Clark University offers a Master of Science in Applied Artificial Intelligence (MSAAI) through the School of Professional Studies.
The program consists of 10 courses and is listed in both campus and online versions. Introduction to Artificial Intelligence, Applied Machine Learning, Knowledge Discovery and Data Mining, Applied Deep Learning, and Generative Artificial Intelligence are all required courses, and students finish with a capstone practicum.
Last reviewed: October 2026
Quick Facts
| Degree | MS in Applied Artificial Intelligence (MSAAI) |
| Concentrations | Generative Intelligence and Applications or AI for Visual Computing and Imaging (both optional) |
| School | School of Professional Studies |
| Location | Worcester, Massachusetts or Online |
| Format | Campus or online |
| Courses | 10 course units (one unit equals four semester credit hours) |
| Culminating Experience | Capstone practicum, plus a required 120-hour internship |
| Minimum GPA | Not published |
| GRE | Not required |
| Tuition | $4,245 per course on campus; $20,000 total tuition online |
| STEM Designated | Yes |
| Typical Length | As little as three semesters (18 months) full time |
Official MS in Applied Artificial Intelligence page
Curriculum
Clark measures graduate study in course units instead of credit hours. The catalog defines one unit as equivalent to four semester credit hours, and each course in this program is one unit.
Students complete 10 courses consisting of:
- 7 required core courses, including the capstone practicum
- 3 elective courses, taken either as a concentration or as free choices from the elective list
Students must also complete an internship, which carries no academic credit. A cumulative 3.0 GPA is required to graduate.
Core Courses
- MSAI 3105 – Introduction to Artificial Intelligence
- MSDA 3050 – Applied Machine Learning
- MSAI 3110 – Knowledge Discovery and Data Mining
- MSDA 3100 – Applied Deep Learning
- MSAI 3115 – Ethics, Governance, and Social Implications of AI
- MSCS 3451 – Generative Artificial Intelligence
- MSAI 3999 – Capstone Practicum
The core has no algorithms, programming languages, or software engineering requirement. Those courses belong to the university’s separate MS in Computer Science.
Generative Intelligence and Applications Concentration
- MSAI 3120 – Reinforcement Learning
- MSDA 3051 – Natural Language Processing (NLP)
- MSAI 3125 – Large Language Models (LLM’s)
AI for Visual Computing and Imaging Concentration
- MSAI 3130 – Practical Computer Vision with AI
- MSAI 3135 – Image Processing
- MSAI 3140 – Machine Learning for Computer Vision
Other Electives
Students who do not declare a concentration choose any three courses from the six concentration courses above and the following:
- MSAI 3145 – AI Applications in Healthcare
- MSPM 3892 – AI Project Management and System Design
- MSDA 3060 – Data Visualization and Story Telling
Natural language processing, reinforcement learning, and computer vision are electives, not core courses. With three elective slots, a student can complete one concentration in full but not both.
Capstone and Internship
The degree ends with MSAI 3999, a capstone practicum in which students apply their coursework to a real-world problem. There is no thesis option.
The catalog also requires an internship of at least 120 hours that relates directly to the program and is approved by the Director of Career and Professional Development. Students are responsible for finding their own placement. Students with seven or more years of directly related professional experience, or who currently work full time in a related field, may ask to have the internship waived.
Cost and Tuition
Clark is a private university and charges graduate tuition by the course unit, with the same rate for Massachusetts residents and nonresidents. The online version is priced separately as a single program total.
For the 2026–27 academic year, Clark lists:
| Format | Tuition Rate | Program Tuition (10 Courses) |
|---|---|---|
| Campus | $4,245 per course | $42,450 |
| Online | Published as a program total | $20,000 |
Campus students in this program also pay a $500 student services fee each full-time semester and a $350 STEM program technology fee each semester. New graduate students pay a one-time $125 orientation fee, and international students pay a one-time $375 fee. Health insurance is $2,833 per year for students who do not have comparable coverage.
Clark considers every applicant for merit scholarships automatically, with no separate application. The awards apply to tuition only and are final at the time of admission. Clark alumni admitted to in-person School of Professional Studies master’s programs receive a 30 percent tuition scholarship.
Clark does not publish a per-course rate or a fee schedule for the online version. Rates can change each year, so students should confirm current costs with Graduate Admissions.
View Clark University tuition and fees
Admission Requirements
Applicants need a bachelor’s degree. Clark does not list a required undergraduate major or prerequisite courses for this program.
The university does not publish a minimum GPA for admission to its master’s programs.
Application Materials
Applicants submit:
- online graduate application and $75 application fee
- resume
- personal statement of up to 800 words
- two letters of recommendation
- transcripts from all institutions attended
- proof of English proficiency when required
The GRE is not required. Unofficial transcripts are accepted for review, and official final transcripts are required before enrollment. Clark waives the application fee for applicants who join its admissions webinar series.
For English proficiency, Clark lists minimum scores of 85 on the TOEFL iBT, 6.5 on the IELTS, 61 on the PTE, or 120 on the Duolingo English Test, each with sub-score minimums.
Application Deadlines
Clark publishes one set of deadlines for all master’s programs:
| Entry Term | Priority Deadline | Final Deadline (International) | Final Deadline (Domestic) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Spring 2027 | October 1, 2026 | November 10, 2026 | December 15, 2026 |
| Fall 2027 | January 15, 2027 | June 1, 2027 | June 15, 2027 |
Applications are due by 11:59 p.m. Eastern Time on the deadline.
Program Format
Clark lists the MS in Applied Artificial Intelligence in a campus version in Worcester and an online version, each with its own tuition. The program page does not describe how online courses are delivered, so applicants should ask Graduate Admissions about scheduling and whether both concentrations are available online.
Full-time students can finish in as little as three semesters, or 18 months. Three course units per semester is a full-time load. Full-time master’s students must finish within four years of active enrollment, and part-time students within seven.
The degree is STEM designated, and Clark notes that graduates may be eligible for up to 36 months of Optional Practical Training.
Who Is This Program Best For?
Clark University’s MS in Applied Artificial Intelligence is a strong option for students who want a practice-oriented AI degree in central Massachusetts or online, with machine learning and deep learning in the required core.
It may be especially appealing to students interested in:
- applied machine learning and deep learning
- generative AI and large language models
- natural language processing and reinforcement learning
- computer vision and image processing
- AI ethics and governance
- a STEM-designated degree with no GRE requirement and a built-in internship
The degree is taught in a professional studies school and is applied by design. It has no thesis, no algorithms or systems core, and room for only three electives, and Clark publishes few details about the online version. Students who want a research thesis, deeper computer science theory, or public university pricing may want to compare other Massachusetts schools or Clark’s MS in Computer Science.
Official Clark University Program Links
- MS in Applied Artificial Intelligence program page
- Academic catalog entry
- Graduate application requirements
- Graduate application deadlines
- Graduate tuition and scholarships
- Tuition and fees
Related Machine Learning Programs in Massachusetts
Students can also compare Clark University with other master’s programs in machine learning, artificial intelligence, and related fields offered in Massachusetts.
- Boston College – Chestnut Hill
- Boston University – Boston
- Brandeis University – Waltham
- Fitchburg State University – Fitchburg
- Harvard University – Cambridge
- Northeastern University – Boston
- Tufts University – Medford
- University of Massachusetts Amherst – Amherst
- University of Massachusetts Lowell – Lowell
- Wentworth Institute of Technology – Boston
- Worcester Polytechnic Institute – Worcester