Vanderbilt University’s College of Connected Computing is launching a new Master of Science in Artificial Intelligence; a fully online degree built for working professionals across every field who want to influence how artificial intelligence is used in their organizations.
The program starts from a premise that distinguishes it from most AI graduate degrees: the hardest problem in organizational AI is no longer how to build a system, but what to build, for whom, and how to get it adopted. The MSAI is designed for the professionals whose judgment about those questions shapes what AI actually does in an organization and whose field expertise, not their coding ability, is the scarcest resource.
The 30-credit-hour curriculum runs across 20 courses in eight-week modules and blends live and self-paced learning. Students can complete the degree in about 18 months on an accelerated path or at a standard part-time pace of roughly two years.
The curriculum is built on three phases: AI Literacy, AI Fluency, and AI Leadership. These phases teach professionals what an AI system does, how to build quality standards, and how to capture their institutional expertise in a form that their organization can use. Going beyond the idea that graduates will understand AI, the program has each student build the specific artifact that makes them the person who shapes how AI works in their organization. By graduation, students will have produced a portfolio of applied projects drawn from real problems in their own field.
This program is built for professionals from any field, whether they have ever touched programming or not. The cross-industry cohort model is crucial. A healthcare administrator, a policy analyst, and a supply chain director each frame the same AI problem differently and the program is built so they learn from one another. The sequence culminates in two capstone projects, including one developed with an industry mentor and presented to a panel of practitioners.
The MSAI reflects the reason the College of Connected Computing exists. Founded as Vanderbilt’s first new college since 1981, it was built on the conviction that computing now reaches into nearly every field of work and discovery, and that its real power is unlocked when people put it to work on the problems that matter to them. The technology can carry out the work; the judgment about what work is worth doing remains human.
“To learn to master AI, you’ll need to understand how it works, what impact it has on your organization, how to steer it toward your goals, and how to apply all of this to your area of expertise. Our program is designed to get you there and lead.”
-Jesse Spencer-Smith | Director of Graduate Studies, MS in Artificial Intelligence
Although the program is fully online, students are full members of the Vanderbilt CCC community. Every fall and spring semester, students have the opportunity to come to campus in Nashville to connect with the broader community and participate in the AI Showcase.
Applications
Applications are open now, with a deadline of July 15. Inaugural cohort members are eligible for merit awards that significantly reduce tuition. To learn more and request information, visit the College of Connected Computing at computing.vanderbilt.edu/msai