Artificial intelligence (AI) is a rapidly growing field that is finding applications across different segments of the market. With the widespread application of AI technologies, people with knowledge and skills in artificial intelligence are positioned to advance their careers in this competitive path. AI specialists can secure roles as computer systems designers, as a machine learning engineer, computational scientists, software developers, AI data scientists, and AI interaction designers.
This growing importance of AI has led to the emergence of AI micromasters programs and master’s programs to equip learners with the skills for a career in AI and related fields. Today, more and more universities are offering master’s in artificial intelligence online programs for students in order to provide access to great learning experiences and prepare the next generation of artificial intelligence leaders.
Benefits of Earning Your Masters in Artificial Intelligence Online
As companies increasingly use machine learning and artificial intelligence technologies, specialized computer science careers such as AI have increased in demand. While you can achieve a high salary with a bachelor's degree in computer science or a related field, advancing through a master’s in artificial intelligence increases your chances of landing more lucrative opportunities through the specialized and advanced curriculum. Most people think of going back to school in the traditional sense where you physically show up on-campus for your classes. However, with technology and online school, you can take your master's degree from the comfort of your home or office through an online master’s artificial intelligence program offered at an accredited university.
Taking your artificial intelligence master’s degree online comes with several benefits:
- Your online AI courses (as many will be asynchronous) offer flexibility on when and where you can take your course. This flexibility allows you to maintain a work and life balance while creating opportunities for advancing in your field.
- Online programs allow you to make a career switch or advancer without having to give up your current job.
- Synchronous online artificial intelligence courses will allow you to participate in a variety of class discussions with peers and professors
- Online programs may be more affordable than their on-campus counterparts
An online master's in artificial intelligence is ideal for people who want the flexibility to work, take care of their family, or juggle other daily responsibilities as they advance or branch out to an artificial intelligence degree career path. Experts predict that AI will become the future of technology and will have use cases in a variety of fields. Therefore, you should proceed to take leading AI courses if you want to be at the heart of this technological development by positioning yourself as an AI expert.
Additional tips to help you prepare and choose the best online artificial intelligence master’s degree program include:
- Identify and tie together your education and career objectives
- Research accredited online master’s in artificial intelligence degree programs
- Review each program’s instructors do determine their contributions to AI and CS fields
- Plan your schedule and establish a system that you can follow to ensure you are organized and productive between courses and work
- Experiment with free, online AI courses if you are not yet certain about enrolling for an online master’s in artificial intelligence.
Core Courses Offered in an Online Master’s Program in Artificial Intelligence
Online master’s in artificial programs will offer different courses and specializations for learners to choose from and will draw their coursework from the major branches of artificial intelligence. These branches include:
Machine Learning
Machine learning gives computers the ability to learn without the need for programming. Through machine learning computers can translate, execute, and investigate data to solve real-world problems.
Neural Network
Neural networks apply knowledge of the human brain through algorithms that find connections between different sets of data. Neural networks have been applied in risk analysis, sales prediction, fraud detection, and stock exchange prediction.
Robotics
Robotics combines different STEM fields including artificial intelligence. AI specialists are involved in developing robots to facilitate interactions at social levels.
Expert Systems
Expert systems are computer systems that mimic the decision-making abilities of a human expert. These systems are designed to solve complex problems at a high level of human expertise and intelligence.
Fuzzy Logic
Fuzzy logic takes account of the real-world conditions that make it hard to determine whether a condition is true or not. In fuzzy logic, computers analyze information by degrees of truth to manage uncertainties in data.
Natural Language Processing
Natural language processing facilitates communication between humans and computers by natural language. Through natural language processing, computers can mimic human natural language to read and understand data.
Let’s look at some specific online AI courses:
The master’s in artificial intelligence from Boston University has three focus areas; machine learning, natural language processing, and computer vision. The program requires graduate students to complete eight graduate courses with 32 credits in total. Some of the course themes within the program include:
- Artificial intelligence
- Machine learning
- Image and video computing
- Introduction to natural language processing
Graduate students can also choose additional courses including:
- Data mechanics
- Computational tools for data science
- Advanced database applications
- Algorithmic data mining
- Introduction to database systems
- Optimization in computing and machine learning
- Formal methods
- Programming languages
- Analysis of algorithms
- Advanced optimization algorithms
- Computational geometry
- Complexity theory
- Cryptography
- Computer network security
- Deep learning
- Computer graphics
- Statistical machine learning
- Statistical methods for quantitative research
- Digital video processing
The John Hopkins Whiting School of Engineering online artificial intelligence masters program includes online courses such as:
- Applied machine learning
- Cognitive and behavioral foundations for artificial intelligence
- Creating AI-enabled systems
- Values and ethics in artificial intelligence
- Deep learning for computer vision
Prerequisites Required for Admission into an Online Master’s Degree in Artificial Intelligence
Some universities will require you to complete a thesis or certain projects before you complete your master’s degree in artificial intelligence, so ensure you check the program requirements and specifications before you finalize your list of programs. Since AI is a multidisciplinary field, it is common to find shared courses with other schools or departments such as business, mathematics, data science and or statistics. Additionally, master’s in artificial intelligence programs will include courses or specializations which overlap
Different institutions have a variety of requirements for candidates who wish to join their programs. That said, some skills and practical experiences are required to increase the chances of an online AI graduate program accepting you.
