Machine learning and artificial intelligence are the next frontiers in business. To prepare for a career in this field, you’re going to need an education that covers this exciting new branch of computer science. At the 20 best schools for artificial intelligence, tech-savvy students can learn the skills they need for the careers of the future.
Studying Artificial Intelligence
To the outsider looking in, artificial intelligence (AI) seems daunting and maybe even downright scary. Are we creating a monster with these new advancements in machine learning?
The fact is that artificial intelligence is, in many ways, just the next logical step in the relationship between humans and computers. Already, smartphones and other devices have normalized human interaction with computers.
The amount of data we create and cultivate each year is staggering. This data has the potential to inform business strategies and decisions in a wide range of fields. The question is, how can we gather useful intelligence from a data set this big? Making sense of these massive data sets requires the use of computer technology.
Learning to interact with a computer wisely and creatively has the potential to teach us a lot about the world that we live in and the world that we humans are, in fact, creating. From a business standpoint, business analytics that makes use of artificial intelligence technology allows us to gain valuable advantages over our competitors. The intelligence we have gleaned by using artificial intelligence to make sense of data gives companies an opportunity to strategically hone their products and skills.
RELATED: What Kind of Degree Should I Get if I Want to Get into the Field of Artificial Intelligence?
Artificial intelligence is so much more than just a tool to help us succeed in business. It has the potential to be whatever we need it to be to serve our purposes.
To achieve the full potential available to us with artificial intelligence on our side, we need more people with these skills to work in the world today. That’s where specialized AI degree programs come in. If we want to wield this technology wisely, we need to understand it. An online intelligence degree is ideally situated to equip students with the skills to leverage artificial intelligence technology.
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What Are the Best Artificial Intelligence Degree Programs?
Are you looking to break into this exciting field? Check out our picks for the 20 best online programs in artificial intelligence.
The best online AI degrees on our list include programs of study at the bachelor’s and master’s levels, as well as graduate certificate programs. Whether you are just embarking on your college career or you’re ready to go back to school to advance your knowledge of artificial intelligence, there’s an AI program for you.
Some of these programs of study award an AI degree specifically. In other programs, artificial intelligence is a concentration or specialization in a broader curriculum of data science or computer science. Some of the best artificial intelligence colleges even award related degrees in areas like machine learning and autonomous systems. The title of your degree matters less than the knowledge and technical skills you develop by studying computer science and artificial intelligence.
1. Stanford University
Stanford University is a private four-year institution located in Stanford, California. With a history dating back to 1885, Stanford has a long record of academic excellence.
This prestigious university has repeatedly been ranked among the top universities in the nation. U.S. News & World Report has also ranked Stanford University on its lists of the best value schools, most innovative schools and top schools for several areas of computer science – most notably, artificial intelligence.
Studying Artificial Intelligence at Stanford University
At this time, students can’t earn a comprehensive artificial intelligence degree completely online at Stanford University. However, those who already have a bachelor’s degree can pursue a graduate certificate or professional certificate in artificial intelligence online.
Stanford University offers two separate online artificial intelligence programs. Both artificial intelligence (AI) programs are offered through the Stanford School of Engineering. These program offerings, combined with the institution’s reputation for excellence, make Stanford a great artificial intelligence school.
In the Artificial Intelligence Graduate Certificate program, students customize a curriculum that consists of four graduate courses. Students in this program must take a required course in either machine learning or the principles and techniques of artificial intelligence. Beyond that, they complete three electives of their choice. Examples of electives in Stanford University’s Artificial Intelligence Graduate Certificate program include the following:
- Introduction to robotics
- Principles of robot autonomy
- Machine learning theory
- Machine learning with graphs
- Computational logic
- Natural language understanding
- Natural language processing with deep learning
- Deep reinforcement learning
- Computer vision
- Deep multi-task and meta learning
- Mining massive data sets
- Decision making under uncertainty
Students usually finish this program in one to two years. However, they may take as long as three academic years to complete their coursework, if needed.
In the Artificial Intelligence Professional Program, students earn a professional certificate rather than a graduate certificate. The biggest difference between the Graduate Certificate and Professional Certificate programs is that the Professional program is intended for working adult students who need more flexibility than traditional graduate students. Courses are 10 weeks in length and include the following:
- Principles and techniques of artificial intelligence
- Machine learning
- Machine learning with graphs
- Reinforcement learning
- Natural language processing with deep learning
- Natural language understanding
- Deep multi-task and meta learning
Upon completing three of the courses included in the program, students earn their Professional Certificate. In addition to building up to a certificate, these courses count for Continuing Education Units.
2. Johns Hopkins University
Johns Hopkins University in Baltimore, Maryland, has the distinction of being the first research university in America. The school dates back to 1876 and has a long history of contributions to scientific research, including making possible the purification of water through chlorination and discovering restriction enzymes, which launched the field of genetic engineering. It’s no wonder that the institution is still known for its cutting-edge research, including in the field of computer science and, more specifically, artificial engineering.
