When David Kopec came to Albright College, he was on a mission to help build three brand new majors designed for the students who will be stepping into the world of modern technology while honoring Albright’s history and liberal arts core. The new majors in Artificial Intelligence, Cybersecurity, and Computer Science will be welcoming their first cohort of students in the upcoming Fall 2026 semester. After nearly a decade at Champlain College teaching and managing the computer science program, developing curriculum including an artificial intelligence concentration, and collaborating closely with cybersecurity faculty, Kopec arrived at Albright ready to build.
“I was very excited about building these three new majors at Albright because I quickly learned that the college’s administration, faculty, and student body are all very receptive to new technical majors that can blend well with its traditions and existing academic strengths,” he says. “It’s exciting to be at a college where the leadership is forward looking and innovative while not forgetting the college’s identity.” And with five books under his belt, including the newly released Computer Science from Scratch, he brings both expertise and enthusiasm to the classroom and to the future Lions who will shape the next era of technology.
What Exactly Is Artificial Intelligence?
“In its most basic form, artificial intelligence is about using computers to complete complex tasks that were previously only possible for human beings,” he explains.
Students who feel intimidated by AI often relax once Kopec breaks it down. “AI is not something new. It’s been around for seven decades,” he says. And even with the recent great leaps in the field, he reassures students that today’s AI is not something to fear. “Used responsibly, AI applications are some of the most powerful tools students can use to build, create, and solve problems.”
In fact, according to Kopec, “There is practically no area of the academy that artificial intelligence is not touching and enhancing. Whether it’s historians and archeologists decoding ancient manuscripts, or businesses creating more responsive customer service, we need our student body to be AI-ready. Beyond students pursuing the new Artificial Intelligence major, there are opportunities for us to teach the ethical use of AI tools and promote AI literacy throughout the curriculum.”
Where do AI, Cybersecurity, and Computer Science intersect at Albright?
Once upon a time, cybersecurity was a senior year elective in an undergraduate computer science major. Then cybersecurity emerged as a concentration within computer science before breaking out as its own adjacent major. We’ve recently seen artificial intelligence go through the same metamorphosis. What was once a single introductory course in most computer science programs became a concentration, and in just the last few years we’ve seen it become its full own undergraduate major at a couple dozen pioneering colleges and universities.
“Albright is one of the first small teaching colleges in the country to offer a standalone bachelor’s degree in Artificial Intelligence. That on its own is exciting, but the way the program has been carefully planned to share curriculum with both the other new majors and our existing programs is going to offer students more opportunities and flexibility than many of our competitors,” Kopec says.
All three programs grew from the same roots, and students will find a strong shared core in mathematics, computer science fundamentals, ethics, and programming no matter which major they pursue. “With students in multiple technical majors meeting together in shared classrooms and projects, there will be a great pollination of different perspectives and points of view. Plus, I can’t wait to see the interdisciplinary courses we can develop with our colleagues in other departments across the college that these technical students can contribute to,” he adds.
While students thinking about these majors or AI more generally might expect a long list of technical “must know” topics, Kopec stresses something different. These less obvious areas represent the human layers that often get overlooked:
• Communication
• Teamwork
• Understanding cultural and ethical contexts
These soft skills will matter more than ever as automation grows. Through the entirety of their Albright education, students will build not only technical ability but also the broader perspectives required to lead in complex professional environments.
Ethics for the Next Generation of Innovators
Right now, legislation around AI is limited, and best practices are still evolving, which means future professionals must be trained with intention. Albright answers this need directly with a Computer Ethics course built into all three majors, exploring intellectual property, bias in machine learning, responsible data use patterns, and real-world case studies.
Students won’t approach these conversations with a surface level understanding. Foundational computer science coursework ensures they bring enough background knowledge to ask meaningful questions and challenge assumptions.
Believe it or not: AI Is Not New
One misconception Kopec encounters is that AI is brand new.
“The field of artificial intelligence has been around since the 1950s,” he reminds us. Every breakthrough stands on decades of research, trial, and error. Today’s trending moment may fade, but the technology and its societal impact are here to stay.
He’s excited about AI’s potential to reduce errors in areas like medicine and transportation. But he’s also realistic about the dangers, especially the spread of Large Language Model (LLM) generated misinformation and deep fake videos.
Still, when asked where he sees AI in five to ten years, Kopec keeps it grounded:
“I don’t make predictions about the future, but what is for sure, is like with every technology that was once novel and is now commonplace, we just won’t think about it as much because most people will largely accept it as part of normality.”
Advice for Students
For any student exploring AI, Cybersecurity, or Computer Science, Kopec offers one final piece of wisdom — and it might be the most important:
“Follow your interests and don’t ever worry that you’re already behind. Don’t feel that you need to always learn the technology of the week. The fundamentals will be durable.”
In other words: chase the topics that spark your curiosity. Build your base. Take your time. A major is a beginning, not an end.
David Kopec is an Associate Professor of Computer Science at Albright College where he also serves as the Program Director of Computer Science and Information Technology. He is the author of five books on programming and computer science including the Classic Computer Science Problems series and Computer Science from Scratch. Prior to his time at Albright, David spent nearly a decade at Champlain College where he taught computer science and helped manage the computer science program. An avid podcaster and indie app developer, David lives with his wife and three children in Wyomissing, Pennsylvania.
