business Education, the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education, the Council for the Accreditation of Educator Preparation, and the Commission on Accreditation of Health Informatics and Information Management Education. The National Security Agency and the Department of Homeland Security have designated Franklin University as a National Center of Academic Excellence in Cyber Defense Education (CAE-CDE).