U.S. News & World Report has ranked Johns Hopkins University highly on its lists of national universities, best value schools, most innovative schools and top schools for undergraduate research and creative projects.
Artificial Intelligence Studies at Johns Hopkins University
What makes Johns Hopkins University’s program one of the best artificial intelligence master’s online degrees? The curriculum does an excellent job of blending theoretical understanding with practical technical skills needed to solve real-world problems. The field of artificial intelligence research is constantly evolving, and the institution’s leading role in this research allows for the continuous advancement of the master’s program curriculum.
This is one of the first online master’s degree programs in artificial intelligence in the nation. The school is also home to the Johns Hopkins Applied Physics Lab.
The core courses in Johns Hopkins University’s artificial intelligence master’s online program include:
- Introduction to algorithms
- Algorithms for data science
- Applied machine learning
- Artificial intelligence
- Creating AI-enabled systems
In addition to these required courses, students complete six electives of their choice. Some of the electives available in this program include:
- Introduction to pattern recognition
- Human robotics interaction
- Social media analytics
- Neural networks
- Data visualization
- cloud computing
- Advanced machine learning
- Advanced artificial intelligence
- Values and ethics in artificial intelligence
- Integrating humans and technology
Johns Hopkins University also offers a graduate certificate in artificial intelligence for students who aren’t ready to commit to the full master’s curriculum.
Applicants to this program should have a background in programming using Python and the foundations of data structures.
3. Duke University
The Duke University online degree in artificial intelligence is another of the best educational programs in the field of AI and machine learning.
The private institution located in Durham, North Carolina, has a strong reputation for excellence in both online and on-campus education. U.S. News & World Report has named Duke University on its rankings lists of best value schools, national universities, most innovative schools and top schools for co-ops and internships and for undergraduate research and creative projects.
Earning a Master’s Degree in Artificial Intelligence at Duke University
Online artificial intelligence studies at Duke Univerisity take the form of a 30-credit Master of Engineering degree.
Coursework in Duke University’s Master of Engineering in Artificial Intelligence program includes:
- Sourcing data for analytics
- Business fundamentals for engineers
- Modeling process & algorithms
- Management of high-tech industries
- Deep learning applications
- Legal, societal & ethical implications of AI
- Operationalizing
Technical electives, a capstone project and a summer internship or industry project round out the curriculum. Although courses are offered online, prospective students should be aware that two on-campus residences, held in the spring of each year of study, are required.
The online master’s program at Duke University takes as little as 24 months to complete. This program is intended for part-time students. By the time students graduate, they will have compiled a portfolio full of their hands-on artificial intelligence and machine learning projects to demonstrate their skills to prospective employers.
Duke University also offers a Graduate Certificate in AI Foundations for Product Innovation online. Students can complete this program in just 15 months. Coursework begins with a summer boot camp in Python programming language and data science. Students take one graduate course per semester:
- Sourcing data for analytics
- Modeling process & algorithms
- Building products using deep learning
- AI in practice
Students who decide to further their education at the master’s level can apply the credits they earned in the certificate program to Duke’s online master’s program. This flexibility is another feature that makes Duke University a great artificial intelligence school.
4. Northeastern University
Another school offering specialized artificial intelligence degree options is Northeastern University. The private Boston, Massachusetts, school was founded in 1898.
U.S. News & World Report has recognized Northeastern University on its lists of national universities, best value schools and most innovative schools. Northeastern is a research university, as evidenced by its R1 Carnegie classification.
Studying Artificial Intelligence Online at Northeastern University
The Master of Science in Artificial Intelligence program at Northeastern University is only available on campus. Don’t let that discourage you, though. Northeastern also offers a multidisciplinary machine learning online masters degree. This degree offering makes Northeastern University a great artificial intelligence school.
In Northeastern’s online Master of Professional Studies degree in Applied Machine Intelligence, students can focus their studies on one of four fields:
- Healthcare
- Finance
- Human resources
- Business ventures
The combination of experiential courses and a curriculum that spans introductory through advanced levels of study in artificial intelligence make this artificial intelligence online program uniquely engaging and effective at preparing the next generation of AI experts. Core coursework in this professional master’s program in Applied Machine Intelligence program includes:
- Data management and big data
- Fundamentals of artificial intelligence
- Applications of artificial intelligence
- AI system technologies
- Usability and human interaction
In the AI for Healthcare Concentration, coursework includes:
- Data mining applications
- Healthcare/pharmaceutical data and applications
- Healthcare information processing
- Advanced analytical utilization
- AI communication and visualization
The AI for Finance Concentration encompasses coursework in the following topics:
- Data mining applications
- Finance information processing
- Advanced analytical utilization
- AI communication and visualization
- Accounting fundamentals for financial institutions
In the AI for Human Resources Concetnatrion, students take classes such as:
- Data mining applications
- Human resources information processing
- Advanced analytical utilization
- AI communication and visualization
- Workforce Analytics
The AI for Business Ventures Concentration requires studies in the following areas:
- Data mining applications
- Advanced analytical utilization
- AI communication and visualization
- Issues in education
- Enterprise Information Architecture
No matter which concentration students choose, they should expect to devote some of their studies in this professional master’s program to experiential learning opportunities.
