The Careers AI Can’t Replace
Balancing human-centered professions with AI fluency
Artificial intelligence is transforming our world and reshaping the future of work. But even as AI continues to evolve, there are essential human needs that technology alone cannot meet.
At Simmons University, students develop specialized knowledge, practical skills, critical thinking, empathy, and personal connection needed for human-centered careers. From clinical professions to business and communications, our programs prepare graduates for meaningful careers where human expertise and judgment remain essential. We also emphasize the responsible, effective use of AI, combining the strengths of emerging technologies with the distinctly human skills that define these professions.
We regularly train faculty on AI, consistently encouraging them to consider how AI shapes their fields. Faculty access internal and external professional development and reflect on AI's implications within the curriculum, balancing global changes and the need for knowledge and skills with research and best practices on student development.
All undergraduate students are required to complete a unit on AI literacy, ensuring a foundational understanding of the technology. Both undergraduate and graduate students can also access one-on-one consultations with Information Literacy Consultants — School of Library and Information Science graduate peer tutors who are specifically trained to help peers navigate the intersection of AI, research, and information literacy.
AI-Proof Careers that Require Real, Human Skills
AI and Clinical & Hands-On Care
AI cannot replace the human bond at the heart of care. Healthcare professions demand hands-on skills, clinical judgment, empathy, and the ability to respond to each person as an individual and act in their best interest.
Sample Job Titles:
- Community Health Worker
- Family Nurse Practitioner
- Registered Dietitian Nutritionist
- Registered Nurse
- Psychiatric-Mental Health Nurse Practitioner
- Physical Therapist
- Public Health Policy Specialist
Example of AI use in Clinical & Hands-on Care:
The Simmons School of Nursing threads AI knowledge and its safe, ethical use throughout the curriculum, including didactic instruction, clinical experiences, and simulation. This integrated approach ensures students develop both the technical understanding and practical skills needed to use AI responsibly in real-world healthcare settings.
Where to find healthcare programs at Simmons:
AI and Human Services & Mental Health
Helping people manage complex social and emotional challenges calls for living-and-breathing human presence and trust. AI cannot build the relationships that make effective counseling, social work, and behavioral care possible; these careers call for professionals who take into account the whole person.
Sample Job Titles:
- Clinical Research Coordinator
- Clinical Social Worker
- Researcher
- School Social Worker
- Social Work Supervisor
- Behavioral Health Technician
- Board Certified Behavior Analyst (BCBA)
Example of AI use in Human Services & Mental Health:
MSW graduate tutors are trained to guide students in using AI as a tool for time management and structure, particularly to support neurodiverse needs, giving students a practical edge in managing complex workloads.
Where to find human services & mental health programs at Simmons:
AI and Information & Literacy
Information professionals provide context, critical thinking, ethical judgment, and an in-depth understanding of how people find and use knowledge. In a data-driven world, knowing what to trust, question, and how to connect people with reliable information matters more than ever.
Sample Job Titles:
- Archivist
- Children’s Book Author and Illustrator
- Children’s Librarian
- Digital Initiatives Librarian
- Information Architect
- Librarian
- School Library Media Specialist
- User Experience Researcher
Example of AI use in Information & Literacy:
The Simmons School of Library and Information Science (SLIS) offers an elective on AI and libraries and integrates AI's impact on LIS in all core courses. The school has ongoing professional development outside classes, including workshops and guest lectures on AI topics. Most recently, they held a three-part workshop series on ethics and generative AI. Several recent grads reported that these AI PD sessions helped them stand out in the job market and get employed.
Where to find information & literacy programs at Simmons:
AI and Leadership & Communications
Great leaders and communicators build trust, read a room, manage relationships, and compel people to act. Human reasoning, creativity, collaboration, and accountability are essential traits for leading and developing messaging that resonates and inspires change.
Sample Job Titles:
- Communications Director
- Content Producer
- Creative Strategist
- Executive
- Media Relations Manager
- Organizational Leader
- Reporter
- Sports Business Manager
Example of AI use in Leadership & Communications:
In a marketing research course, students conduct statistical analyses using a customized GPT-based AI model that we developed specifically for the course. The model is designed to produce outputs that help students understand, interpret, and explain statistical results in ways that support actionable managerial decision-making.
Where to find leadership & communications programs at Simmons: