After the Civil War, a Union soldier and Baptist minister established a school in Raleigh, North Carolina, to teach formerly enslaved individuals religious literacy. Today, that institution, Shaw University, focuses on a different form of literacy: AI literacy. Starting next year, Shaw’s divinity school plans to introduce a new degree track: Doctor of Education (Ed.D.) in Artificial Intelligence and Moral Agency.
As AI continues to perform more tasks traditionally done by humans, Shaw’s divinity school aims to explore its moral implications. Dean Mark Harden stated, “We say Shaw was created to provide leadership in building literacy. We joke this is our second calling because we’re building AI literacy for vulnerable communities with an emphasis on social justice and ethics.” In June, the school received approval from the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges and is now seeking accreditation from the Association of Theological Schools, a network of 280 graduate theology schools in the U.S. and Canada.
Chris Meinzer, COO of the Association of Theological Schools, noted that Shaw’s AI degree would be the first in the network at the master’s or doctoral level. Several divinity schools have started offering individual courses in AI and ethics. Meanwhile, Notre Dame’s Institute for Ethics and the Common Good received a $50 million grant from the Lilly Endowment to support the DELTA network. DELTA stands for dignity, embodiment, love, transcendence, and agency, reflecting core Christian values. Meghan Sullivan, a philosopher at Notre Dame, emphasized that theological schools are prime environments to study AI ethics.
Pope Leo XIV’s recent encyclical, “Magnifica Humanitas,” highlighted the need to protect human dignity as AI begins to substitute human roles. This critical approach to AI is now gaining traction in divinity schools. Philip Butler of Iliff School of Theology launched an AI institute in 2018, examining technology’s impact on humanity. Butler investigates AI’s intended users, probing whether technology serves specific demographics or no one at all.
These discussions are crucial for historically Black theological institutions like Shaw. The university played a part in the Civil Rights movement, producing leaders like Ella Baker who co-founded the Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee in 1960. “We have a history of civic mindedness from the beginning that carried its way, even through the 1960s, and so it seemed like a natural outgrowth for us to do that,” Harden explained.
Approximately 66 individuals have shown interest in the new doctoral degree program starting in January. Shaw’s divinity school, with about 65 students, offers two master’s programs: a Master of Arts in Theology and Ministry and a Master of Divinity. Admission requires a master’s degree and five years of experience in pastoral ministry or related fields like social work. Many students are bi-vocational, supporting themselves through secular jobs. Since the COVID pandemic, the school has shifted to offering classes online. The divinity school is currently hiring staff for the program, seeking instructors with AI certification. The program is expected to take three to four years to complete.
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