Artificial Intelligence (M.S.)

Program Overview:

The Master of Science in Artificial Intelligence program is a cutting-edge graduate program designed to equip students with advanced knowledge and skills in the rapidly evolving field of artificial intelligence (AI). This knowledge and skills include, but is not limited to, machine learning, vision, intelligent systems, robotics and agent-based systems, knowledge discovery, data mining, and the secure, trustworthy, ethical and responsible use of AI. This program blends theory with hands-on practical experience, preparing graduates for leadership roles in AI research, development, and application across diverse industries.

DELIVERY: On campus

Master of Science, Artificial Intelligence (non-thesis)

Major Area Core Coursework - 30 Credit Hours

Note: No credit will be granted on the Program of Study for a core course with a grade of ‘C’ or lower.

• Complete 18 credits of Core Coursework:

• CSC 722 - Machine Learning Fundamentals 3 cr
• CSC 724 - Applied Reinforcement Learning 3 cr
• CSC 752 - Computer Vision (C) 3 cr
• CSC 761 - Advanced Artificial Intelligence (C) 3 cr
• CSC 785 - Information Storage and Retrieval 3 cr
• CSC 787 - AI in Medical Imaging Informatics 3 cr
• CSC 790 - Seminar (C) 3 cr
• CSC 792 - Topics (C) 1-3 cr (related to AI approved by the Department) 3cr

•  

• Complete 12 credits of Elective Coursework:

• CSC 542 - Applied Math for Data Science and Machine Learning 3 cr
• CSC 547 - Artificial Intelligence (C) 3 cr
• CSC 557 - Data Analysis/Decision Making 3 cr
• CSC 559 Introduction to Data Science and Engineering 3cr
• CSC 586 - Data Mining 3 cr
• CSC 588 - Pattern Recognition & Machine Learning 3 cr

Accelerated Master’s Program: B.S./M.S. in Artificial Intelligence

Up to 12 credits applied toward the B.S. in Computer Science program may be used to satisfy graduate credits. The following restrictions apply:

1. The courses must be taken at the 500/600 level as an undergraduate. Courses taken at the 500/600-level can be applied to both the B.S. and M.S. degrees. Dual-listed courses must be taken at the 500-level.
2. The student must apply to, and be admitted to, the accelerated program prior to taking courses to be credited toward the accelerated program.
3. No courses taken prior to admission to the accelerated program may be counted toward an accelerated graduate degree. No exceptions to this policy will be approved.
4. Courses that are “double counted” must be approved by the department chair for inclusion in the program of study prior to registration for the course or the credits will not be applied toward the accelerated graduate degree. No exceptions to this policy will be approved.
5. Only courses taken at the student’s home institution are eligible for dual credit. No transferred courses from other institutions will be allowed to count toward the accelerated master’s degree.
6. To fulfill the undergraduate required courses, graduate courses on the same topic areas must be taken.

General Application Requirements

1. Completed application
2. $35 application fee
3. Official transcripts*
4. Letters of recommendation*
5. Statement of purpose
6. Resume/CV*

*Requirements for admission vary by program and may require different documentation and have different deadlines. This list is not all-inclusive, to view specific program requirements and submission deadlines, follow the “Admissions Information” hyperlink at the top of this page OR visit the specific program/dept. page found here: link.usd.edu/grad-catalog

Location Matters for Non-Licensure Track Programs

This program is not designed or advertised to lead to a professional license or certification required for employment.

USD is permitted to operate under the terms of the National Council for State Authorization Reciprocity Agreement (NC-SARA) policies and standards in offering online courses/degree programs to residents in 49 states, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, and the Virgin Islands.  Online courses/programs may also be offered to residents of California (a non-SARA state) because it does not regulate out-of-state public institutions.

Additionally, this program is authorized to offer supervised field study experiences (internship, externship, clinical, rotation, practicum, independent study, study away, etc.) in South Dakota. Please be aware that there may be some restrictions on your ability to engage in supervised field study outside of South Dakota. Please contact a program representative if you have questions regarding supervised field study.

Distance education courses or programs will not be offered outside of the United States without prior written approval from the University, which may be withheld for any reason. If you are taking distance courses while physically located outside of the United States, it is your responsibility to confirm the following: (a) if the country will recognize an online degree; (b) the availability of supervised field study opportunities in the country; and (c) if the country charges any additional taxes, withholdings or fees associated with online distance education programs.

For more information, please visit USD’s State Authorization page or contact your admissions counselor.

Questions?

Department of Computer Science
605-677-5388 | cs@usd.edu | usd.edu/csci

Graduate Admissions 
605-658-6140 | gradadmissions@usd.edu  | usd.edu/grad