[MaxGabriel]

Can anyone offer some advice in choosing between the three courses?

My background: I've only completed CS 1, and read LPTHW and Kochan's Objective-C book. I have about an hour's worth of Khan Academy videos in linear algebra, and have taken a basic prob/stats course. My university offers a database class, but not ML or AI. Based on my minimal knowledge of the subjects, ML/AI sound more interesting than databases.

[SkyMarshal]

You're more likely to need and use the DB course topics earlier in your career, unless you specifically get a job in ML or AI. However, those topics are also easier to learn and understand on your own without guidance. If you post your school's db course curriculum, we can help you compare it with the Stanford one. Initial instinct - go with the ai or ml course (or take a reduced course load this fall and take both, then see if you can get the Stanford completion certificate to transfer as credits to your school).

[weezer]

I did my PhD at Stanford and took all three classes. DB is a more fundamental class, and probably easier. AI and ML are both great but they are designed to be taken in sequence with AI first then ML (which is a sub-field of AI).

[SkyMarshal]

>However, those topics are also easier to learn and understand on your own without guidance.

Yeah, by 'those topics' I meant the ones covered in the DB course, not the other two. Most aspiring programmers usually find relational theory and XML relatively easy to grok.

[MaxGabriel]

Thanks for your help! The syllabus for DB isn't up yet at my University, so I can't give more details [1]. But given that you say DB should be easier, and that I can take it at my school, I think I should take AI. Besides--I had the same gut feeling.

[1] writing this I now realize I could easily get last year's course, but I'm satisfied with my current decision