5. University of Colorado Boulder
If you’re serious about finding the best artificial intelligence online options, don’t limit your search exclusively to programs that include AI or machine learning in the title. Some excellent options in the field of artificial intelligence are actually part of the best online IT degree programs. That’s what puts the University of Colorado Boulder on our list of great artificial intelligence school options.
This public university dates back to 1876. The school’s considerable research efforts have garnered global recognition. U.S. News & World Report has ranked the University of Colorado Boulder on its lists of top public schools, national universities and best value schools, among others.
Studying Computer Science at the University of Colorado Boulder
The relevant online program at the University of Colorado Boulder isn’t an artificial intelligence degree program specifically. Instead, it’s a Master of Science in Computer Science program that incorporates machine learning and other AI-related subject matter into a broader curriculum. As such, students gain a breadth of knowledge not only in the topics related to artificial intelligence but also in how this field fits into the larger discipline of computer science.
In this 30-credit computer science degree program, students take at least one course in the foundations of data structures and algorithms and one in an area that represents software architecture for big data. Beyond these requirements, computer science students must take breadth courses in the principles and practice of network systems; computing, ethics and society; and – most importantly, for students interested in AI – a course in machine learning.
Machine learning coursework in this computer science degree program includes:
- Introduction to machine learning (supervised)
- Unsupervised algorithms in machine learning
- Introduction to deep learning
Students customize their curriculum through their elective courses, to which they devote 15 credits. Elective coursework for this computer science program includes several areas of study relevant to artificial intelligence, such as:
- Data mining methods
- Modeling of autonomous systems
- Robotics
- Deep learning and natural language processing
- Deep learning applications for computer vision
6. Colorado State University
A second Colorado institution deserves a spot on our list of the best artificial intelligence degree programs: Colorado State University. Colorado State University is a public university located in Fort Collins, Colorado. The school was founded in 1870.
The online extension of Colorado State University is CSU Global. CSU Global offers more than 40 fully online programs of study. The institution bills itself as “the nation’s first 100% online, public, not-for-profit, regionally accredited online state university.”
U.S. News & World Report has included Colorado State University on its lists of national universities, top public schools and best value schools.
Colorado State University’s Master’s in Artificial Intelligence & Machine Learning
The online Master of Science in Artificial Intelligence & Machine Learning at CSU prepares students for roles like AI engineer or machine learning engineer. Students can also use this degree to break into broader careers like software developer, computer systems designer and computer and information research scientist.
In the 30-credit program, students learn to use and apply principles of software development, artificial intelligence and machine learning. The objective of the program is to equip students with the knowledge and skills to develop and refine solutions to real-world problems that successfully model human behavior.
Core coursework in the program includes:
- Principles of programming
- Management for the computer science professional
- Ethical leadership in software development
- Principles of software development
- Design and analysis of algorithms
- Foundations of operating systems
- Foundations of artificial intelligence
- Foundations of computer vision
- Principles of machine learning
A capstone course also gives students the opportunity to apply what they have learned about machine learning and neural networks.
7. Lewis University
Another top school for an artificial intelligence online degree is Lewis University. The private university was founded in 1932 as a Catholic institution. Lewis University is headquartered in Romeoville, Illinois, about 35 miles from Chicago. The school has a total enrollment of 6,500 as of 2023.
U.S. News & World Report has included Lewis University on its lists of the best regional universities in the Midwest, the best value schools and the best colleges for veterans.
Studying Artificial Intelligence at Lewis University
Lewis University doesn’t offer an online degree program in artificial intelligence specifically. Instead, the school offers an Artificial Intelligence Concentration within its Master of Science in Computer Science program.
Core coursework in the Master of Science program includes studies in the following areas:
- Programming fundamentals
- Computer organization
- Algorithms and data structures
- Discrete structures
- Operating systems
- Communications and networking
Students devote six credits to research coursework in computer science, including a master’s thesis or project.
Students take as many credits in their concentration as they do in core computer science coursework. This means that, in spite of the general computer science degree title, students have plenty of exposure to their field of specialization. The concentration coursework required for artificial intelligence students includes:
- Artificial intelligence 1
- Artificial intelligence 2
- Statistical programming
- Supervised machine learning
- Natural language processing
- Robotics
Total credit hours for Lewis University’s online Master of Science in Computer Science program amount to anywhere from 33 to 51.
By the time students complete the program with an artificial intelligence concentration, they will have the skills to design intelligent and autonomous systems that draw upon machine learning techniques.
8. Drexel University
For an excellent graduate artificial intelligence degree online, don’t overlook Drexel University. The private Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, institution is a prestigious school that dates back to 1891. Drexel is a research university that has been awarded R1 status for its very high level of research.
U.S. News & World Report has ranked the school highly on numerous fronts. Drexel has landed a spot on the publication’s lists of national universities, best value schools and most innovative schools.
The Master’s in Machine Learning and Artificial Intelligence at Drexel
Drexel offers its Master of Science in Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning both online and on-campus formats. The curriculum encompasses 45 quarter credits.
Coursework consists of five required classes, split into computational and applied courses. Computational courses include introduction to artificial intelligence, machine learning and deep learning. Applied coursework includes an introduction to programming, applications of machine learning and applied artificial intelligence. A capstone course is also required.
Students complete one required elective course of study in each of three areas:
- Data science and analytics
- Foundations of computation and algorithms
- Applications of artificial intelligence and machine learning
Students fill up their curriculum with seven free electives. Examples of electives include:
- Applications of machine learning
- Game artificial intelligence
- Applied machine learning for data science
- Explainable artificial intelligence
- Human-artificial intelligence interaction
Full-time students finish Drexel’s master’s program in two to three years. Part-time students generally take two to four years to complete the program.
9. University of Advancing Technology
The University of Advancing Technology is, as the name suggests, all about tech. It should be no surprise that a university with a focus on advancing cutting-edge technology is also a great artificial intelligence school.
The school offers more than 20 technology degrees in fields like cyber security, creation and simulation, digital arts, game studies and software engineering. There are also tech-related degrees in business and innovation.
This for-profit institution of higher learning may not be nationally known, but it has a strong regional reputation. In fact, U.S. News & World Report has ranked the school #32 in the nation on its Regional Colleges West list as of 2023. The school is also regionally accredited by The Higher Learning Commission.
Studying Artificial Intelligence at the University of Advancing Technology
The University of Advancing Technology’s artificial intelligence degree is a Bachelor of Science program in the category of software engineering degrees. Coursework in this program includes the theoretical knowledge and practical skills to achieve the following objectives:
- Design machines that learn
- Develop AI-powered tools for real-world applications and specific industries
- Create physical smart devices that use AI
- Integrate into AI tools cloud databases and voice and facial recognition
- Use advanced coding skills and knowledge of multiple programming languages to create original algorithms
Foundational courses introduce students in this artificial intelligence program to the principles of programming and the skills for programming using Java, C# and C++. Skills development courses, of which students take at least 12 credits, may expand students’ knowledge of programming or cover topics like the following:
- Databases
- Software engineering principles
- Software quality assurance
- Data structures and algorithms
- Mobile platform software development
- Artificial life
The curriculum also includes a Synthesis Core in which students may take classes in AI theories and techniques, special topics in artificial life and advanced software development.
Online students at the University of Advancing Technology pursue their studies through the school’s SyncFlex Learning approach. This learning model is designed with adult students in mind and emphasizes project-based and experiential learning.
10. Davenport University
Davenport University is a private college that dates back to 1866. The Grand Rapids, Michigan, school is a career-focused no-for-profit institution that first began offering online courses over 20 years ago.
U.S. News & World Report has included Davenport University on its lists of regional universities in the Midwest and top performers on social mobility.
Undergraduate and Graduate Courses in AI at Davenport University
What makes Davenport University a great artificial intelligence school for both graduate and undergraduate students is its inclusion of AI coursework in computer science programs at both levels of study.
In the Bachelor of Science in Computer Science program, artificial intelligence is one of three possible specialties. Other specializations students can consider include computer theory and algorithms and gaming and simulations.
Undergraduate students begin their computer science coursework with foundational courses in areas like programming, database design and discrete structures. They devote 51 credits to major coursework that includes studies in the following topics:
- Concepts of program languages
- Operating systems
- Software engineering
- Data structures and algorithms
- Security foundations
- Parallel and distributed systems
- Assembly language and computer architecture
- Artificial intelligence
- Computer vision
- Game design
- Biometric fundamentals
For the artificial intelligence specialty, coursework includes:
- Pattern recognition
- Deep learning
- Design and analysis of algorithms
- Special topics: Advances in biometrics
Computer science majors at Davenport University also complete a capstone course and a computer science internship or field experience.
The graduate degree in AI at Davenport is a Master of Science degree. Artificial intelligence isn’t a distinct concentration area within the school’s online computer science master’s degree. Instead, AI – along with machine learning and pattern recognition – fit under the umbrella of the traditional computer science concentration. The other concentration available to students in this program is security.
The core curriculum of Davenport University’s Master of Science in Computer Science program includes graduate courses in the following areas:
- Theory of computation
- Operating systems
- Data communications and network
- Design and analysis of algorithms
In the Computer Science concentration, students take the following classes:
- Artificial intelligence
- Computer vision
- Secure software analysis and design
- Pattern recognition and machine learning
Graduate students at Davenport also complete either a thesis or a master’s project.
