Applications Due Oct. 15
The USF Master of Science in Artificial Intelligence
In an era where AI reshapes industries from healthcare to finance, marketing, and education USF’s Master of Science in Artificial Intelligence stands at the forefront. Designed specifically for students without an undergraduate degree in computer science or computer engineering, the program equips graduates with the technical skills necessary to transition into AI-focused roles across various industries.
The program provides comprehensive training in foundational computer science and artificial
intelligence concepts. Graduates master core AI technologies and the lessons are applied
across real-world domains such as healthcare, education, finance, and marketing.
The Master of Science in Artificial Intelligence is available in both in-person and
online formats. The GRE is not required.
What Students Learn
This 31-credit hour program can be completed in two years. It begins with three two-credit essentials courses and a Mathematics for AI course.
After mastering the essentials, students move on to courses related to programming, algorithms, and ethical issues in AI.
Students begin to choose their electives in the third semester, selecting both broadening and deepening electives. Broadening electives expand intellectual horizons, while deepening electives enhance expertise and allow students to gain advanced knowledge within a chosen field.
Labs and Research
Students learn alongside researchers pioneering AI in vision, reasoning, bioinformatics, affective computing, and more. Together, they had a substantial $47 million in related research expenditures over the past four years. Labs are clustered in the following groups:
- AI and Cognitive Computing
- Cybersecurity
- Computing Hardware and Sensors
- Human-Centered Computing
- Network and Systems
Research areas specific to this program include machine learning, neural networks, deep learning, natural language processing, computer vision, robotics and autonomous systems, knowledge representation and reasoning, ethics and policy in AI, AI tools and frameworks, AI in healthcare, finance, education, marketing, and other industries.
Career Outlook
The degree’s alignment with industry needs and USF’s expanding tech ecosystem makes it a powerful launchpad for an AI career. According to a recent Gartner report, 67% of mature organizations are creating new roles for generative AI and 87% of them have a dedicated AI team.
Students earning USF’s MS in AI will be well-prepared for roles such as machine learning engineer or data scientist, or they might tackle emerging roles in the field, such as:
- Prompt Engineers – create the right prompts to get useful answers from AI
- Model Validators – make sure AI models are accurate and fair
- Decision Engineers – help AI make smarter choices in real-world situations
- AI Product Managers – turn AI into working product
- AI Ethicists – check if the AI is safe, responsible, and aligned with values
According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, employment of data scientists is projected to grow 36 percent from 2023 to 2033, much faster than the average for all occupations. For computer and information research scientists, a category that includes machine learning engineers, the median salary is $140,910. Additionally, ndustry signals underscore the surging need for AI expertise. Business Insider reports that there was a 25.2% year-over-year increase in AI-related job postings in early 2025, with median salaries hitting $156,998. That same report notes that one in four tech jobs postings in the U.S. in 2025 seek AI skills.