The Best Online Master’s Degrees in Machine Learning

The School of Engineering at Columbia University offers an Online Computer Science Master’s Degree in Machine Learning. The curriculum requires:

• Breadth courses
• Six points of Required Track courses
• Six points of Track Electives
• Six points of General Electives

Breadth courses cover three essential categories:

• Theory
• Systems
• AI and Applications

Students must complete a minimum of one approved class from each category and then one additional class from any of the three categories. Students must maintain a minimum GPA of 2.7 throughout the program. At the end of the program students can apply their knowledge to a variety of fields including:

• Bioinformatics
• Fraud detection
• Intelligent systems
• Finance
• Information retrieval

Credit requirements: 30 credits

Selection of possible courses:

• Foundations of Graphical Models
• Computer Vision
• Computational Aspects of Robotics
• Biometrics
• Speech Recognition
• Advanced Robotic Manipulation
  

Program length: Up to five years

Start dates: Fall, Spring, and Summer

Admissions and transfer credit information: Students must have an undergraduate degree, preferably in a related field, with a minimum GPA of 3.3. Students must submit transcripts, resume, personal statement, three letters of recommendation, and GRE test scores.

Admissions accepts up to six transfer credits.

Drexel offers the Master of Science in Machine Learning and Artificial Intelligence degree that is available on campus and online. This program is customizable, allowing online students to complete three graduate certificates, which, when combined, are given credit for a full master’s degree. This allows students to choose three certificates from among a varied and wide array of certificate programs.

For example, students may get their first certificate in Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning, and the second certificate in Data Science, and then work with the advisors to tailor the third certificate to build upon the first two. This is a very innovative way to tailor the particular fields of study within the AI and ML framework. In addition to the completed Master’s program, graduates will have completed three certifications.

Course length: 45 credits

Selection of courses:

• Deep Learning
• Artificial Intelligence
• Machine Learning
• Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning Capstone I–II

This program teaches students theoretical and applied artificial intelligence and machine learning competencies.

Colorado State University offers several computer science related fields of study including:

• Data Analytics
• Information Technology Management
• Cyber Security
• Web Application Development
• Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning

Students may enroll in several of these fields at the undergraduate or graduate level.

The Online Master of Science in Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning degree is for students with an interest in designing technical solutions for real-world problems. Students must complete coursework in Discrete Mathematics and Quantitative Business Analysis before starting this program. Through out the degree students gain experience in:

• Achieving goals using Artificial Intelligence reasoning
• Applying logic and machine learning to problem solving
• Analyzing and controlling project goals and outcomes
• Using ethical practice in data processing and robotic control

Graduates of the program have successful careers as:

• Intelligence or Interaction Designer
• Systems Analyst
• Software Developer
• AI or Machine Learning Scientist/Engineer

Credit requirements: 30 credits

Selection of required courses:

• Principles of Programming
• Ethical Leadership in Software Development
• Foundations of Operating Systems
• Principles of Machine Learning
• Applying Machine Learning and Neural Networks – Capstone

Online instruction style: Asynchronous

Admissions and transfer credit information: Interested applicants must have a previous undergraduate degree with a 3.0 GPA. Students must submit previous transcripts, a statement of purpose, a professional resume, and CSU’s SmarterMeasure Assessment.

The online Master of Science in Data Science at Southern Methodist University is interdisciplinary. Students experience course influences from:

• The Dedman College of Humanities and Sciences
• The Lyle School of Engineering
• The Meadows School of the Arts

There are two areas of specialization available: Machine Learning and Business Analytics. The online Master of Science in Data Science with specialization in Machine Learning requires:

• 30 credits of coursework
• 1.5-credit immersion experience located on an SMU campus in Texas
• 2-credit capstone project

Students gain experience with advanced computational algorithms. Students then apply the algorithms in an effort to solve complex problems. Upon graduate students may pursue highly technical careers such as:

• Data Architect
• Programmer
• Application Developer
• Statistician

Credit requirements: 33.5 credits

Selection of required courses:

• Statistical Foundations for Data Science
• Doing Data Science
• Applied Statistics: Inference and Modeling
• File Organization and Database Management
• Machine Learning
• Visualization of Information
• Quantifying the World

Online instruction style: Asynchronous and Synchronous aspects. Classes are held live, while students can complete coursework at their own pace.

Program length: Most students finish in twenty to twenty four months.

Start dates: January, May, August, and November. Students enter and progress as a cohort.

Admissions and transfer credit information: Students must submit transcripts, professional resume, statement of purpose, at least one letter of recommendation, and GRE test scores.

The University of San Diego offers the online Master of Science in Applied Artificial Intelligence degree. This program is the same for online and on-campus students.

This program focuses on teaching Applied Artificial Intelligence, which means that students will use AI in real world applications.

Online students learn proficiency in these domains of AI:

• Deep Learning
• Natural Language Processing
• Internet of Things
• Computer Vision

Online courses include:

• Introduction to Artificial Intelligence
• Data Analytics and Internet of Things
• Natural Language Processing
• Machine Learning: Fundamentals and Applications

The time it takes to get this online degree is 20 months (less than two years). Courses last for seven weeks, are taken one at a time, and two courses are taken for each semester. This AI programs culminates in a capstone project.

Stevens Institute of Technology offers an Online Master of Science in Machine Learning. The curriculum requires students to complete a minimum of four core courses and three electives. Students gain a comprehensive understanding of deep learning theory. Students then develop real-world applications in a variety of fields including:

• Computer vision
• Speech recognition
• Natural language processing
• Robotics
• Finance
• Weather prediction

Both thesis and non-thesis tracks are available. Stevens Institute encourages students to take advantage of the main campus location and its connections to New York City for internship opportunities. Graduates of the program have found career opportunities as:

• Research Scientist
• Data Scientist/Engineer
• Machine Learning Engineer
• Business Intelligence Developer

Credit requirements: 30 graduate credits

Selection of required courses:

• Machine Learning: Fundamental and Applications
• Artificial Intelligence
• Deep Learning
• Natural Language Processing
• Statistical Machine Learning

Learning enrollment options: Part or Full time enrollment

Admissions and transfer credit information: Students must have a prior undergraduate degree with a minimum GPA of 3.0. Students must submit official transcripts and two letters of recommendation. Submitting a professional resume is optional. Students attending full-time must also submit GRE scores. Admissions does not require GRE scores for students attending part-time.

The Online Master’s in Computer Science degree through Georgia Tech offers specializations in:

• Computation Perception and Robotics
• Computing Systems
• Interactive Intelligence
• Machine Learning

The Online Master of Science in Computer Science: Machine Learning Specialization is the first degree of its kind available through a Massive Online Open Course platform. This format allows Georgia Tech to reach a larger student body at a more affordable price. Georgia Tech is able to offer this program format in partnership with Udacity and AT&T.

Students must complete 15 hours of coursework for the Machine Learning specialization. This includes six hours of core courses and nine hours of electives. The additional 15 hours to complete the degree are any free elective courses through the Computer Science program.

Credit requirements: 30 hours

Selection of possible courses:

• Introduction to Graduate Algorithms
• Machine Learning
• Computer Vision
• Reinforcement Learning and Decision Making
• Big Data for Health
• Bayesian Methods

Program length: Most students complete the program in three years. Georgia Tech allows up to six years.

Start dates: Fall or Spring

Admissions and transfer credit information: Students must submit previous transcripts showing a minimum GPA of 3.0. Admissions prefers applicants with a strong background in a computer science related area. Additional material includes three letters of recommendation and GRE test scores.