11. Worcester Polytechnic Institute
If you’d like to situate your knowledge of artificial intelligence within the broader context of computer science or data science, consider a master’s degree from Worcester Polytechnic Institute. This technical university dates back to 1865. The Worcester, Massachusetts, school has always emphasized the practical application of technical knowledge. That’s one reason the computer science and artificial intelligence courses WPI offers today are project-based. This emphasis on project-based learning for graduate students makes Worcester Polytechnic Institute a great artificial intelligence school.
U.S. News & World Report has ranked Worcester Polytechnic Institute on numerous of its best schools lists, including national universities, best value schools, most innovative schools and best schools for co-ops/internships and senior capstone experiences.
AI-Related Degree Programs at Worcester Polytechnic Institute
Worcester Polytechnic Institute doesn’t offer an artificial intelligence degree, per se, but the school does incorporate concentrations in AI into two separate online master’s degree programs.
The Master of Computer Science program begins with foundational courses in systems and network programming and an introduction course that covers programming concepts, data structures and algorithms. The Design Core curriculum within this computer science degree includes the following topics of study:
- Algorithm design and analysis
- Software systems design
- Database management systems
- Human-computer interaction
- Mobile and ubiquitous computing
Computer science students who choose the Artificial Intelligence/Machine Learning Focus devote nine credits to this specialization. AI coursework includes:
- Artificial intelligence
- Knowledge discovery and data mining
- Deep learning
This computer science master degree program doesn’t require a thesis, but it does require a capstone project.
In Worcester Polytechnic Institute’s Master of Science in Data Science program, students start their education with coursework in math foundations for data science and introductory studies in programming concepts, data structures and algorithms. Again, the Design Core is a major component of students’ coursework. Data science graduate students complete coursework in the following areas:
- Introduction to data science
- Statistical methods for data science
- Big Data management
- Database management system
- Data mining business applications
- Business intelligence
- Machine learning
- Big data analytics
- Knowledge discovery and data mining
The Artificial Intelligence/ Machine Learning Focus track in the Data Science program includes six credits of coursework in areas like the following:
- Artificial intelligence
- Machine learning
- Knowledge discovery and data mining
- Big data management
- Data visualization
For either program, a computer science undergraduate degree is not required. That feature makes WPI a great artificial intelligence school for aspiring career changers.
12. University of Wisconsin Milwaukee
The University of Wisconsin Milwaukee is a public university that was founded in 1956. The school, which encompasses more than 23,000 students and 213 academic programs, prizes affordability and educational opportunities for all age, grade and career levels.
The University of Wisconsin Milwaukee offers extensive online learning options. The school, which bills itself as the state’s largest online education program,” offers 47 degree and certificate programs that can be completed entirely online. All told, the University of Wisconsin Milwaukee offers close to 900 online classes.
U.S. News & World Report has awarded the University of Wisconsin Milwaukee spots on rankings lists including national universities, top public schools and top performers on social mobility.
Studying Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning Online at the University of Wisconsin
The University of Wisconsin Milwaukee offers its Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning Graduate Certificate both on campus and online. The 15-credit program costs around $14,000 total, regardless of whether you live in-state or out-of-state. One benefit of studying AI online at the University of Wisconsin is the ability to “stack” this program with another graduate certificate program to add up to a master’s degree.
Required coursework for this program includes either an introductory course in database systems or a class in programming for machine learning. Students must also take either an introduction to machine learning course or a course on machine learning and applications. Students also take at least two and potentially three Application Elective courses. The subjects of these courses include the following:
- Advanced machine learning
- Advanced digital signal processing
- Artificial intelligence planning techniques
- Natural language processing
- Image processing
- Robotics
- Intermediate control systems
- Text retrieval applications in biomedicine
- Optimal control theory
- Operations research in engineering management
Students must generally complete the program within three years. However, students can complete this coursework in as little as one year.
13. Carnegie Mellon University
Carnegie Mellon University has an excellent reputation for research. In fact, the private university located in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, is particularly well-known for its programs in computer science, engineering and other areas of technology.
U.S. News & World Report has ranked Carnegie Mellon University highly on several of its college rankings lists, including national universities, best value schools and most innovative schools. As of 2023, the publication had awarded Carnegie Mellon University the first-place spot (tied) for the subject of computer science and several of its subfields – most notably, artificial intelligence.
Studying AI Engineering at Carnegie Mellon University
At Carnegie Mellon University, students can pursue an online Graduate Certificate in a specific but valuable niche. The AI Engineering Fundamentals for Mechanical Engineering equips established mechanical engineers with the technical skills to apply artificial intelligence and machine learning to the practical problems they encounter on a daily basis. The 100% online program is taught by the same Carnegie Mellon University instructors as on-campus coursework. It takes nine months to complete this program, which consists of just two graduate-level courses taught in a live online format:
- Machine learning & artificial intelligence for engineers
- Deep learning for engineers
The objectives of this program emphasize preparation for real-world engineering challenges, so the hands-on nature of the curriculum makes perfect sense. By the time students finish their certificate, they have developed proficiency in the use of AI and machine learning techniques in engineering design and how deep neural networks apply to engineering.
