Anthropic is partnering with CodePath to redesign its coding curriculum as artificial intelligence reshapes how software is built. The collaboration places Anthropic’s Claude and Claude Code tools at the center of CodePath’s courses and career programs, giving more than 20,000 students access to AI-assisted development as part of their education.
CodePath serves students at community colleges, state universities, and historically Black colleges and universities. More than 40% of its students come from families earning under $50,000 a year. The organization aims to pair technical instruction with industry-aligned coursework and employer networks that are often concentrated at well-funded institutions.
Claude is being integrated into several programs, including Foundations of AI Engineering, Applications of AI Engineering, and the AI Open-Source Capstone. Students learn to design, debug, and deploy software with AI tools while contributing to active open-source projects.
Real-World Projects and Academic Credit
In fall 2025, more than 100 CodePath students piloted Claude Code while contributing to open-source repositories such as GitLab, Puter, and Dokploy. Participants said the experience reflected real-world engineering workflows and accelerated their ability to work in unfamiliar codebases.
Laney Hood, a CodePath student and computer science major at Texas Tech University, said Claude Code supported her learning despite limited prior experience in languages such as TypeScript and Node.js. Students described the tools as helpful but demanding, requiring them to validate outputs and understand underlying systems.
In January, Howard University announced a redesigned Intro to Artificial Intelligence course developed with CodePath and the Thurgood Marshall College Fund. The course introduces Claude-assisted software development and prepares students for entry-level engineering roles increasingly shaped by AI workflows. It marks the first time CodePath’s applied AI curriculum is offered for academic credit at a university.
Michael Ellison, CodePath’s co-founder and chief executive officer, said AI is compressing traditional learning timelines. He added that unequal access to these tools risks widening existing gaps in the technology workforce.
Beyond instruction, Anthropic and CodePath plan to conduct public research on how AI is changing coding education and economic mobility. The partners will share findings on workforce readiness, teaching methods, and outcomes as AI tools become standard in software development.
The initiative aligns with Anthropic’s broader push to expand access to AI education globally. The company recently partnered with Teach For All to launch the AI Literacy and Creator Collective, providing more than 100,000 educators across 63 countries with access to Claude and training on classroom integration. The effort comes as peers also scale national programs. OpenAI has introduced its Education for Countries initiative, which works with governments to embed AI tools into education systems as policymakers respond to skills gaps and workforce shifts driven by AI adoption.