Some of the skills you need include:
- Mathematical skills such as an understanding of probability, predictions, statistics, calculus, Bayesian algorithms, algebra, and logic
- Science skills such as language processing, physics, mechanics, and cognitive learning
- Computer science skills such as programming, logic, and data structures
- Research experience
If you do not have these skills, then you can look for an artificial intelligence certificate or pre qualification courses to help you develop the skills that will be essential during your AI master’s program. Some programs such as the Johns Hopkins AI master’s degree allows students to be admitted on a provisional basis if they do not meet the prerequisites for admission. You are later fully admitted once you meet all the prerequisites from Johns Hopkins engineering or an accredited institution.
In addition to the mentioned skills, different programs have a variety of admission requirements including:
- Your resume/CV
- GRE scores
- GPA scores
- A four-year bachelor’s degree in computer science or related fields from an accredited institution
- Relevant work experience (applicants with about two years of relevant work experience have better chances of acceptance into a master’s in AI program)
- Official transcripts of your undergraduate courses
- Letters of recommendations
- Essay/statement of purpose
- International applicants whose first language is not English must take the TOEFL or IELTS.
Some institutions review applicants' self-directed work such as shared code repositories and open source publications.
Accredited Universities Offering the Best Online Master’s Programs in Artificial Intelligence
When you start a search for an online master's in artificial intelligence, you will see many websites claiming to list the ‘best’ online master’s degree program. With many programs to choose from and marketing materials abound, how can you evaluate a program that best suits you? We’ve outlined tips to help you evaluate the suitability and reputation of an online master's program in AI.
First we recommend that you determine whether the university is accredited. Accreditation is an important consideration which informs you that an institution meets the standards of regional, state, or nationwide education accreditation bodies. Enrolling in an accredited program also improves your prospects in the job market. Second, we recommend you evaluate the support offered from the faculty and administration as this is critical when determining the fit of an online master’s in AI with your current lifestyle and goals. Faculty availability for online office hours, technical and academic support provides you access advice to help you navigate your online program experience. The right faculty support increases your success from enrollment to graduation.
Third, a student-centric learning experience is also important for online programs. The best online master's programs in artificial intelligence account for challenges such as having a full-time job, parental responsibilities, and social commitments. A student-centric learning environment might include virtual access to clinics and research libraries, asynchronous and synchronous learning support, and other support services designed to help students succeed.
We’ve identified several accredited universities offering online master’s in artificial intelligence programs:
Online Master of Science in Applied Artificial Intelligence from University of San Diego
The University of San Diego Master of Science in Applied Artificial Intelligence is an online degree designed in collaboration with AI experts. Students can complete the program in 20 months after completing 30 academic units. Students are expected to complete an AI Capstone project in three of the 30 units. The total tuition for the Master of Science in Applied Artificial Intelligence program costs $27,750 but students can access scholarships and financial aid to support paying for tuition.
Online Master of Science in Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning from Drexel University
Drexel University’s MS in Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning is a multi-disciplinary online program that focuses on data science, analytics, applications of AI and ML, and computation theory and algorithms. Graduate students who enroll can complete this 45-quarter credit program part-time or full-time depending on your schedule. Learners without a related undergraduate degree can also pursue a graduate Certification in Computer Science to prepare for the master’s program.
Online Master of Science in Computer Science Artificial Intelligence Specialization from SMU Lyle School of Engineering
The SMU Online Master of Science in Computer Science AI Specialization prepares learners with the skills on implementing AI and ML solutions at work. The program allows applicants to waive the GRE requirement if they have two years of relatable work experience.
Online Master’s in Artificial Intelligence from Johns Hopkins Whiting School of Engineering
Johns Hopkins University offers an online master's in the artificial intelligence program to prepare graduate students for the field. There are five prerequisites required including courses in data structures, programming with python, and linear algebra. There are four core courses required including algorithms for data science, introduction to machine learning, and applied machine learning. Over a dozen elective courses are offered from evolutionary computation and NLP to cloud computing and applied game theory. The expected tuition for the Master’s in Artificial Intelligence at Johns Hopkins Whiting School of Engineering is from $47,550.
Next Steps
Earning a graduate degree in artificial intelligence will help position graduates as leader’s in the rapidly expanding field which could be a smart move for those who want to grow in computer science career paths. Start today by finding an accredited online master’s in artificial intelligence program that is most suited to you to start or scale your artificial intelligence engineer career.