As artificial intelligence becomes more prevalent, Washington State University is offering a new master’s degree starting this fall to help students meet industry demands. 

Offered through the School of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science, WSU’s new master’s degree in AI will share some foundational computer science with a specialization in AI and machine learning topics from theory to practical applications.  

The program is aimed at students who want to level up their AI skills for employment opportunities, as well as students preparing for research in AI at a PhD-level. It will require either 30 or 33 credits, depending on whether students pursue a thesis or final project, and core courses on AI, machine learning and neural network design. Advanced courses will be offered in topics like computer vision and generative AI, and students will have six credits of electives.  

“The program offers the chance to focus on certain domains, such as AI for agriculture, energy, semiconductors, or for cybersecurity,” said Jana Doppa, Huie-Rogers Endowed Chair Professor of Computer Science, who is leading curriculum development for the program, in a statement. “Students will be able to formalize a real-world problem and then articulate the underlying AI framework that is best suited to solve this particular problem.” 

With industry partnership on projects, the program also aims to offer students real-world industry training and hands-on experience.  

WSU’s School of EECS has a strong cybersecurity program and is ranked among the top computer science programs in the U.S. in design automation, high-performance computing and AI. Its faculty conduct research in both AI and applied areas.