Texas McCombs Launches a Certificate in Generative AI for Software Development

The McCombs School of Business at The University of Texas at Austin, in collaboration with Great Learning, has launched a comprehensive program, the Professional Certificate in Generative AI and Agents for Software Development. 

The program is geared toward software developers and technology professionals who want to leverage Generative AI and agentic workflows to design, build, and deploy full-stack applications, enhance coding efficiency, and drive automation across the software development lifecycle.

About the Certificate in Generative AI for Software Development

This 14-week online program delivers a rigorous, project-based learning experience designed to transform traditional developers into AI-proficient engineers. 

Starting with the fundamentals of Generative AI and progressing through advanced full-stack development, the curriculum integrates tools such as GitHub Copilot, LangChain, and AWS into every stage of the software lifecycle.

What Makes This Program Unique?

• The Texas McCombs Advantage: The curriculum is designed and delivered by the McCombs School of Business at The University of Texas at Austin, a globally recognized institution.

• A Comprehensive Toolset: Unlike courses that focus on a single tool, this program covers a diverse, industry-standard stack including ChatGPT, GitHub Copilot, OpenAI, LangChain, Claude, MongoDB, and AWS.

• Modular Learning Path: The structure is progressive, starting with Generative AI foundations and advancing through backend and frontend development before culminating in complex agent-based systems and cloud deployment.

• Professional Recognition: Upon successful completion, learners earn a globally recognized certificate from the McCombs School of Business at The University of Texas at Austin.

Who Should Enroll?

The curriculum is tailored for professionals seeking to remain competitive in a tech landscape increasingly dominated by automation:

• Software Developers: Those looking to speed up coding, testing, and documentation workflows using Generative AI.

• IT Professionals: Individuals aiming to integrate AI automation into their existing workflows to improve team productivity.

• Engineering Managers: Leaders who need to understand how to leverage GenAI to optimize development processes and drive innovation within their teams.

What You will Learn?

The curriculum is built around real-world application, covering the end-to-end software lifecycle from backend logic to frontend interfaces and cloud deployment. Key learning modules include:

• AI-Driven Backend Development: Learners utilize AI to design schemas and API endpoints, working with Node.js, Express, and MongoDB. The course emphasizes using AI not just for code generation, but for automating testing and documenting API designs.

• Modern Frontend Engineering: The program covers building responsive user interfaces with React and Redux. Learners learn to generate components using AI tools and to validate them with automated testing frameworks such as Vitest.

• Advanced AI & Agents: A significant portion of the course is dedicated to "Agentic AI." Learners move beyond simple prompts to build autonomous agents using LangChain and Claude Code. This includes understanding agent architecture (tools, planning, memory) and implementing safety guardrails for production systems.

• Cloud Deployment: The final weeks focus on deploying full-stack MERN applications to AWS (EC2, S3, CloudFront), enabling learners to manage the infrastructure needed to host scalable AI solutions.

How You Will Learn?

The program is structured to optimize impact without disrupting professional commitments:

• Flexible Delivery: The 14-week course is delivered online, with recorded video lectures that support self-paced learning.

• Live Mentorship: Weekly live mentorship sessions with global industry practitioners provide personalized guidance, rigor, and the opportunity to discuss real-world challenges.

• Hands-On Application: Theoretical concepts are applied immediately through hands-on full-stack development projects, systematically using GenAI tools for design, implementation, and testing. Notable projects include:

1. StackOverflow Application: A full-stack clone where learners build the backend schema, implement JWT authentication, and develop the frontend using AI assistance.
2. AI Feature Integration: Enhancing applications with intelligent features such as automatic tag generation, content rewriting, and auto-generated responses using OpenAI APIs.
3. E-Commerce Customer Support Agent: Developing a functional agent capable of handling product queries, returns, and shipping status using the LangChain framework.
4. Claude Code Agent Workflow: Rebuilding applications by leveraging Claude Code as a "developer agent" to plan, debug, and implement features autonomously.

• Dedicated Support: Participants receive personalized assistance from a Program Manager and have access to project discussion forums and peer groups to foster collaboration.

Key Learning Outcomes

This program is designed to deliver measurable technical proficiency. By the end of the 14-week journey, participants will be able to:

• Design and Build End-to-End Applications: full-stack web applications using modern frontend and backend technologies.

• Develop Scalable Backends: Create secure backend services, including REST APIs and authentication workflows, while managing cloud-hosted databases.

• Build Responsive Frontends: Construct state-driven interfaces and integrate them effectively with backend systems.

• Master AI Workflows: Apply Generative AI tools effectively across coding, testing, debugging, and documentation processes.

• Integrate LLMs: Incorporate Large Language Models into applications using well-structured prompts and API calls.

• Deploy AI Agents: Implement and manage AI agents and agent-based workflows to handle multi-step automation tasks.

• Cloud Deployment: Deploy full-stack applications to cloud environments following industry best practices.

By the end of the program, learners emerge with practical, job-ready expertise in building AI-enabled software systems. The hands-on focus on full-stack development, agentic workflows, and cloud deployment ensures participants are prepared to apply Generative AI meaningfully across real-world engineering challenges.

Next Step 

The admissions process for this program is conducted on a rolling basis and will close once the required number of seats is filled. To secure a seat, prospective learners must complete an online application, which will be reviewed by a selection panel at Great Learning. Shortlisted candidates will receive an offer letter and can confirm their enrollment by paying the course fee.