Carnegie Mellon does offer a more extensive curriculum in artificial intelligence – the Masters of AI Engineering for Mechanical Engineering program. However, this program is only available on campus for full-time students.
14. University of San Diego
If you want to dig deeper into the applications of artificial intelligence studies, the University of San Diego may be for you. The private Catholic institution has a strong reputation for research as well as education.
U.S. News & World Report has included the University of San Diego on its lists of national universities, best value schools, best colleges for veterans and top performers on social mobility.
Studying Applied Artificial Intelligence at the University of San Diego
The University of San Diego is home to an online Master of Science in Applied Artificial Intelligence program.
Courses in the program include the following:
- Probability and statistics for artificial intelligence
- Introduction to artificial intelligence
- Data analytics and Internet of Things
- Ethics in artificial intelligence
- Fundamentals and applications of machine learning
- Neural networks and deep learning
- Natural language processing
- Computer vision
- Machine learning operations
In addition to their coursework, students must complete a capstone project that simulates real-world application of AI. The capstone course also requires students to compile a portfolio that showcases the work they have done over the course of earning a master’s degree in artificial intelligence.
Although the program emphasizes application over theoretical knowledge, the curriculum won’t shy away from bigger questions about the field. The University of San Diego views its program as a “ thought leader” in the field of AI and aims to ensure that its graduates practice “ethical and socially responsible” use of artificial intelligence technology.
The 30-unit program takes only 20 months to complete. Because students take one seven-week course at a time, they can devote their full attention to each class. Students should expect to devote 15 to 20 hours to their studies each week.
15. Dakota State University
Dakota State University is a public institution located in Madison, South Dakota. Although Dakota State University began as a teacher education school in 1881, it now offers more than 40 academic programs through four colleges.
More than 1,700 of the school’s 3,200 total student body are online students. Other notable facts are the school’s placement rate for graduates and its 76% rate of students who receive financial aid.
RELATED: 50 Top Artificial Intelligence Degree Scholarships
U.S. News & World Report has recognized Dakota State University on its lists of regional universities in the Midwest, top public schools and top performers on social mobility.
Dakota State University’s Bachelor of Science in AI program
The online artificial intelligence degree option at Dakota State University is intended for undergraduate students. In the school’s Bachelor of Science in Artificial Intelligence program, coursework covers everything from theoretical underpinnings of the field to practical technical skills, ethics and the social impact of AI.
Dakota State University’s AI degree program is offered through the Beacom College of Computer and Cyber Sciences. Required coursework for this bachelor’s degree includes studies in the following subject areas:
- Introduction to computers
- Introduction to AI
- Computer science
- Programming for analytics
- Predictive analytics
- Concepts in artificial intelligence
- Artificial intelligence tools and frameworks
- Applied artificial intelligence
- Applications of deep learning
- Algorithms and optimization
- Mathematical foundations of AI
- Data structures
- Special topics in AI
- Ethics in computer security
- Foundations of scripting programming
This major isn’t for those who despise math. Besides their core major coursework and general education coursework, students complete 15 credits of Support Courses in mathematics, including statistics, linear algebra and calculus.
Built into the Bachelor of Science in Artificial Intelligence curriculum at Dakota State University is the opportunity to minor in another area of interest. Students may apply 18 credits of coursework to meet the requirements for a minor in any area outside of AI and machine learning. Minoring in another subject, with options ranging from business to science and more, can help students build up valuable content knowledge that can put them on a path to applying their AI knowledge to their field of interest.
16. Indiana University
Indiana University is a global leader in research and education. This public institution encompasses more than 930 academic programs and 90,000 students across nine campuses. The Bloomington campus is not only the largest and oldest campus but also the most highly ranked. U.S. News & World Report has included Indiana University—Bloomfield on numerous rankings lists, including national universities, top public schools and best value schools.
The Bachelor’s Degree in Artificial Intelligence at Indiana University
The online artificial intelligence program at Indiana University is a bachelor’s degree. AI degrees at this level are rare as it is, but even more unique is that this program is a Bachelor of Arts, not a Bachelor of Science.
Students core courses make up only 13 credit hours of this 120-credit bachelor’s degree program. These courses include:
- Introduction to artificial intelligence
- AI ethics
- Recent trends in AI
- Collaborative human-AI systems
- Introductory data science
Human-centered computing AI courses make up considerably more of the program’s curriculum. This coursework includes studies in the following areas:
- Programming
- Social Impact of Bots and Automation
- Social informatics
- Mathematical foundations of informatics
- Information infrastructure
- Information representation
- Applications of data mining
- Cognitive automation and bots development
- Deep learning neural networks
- Enterprise cognitive automation
- Natural language processing
In addition to these major courses, students also choose four AI Selective courses. Examples of these courses include Internet-of-Things interface design for business innovation, visualizing information and web mining.
