Cal State East Bay MS in Computer Science – Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning

California State University, East Bay offers a Master of Science in Computer Science with an Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning concentration. The 30-unit program combines graduate computer science foundations with a dedicated AI/ML specialization and a capstone. It is a strong fit for students who want a computer science master’s degree with clear machine learning and artificial intelligence depth.

Quick Facts

SchoolCalifornia State University, East Bay
LocationHayward, California
DegreeM.S. in Computer Science – Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning Concentration
Credits30 units
FormatCampus
Estimated TuitionApprox. $20,328 resident; $34,458 nonresident at 2026-27 rates
LengthAbout 2 years (planning estimate)
AI / ML FocusArtificial intelligence, machine learning, robotics, and computer vision

Curriculum

The Computer Science Department states that the M.S. requires 30 units, or about 10 courses. Five courses (15 units) are required across the M.S., four courses (12 units) are electives, and students complete a capstone experience. The department asks applicants to select a concentration when they apply.

The Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning concentration was added to the graduate program for Fall 2025. CSU describes the concentration as covering topics such as robotics, computer vision, and computer learning. Students should use the official catalog to confirm the current concentration course list and elective options.

Credits and Program Length

The degree requires 30 units. Cal State East Bay says M.S. students typically take one to four courses, or 3 to 12 units, each semester depending on their circumstances. The university does not publish one fixed completion time for all students, so about two years is a reasonable planning estimate for a typical full-time schedule. Students who take heavier course loads may finish sooner, while part-time enrollment can extend the timeline.

Tuition and Cost

For 2026–27, Cal State East Bay lists $8,548 in graduate tuition plus $1,616 in campus fees for one academic year of full-time resident enrollment. Using two academic years as the planning timeline gives an estimated resident tuition-and-fee cost of about $20,328. This is an estimate rather than a university-published total program price, and future tuition increases can raise the final cost.

Nonresident students pay an additional $471 per semester unit under the CSU 2026–27 schedule. For 30 units, that adds about $14,130, producing a rough current-rate estimate of $34,458 when added to the two-year resident tuition-and-fee estimate. This estimate does not include housing, books, transportation, health insurance, or other personal costs.

Admissions

Applicants complete the university graduate application and then receive a departmental review. The Computer Science Department says applicants normally have a bachelor’s degree in computer science or a related field, a 3.0 undergraduate GPA, and grades of B or better in required computer science and mathematics prerequisites. GRE scores are no longer required. The university’s general graduate minimum is lower, but the department’s 3.0 expectation is the more relevant standard for this program.

Prerequisite preparation includes programming, discrete mathematics, computer organization, data structures and algorithms, programming languages, computer architecture, automata, algorithms, operating systems, calculus, linear algebra/numerical methods, and statistics. Students with some missing prerequisites may be admitted conditionally at the department’s discretion, but deficiencies must be completed before graduate computer science coursework and do not count toward the 30-unit degree.

Machine Learning and AI Focus

This concentration has a direct and meaningful AI/ML connection. It is not a general computer science degree with a single AI elective. Students enter a named Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning concentration, and the CSU identifies robotics, computer vision, and computer learning among its focus areas. That makes Cal State East Bay a strong match for students who want broad graduate computer science training while keeping AI and machine learning at the center of their specialization.

Format

The M.S. is a campus-based graduate program associated with Cal State East Bay’s Computer Science Department in Hayward. The department notes that it supports students remotely and on campus, but it does not present this concentration as a fully online master’s program. For comparison purposes, we classify the program as Campus.

Capstone Options

The M.S. includes a graduate capstone experience. The department lists three capstone routes: CS 692 Capstone Exam, CS 693 Capstone Project, and CS 699 Thesis. The best option depends on whether a student prefers a comprehensive examination, an applied project, or a research-focused thesis.

Who Is This Program Best For?

Cal State East Bay is a good fit for students who want a public-university computer science master’s with a formal AI/ML concentration and a relatively moderate resident tuition level. It is especially relevant for applicants with solid computer science and mathematics preparation who want graduate work tied to machine learning, computer vision, robotics, and related AI topics. Applicants from outside computer science should review the prerequisite list carefully because the department expects substantial undergraduate preparation.

Bottom Line

Cal State East Bay’s M.S. in Computer Science – Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning concentration qualifies as a strong fit for MastersInMachineLearning.org. The program requires 30 units, includes a formal AI/ML specialization and capstone, and has an estimated resident tuition-and-fee cost of about $20,328 over two years using 2026–27 rates. Its main strength is the combination of a broad computer science graduate core with a clearly defined machine learning and artificial intelligence path.