BY Sydney LakeJune 16, 2023, 1:32 PM
Signage for artificial intelligence during the Taipei Computex expo in Taipei, Taiwan, as seen in May 2023. (Photo by I-Hwa Cheng—Bloomberg/Getty Images)
While buzz about artificial intelligence (A.I.) has largely focused on the growing popularity of tools such as ChatGPT, the demand for jobs and growth in the sector is booming. In fact, 49% of workers could have half or more of their tasks exposed to large language models like ChatGPT, according to a recent study from the University of Pennsylvania.
It may not seem like much yet, but the number of job postings related to A.I. accounted for 5.3% of total jobs in the information sector in 2022, according to data from market research firm Lightcast. Plus, job postings in industries not traditionally affiliated with tech, such as real estate, are also seeing an uptick in demand for A.I. skills among candidates.
But only about one-in-10 workers across the globe has the educational or professional background to fill jobs requiring A.I. skills, according to a recent report by tech giant Salesforce.
In an effort to meet industry demand, more and more universities now offer degree programs focused on artificial intelligence. Namely, the University of Texas—Austin, which Fortune ranks as having top tech bootcamps and MBA programs, announced the launch of its master’s degree program in A.I. in January.
“The fields of artificial intelligence and machine learning have seen unprecedented growth over the last 10 years,” Adam Klivans, a professor of computer science and director of the Institute for Foundations of Machine Learning (IFML) at UT—Austin, said in a statement announcing the new program. “Our goal is to ensure that every qualified student can access a premier education in A.I., one that is keeping pace with this rapidly evolving field.”
While there are options to take free online courses in artificial intelligence, several universities now offer full-fledged degree tracks. Fortune compiled a list of three master’s in A.I. programs to check out if you’re looking to make a career switch. Each of these schools offer other master’s degree programs that Fortune has ranked among the best—including top MBA programs.
1. University of Texas—Austin
UT—Austin offers its online master’s program in A.I. through its department of computer science and machine learning laboratory, and the degree can be completed at your own pace. The degree covers about two years worth of content. The program is offered on edX, an online education platform, and costs $10,000 to complete, making it one of the more affordable options.
The degree covers A.I.-related topics, including natural language processing, reinforcement learning, computer vision, and deep learning, which prepares graduates for A.I. jobs in engineering, research and development, product management, and consulting.
The program quickly skyrocketed in popularity, with more than 4,000 prospective students requesting more information from the university within 24 hours of its launch announcement. Applications for the first cohort open on June 1 and are due by Sept. 15, with an Aug. 15 priority deadline.
Prospective students must submit an application to the Graduate School at The University of Texas at Austin as well as a statement of purpose, resume, and transcripts. Letters of recommendation and GRE scores are optional to submit. Courses start in spring 2024.
2. Johns Hopkins University
Johns Hopkins University offers both a master’s degree and a graduate certificate in artificial intelligence through its Whiting School of Engineering. The online master’s in A.I. includes 10 courses—four core courses and six electives—and students can take up to five years to complete them.
Curriculum includes algorithms, applied machine learning, and creating A.I.-enabled systems. Johns Hopkins does require several prerequisite courses including calculus, programming, and linear algebra, but will offer provisional admission for students to complete the required courses prior to enrollment.
GRE scores aren’t required to apply, but most admitted students have at least a 3.0 undergraduate GPA. While the per-course tuition in the engineering school is $6,290, Dean’s support (financial aid) typically brings the cost down to $5,090 for graduate-level courses. This brings the estimated total cost of the online program to $50,900.
3. Duke University
At Duke University, students in the artificial intelligence for product innovation master of engineering program can complete courses in-person in 12 to 16 months or online within 24 months. Students can also choose from a variety of learning tracks—or a focus—including data science and machine learning.
The program also includes a capstone project and summer internship. Graduates take jobs as machine learning engineers, A.I. engineers, data scientists, and data engineers for companies including OpenAI, Doordash, and Target’s A.I. Lab within six months of graduation. All students must complete an online data science and Python bootcamp the summer before the start of their program.
Students complete 10 courses during the program, covering topics including A.I., machine learning, operations, and management. The management courses are offered through Duke’s Law School and Fuqua School of Business, which Fortune ranks as having the No. 8 full-time MBA program in the U.S.
The cost of Duke’s program depends on the modality (online or in-person) and the amount of time taken to complete the degree. The in-person program costs about $73,000 while the online program’s total tuition is roughly $95,000. Duke offers limited merit-based scholarships. Applications require transcripts, short-answer essay responses, a resume, three letters of recommendation, and an introductory video. Prospective students have the option to submit GRE scores.
Check out all of Fortune’s rankings of degree programs, and learn more about specific career paths.