Students who earn the Bachelor of Arts in Artificial Intelligence degree at Indiana University can go on to work in roles such as the following:
- Artificial intelligence architect
- AI UX researcher
- A bots developer
- Conversation developer
- Human factors engineer
- Software applications developer
- Business intelligence analyst
17. Kansas State University
Located in Manhattan, Kansas – otherwise known as the “Little Apple” – Kansas State University dates back to 1863. The longstanding public college has an undergraduate enrollment of more than 15,000.
Kansas State University offers more than 100 online programs of study. The online division of the school boasts a 97% job placement rate.
U.S. News & World Report has recognized Kansas State University on its lists of national universities, best value schools and top public schools.
The Bachelor’s in Machine Learning and Autonomous Systems Program at Kansas State University
Most artificial intelligence programs are offered at the graduate or post-baccalaureate level. At Kansas State University, students can earn a bachelor’s degree in Machine Learning and Autonomous Systems. The fully online degree program prepares students for roles like the following:
- Artificial intelligence engineering
- Machine learning engineer
- Big data engineer
- Artificial intelligence data analyst
- Data scientist
- Data mining analyst
- Business intelligence developer
Major requirements for the Bachelor’s in Machine Learning and Autonomous Systems degree program include the following:
- Applied data analysis and tools
- Fundamentals of visual literacy
- Survey of machine learning and autonomous systems
- Applied data analysis and tools
- Supervised learning in autonomous systems
- Unsupervised learning in autonomous systems
- Reinforcement learning in autonomous systems
- Introduction to automata and cybernetic systems theory
- Computer systems studio
- autonomous systems senior capstone
The program encompasses two tracks: Web Development and Computational Core.
Students who choose the Web Development Track take classes in subjects such as:
- Programming
- Computing principles
- Web fundamentals
- Hardware and network fundamentals
- System and software fundamentals
- Database systems
- System administration
- Web development project
- Data structures for machine learning
In the computational Core Track, students can expect to take classes such as:
- Introduction to Computing
- Fundamental computer programming concepts
- Advanced programming
- Full stack web development
- Data structures and algorithms
- Web page development
- Database essentials
- Computer systems administration
- Applied data science
Students can further focus their studies through the major electives they choose. Options include robotics programming, machine vision, fundamental methods of biostatistics and programming techniques for data science.
18. Southern Methodist University
Southern Methodist University is a private institution located in Dallas, Texas. The school, which was founded in 1911, is known for its research and community service, among other attributes.
U.S. News & World Report has included Southern Methodist University on its lists of national universities, best value schools, top performers on social mobility and more.
Concentrating on Artificial Intelligence at Southern Methodist University
At Southern Methodist University, students have the option of completing a Master of Science program online with a concentration in AI. The core coursework for the general Computer Science program includes studies in two of the following areas:
- Operating systems
- Algorithm engineering
- Computer architecture
- File organization and database management
For the artificial intelligence and machine learning specialization, the required coursework includes the principles of artificial intelligence and machine learning in Python. Students customize their coursework within their area of concentration through Specialization Depth electives that may include two of the following subjects of study:
- Data mining
- Advanced data mining
- File organization and database management
- Information storage and retrieval
- Information retrieval and web search
- Logic programming
- Machine learning and neural networks
- Mobile applications for sensing and learning
Students can complete this 30-credit program in as little as 20 months. Both thesis options and coursework-only options are available.
Southern Methodist University also offers an online AI Boot Camp through its Continuing & Professional Education division. This non-credit program of study equips students with proficiency in the most cutting-edge AI tools and technologies in just 24 weeks.
19. Maryville University
Maryville University is a nationally recognized, regionally accredited private institution of higher learning founded in 1872. The St. Louis, Missouri, school has embraced online education for more than a decade. Maryville University offers upwards of 65 online programs of study at the bachelor’s, master’s and doctoral levels.
U.S. News & World Report has ranked Maryville University on its lists of national universities and top performers on social mobility.
The Online Master of Science in Artificial Intelligence at Maryville University
Maryville University offers a Master of Science in Artificial Intelligence program that is 100% online. The program can be completed in as little as two years. Features like no GRE requirement, no application fee and three start dates spread across the calendar year make it easy for students to start their education at Maryville.
Coursework in the MS in Artificial Intelligence program at Maryville follows a project-based learning format. Students complete core courses in the following areas:
- Fundamentals of artificial intelligence
- Mathematics for artificial intelligence
- Ethics of artificial intelligence
- Python
- Machine learning
- Reinforcement learning
- Deep learning
Elective courses in this program include studies in the following areas:
- Applications of artificial intelligence
- Advanced artificial intelligence
- Robotics
- Image processing
- Text mining
Students also complete a capstone course that requires them to apply what they have learned to a data science project based on real-world problems.
By the time students finish their coursework in this program, they will have the skills to use computer programming tools like Python, R and C++, as well as tools like Amazon Web Services and Google Colabroratory. Students also have the opportunity to earn two built-in professional certificates in the course of their studies.
Maryville also offers a Post-Baccalaureate Certificate in Fundamentals of Artificial Intelligence and, beginning in the Fall 2023 semester, a Post-Baccalaureate Certificate in Advanced Artificial Intelligence.
20. University of California, Berkeley
It might surprise you that one of the best online degree options for artificial intelligence is offered out of a business school rather than a science or engineering department. That’s the case at the University of California, Berkeley. Here, the online Executive Education in Artificial Intelligence program focuses on Business Strategies and Applications of AI. The program is offered out of the Haas School of Business.
UC Berkeley is a public institution dating back to 1868. It’s a well-respected school, particularly in the fields of computer science, engineering and business – all of which are relevant to the school’s AI programs.
U.S. News & World Report has ranked the University of California, Berkeley among its lists of the top public schools, national universities, best value schools and most innovative schools. The publication also awarded this school the ranking of tied for first in the nation for the subject of computer science (current as of 2023) and recognized the institution for several subfields, including artificial intelligence.
Studying Artificial Intelligence at UC Berkeley
Online options for artificial intelligence studies at the University of California Berkeley are intended for experienced professionals in the tech industry or other areas of business.
The Executive Education in Artificial Intelligence program is a short-term educational program intended for senior business leaders, mid-career workers looking to advance and data analysts who need to expand their skill set to include how AI applies to data analytics.
This online program requires just four to six hours per week and takes only two months to complete. As such, it doesn’t cover the study of artificial intelligence to the same depth as a full-fledged degree program. Rather, it provides knowledge of the basics of artificial intelligence and machine learning for business applications. Students take courses in topics like the following:
- AI and business
- Machine learning basics
- Neural networks and deep learning
- Computer vision and natural language processing
- Robotics
- AI strategy
- Building AI teams in business organizations
- The future of AI in business
Students complete this program with a capstone business project in which they develop and test the implementation of a plan to integrate artificial intelligence into one or more aspects of their business or organization.
While this program doesn’t provide the same level of credentials as a full degree program, it offers plenty of bang for your buck. The entire program costs less than $3,000 and equips students with practical knowledge of how to apply this cutting-edge knowledge to the business world.
UC Berkeley also offers a Professional Certificate in Machine Learning and Artificial Intelligence. This program is also offered at the executive education level. In this program, students devote six months to the development of specialized skills. The program is more demanding and requires students to devote 15 to 20 hours per week to their coursework.
First, students learn the foundations of machine learning and artificial intelligence. This program includes coursework in the following areas:
- Introductory machine learning
- The fundamentals of machine learning
- Introductory data analysis
- The fundamentals of data analysis
- Practical applications of machine learning and artificial intelligence
Next, students cover coursework in machine learning and artificial intelligence techniques. This section of the curriculum includes coursework in the following:
- Clustering and principal component analysis
- Linear and multiple regression
- Feature engineering and overfitting
- Model selection and regularization
- Time series analysis and forecasting
- Classification and k-nearest neighbors
- Logistic regression
- Decision trees
- Gradient descent and optimization
- Support vector machines
- Practical applications of machine learning and artificial intelligence techniques
Students finish their program with a series of advanced coursework and a capstone project. The advanced topics embedded into the curriculum include:
- Natural lagnauge procesisng
- Recommendation systems
- GBM, XGB and Random Forest ensembled techniques
- Deep neural networks
Upon finishing this program, students receive a certificate of completion.
Choosing the Right Schools for Artificial Intelligence Degrees
So many highly respected institutions now offer online artificial intelligence degrees and certificates. In some ways, choosing a school for AI and computer science is more difficult than ever. Students interested in this field should dig deeper into what they want from a degree and career in artificial intelligence.
Do you want the broader contexts of a computer science program that incorporates AI into the curriculum? Or are specialized artificial intelligence programs more in line with what you want out of your studies?
Are you interested in being at the forefront of AI research? Or would you rather spend your workdays integrating existing AI technology into systems and solutions?
Do you need a degree? Or will certificate programs provide what you need to advance your career?
Ultimately, there are no objective right answers. Choosing the right artificial intelligence program comes down to individual students’ goals and interests. Students interested in AI research should pay attention to whether a school has an artificial intelligence lab. In an artificial intelligence laboratory, students can participate in AI research projects.
What about students who would rather learn to apply existing artificial intelligence techniques? They may prefer non-thesis programs, for one thing. These students should also look for programs that incorporate internships and experiential learning.
Students may opt for a computer science degree program if they want to develop more of a breadth of knowledge. Artificial intelligence programs are better for students interested in gaining specialized knowledge.
Whatever background you’re approaching from or career objectives you’re aspiring to, the great artificial intelligence school options on our list can help you reach your goals of working in artificial intelligence research and application.
