Oakland University offers a Master of Science in Artificial Intelligence through the Department of Computer Science and Engineering in the School of Engineering and Computer Science.
The 32-credit program is taught in person on the Rochester campus. Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning are required courses for every student, and each student then completes one of nine concentrations, including a Machine Learning concentration that requires Deep Learning and Applications.
Last reviewed: October 2026
Quick Facts
| Degree | MS in Artificial Intelligence |
| Tracks | Research or Professional |
| School | School of Engineering and Computer Science |
| Location | Rochester, Michigan |
| Format | In person, with most courses in late afternoon and early evening |
| Credits | 32 |
| Culminating Experience | Thesis or project on the research track; coursework only on the professional track |
| Minimum GPA | 3.0 for regular admission |
| GRE | Required only for applicants from institutions without U.S. regional accreditation, and may be waived |
| Fall Deadlines | February 15 (early), April 15 (regular), July 15 (late) |
| Tuition | $951.50 per credit hour in-state; $1,078.25 non-resident (2026–27) |
| Typical Length | 2 years |
Official MS in Artificial Intelligence page
Curriculum
Oakland offers this degree as a standalone program, separate from its MS in Computer Science. It is available on a research track or a professional track, and both share the same core and concentration structure.
Students complete 32 graduate credits, usually eight 4-credit courses, consisting of:
- 12 credits of core courses
- 12 credits in one concentration
- 8 credits of electives, or thesis and research credits on the research track
Credit is given only for grades of B- or better, with no more than two B- grades, and students must keep a 3.0 GPA.
Core Courses
- CSI 5130 – Artificial Intelligence
- CSI 5170 – Machine Learning
- CSI 5390 – Software Engineering or CSI 5220 – Object Oriented Analysis and Design
Unlike the university’s MS in Computer Science, the program does not require a core drawn from operating systems, databases, computer architecture, and algorithms or theory.
Concentrations
Each student declares one concentration, takes its required course, and chooses two more courses from its list:
- Machine Learning: CSI 5140 – Deep Learning and Applications
- Edge AI and IoT: CSI 5110 – Foundations of Edge AI
- Embedded AI: ECE 5900 – Special Topics: Embedded Artificial Intelligence
- Human-Centered AI, Autonomous Systems and Robotics: CSI 5900 – Special Topics: AI-Human Interaction
- Smart Manufacturing, Machine Vision and Industry 4.0: ISE 5512 – Artificial Intelligence in Manufacturing
- Artificial Intelligence for IT Operations (AIOps): CSI 5150 – AI for IT Operations
- AI for Cyber Security and Trustworthy AI: CSI 5580 – AI for Cybersecurity and Privacy
- Augmented/Virtual Reality: SYS 5900 – Special Topics: Virtual and Augmented Reality
- Ethics of AI: CSI 5100 – Ethics and Bias in AI
Deep Learning and Applications is the required course only in the Machine Learning concentration. It appears as a choice in several other concentrations, so students outside the Machine Learning concentration can still take it.
Machine Learning Concentration
After CSI 5140, students choose two courses from:
- CSI 5180 – Natural Language Processing
- CSI 5810 – Information Retrieval and Knowledge Discovery
- ME 5310 – Machine Learning Engineering Design
- ME 5434 – Metamodeling and Optimization Methods in Design
- ISE 5002 – Engineering Operations Research
- ISE 5430 – Engineering Operations Research – Deterministic Models
- ISE 5431 – Engineering Operations Research – Stochastic Models
- ISE 5517 – Statistical Methods in Engineering
Natural Language Processing is an elective, not a required course. Much of this list is operations research, statistics, and engineering design, so the concentration holds fewer machine learning courses than its name suggests.
Other Artificial Intelligence Electives
Courses in the other concentration lists include:
- CSI 5550 – Visual Computing
- CSI 6550 – Advanced Visual Computing
- CSI 5240 – Cloud Computing
- CSI 5460 – Information Security
- ECE 5770 – GPU Accelerated Computing
- ECE 6742 – DSP in Embedded Systems
- ECE 5500 – Robotic Systems and Control
- ECE 5532 – Autonomous Vehicle Systems I
- ECE 5551 – Human Robot Interaction
- ECE 6410 – Intelligent Control Systems
On the professional track, the 8 elective credits may come from any concentration list in the degree.
Thesis and Project
The professional track can be completed with coursework alone. On the research track, the 8 elective credits are replaced by master’s thesis research (CSI 6998) or a project or independent study (CSI 7970), along with 2-credit courses in research methodology and research seminar.
Thesis students work with an advisory committee of at least three faculty members and defend the thesis publicly. No more than 8 thesis or project credits count toward the degree.
Cost and Tuition
Oakland charges graduate tuition by the credit hour. The university lists one graduate rate for all schools, with no separate rate for engineering and computer science graduate courses.
For the 2026–27 academic year, the university lists:
| Category | Tuition per Credit Hour |
|---|---|
| Graduate, in-state | $951.50 |
| Graduate, non-resident | $1,078.25 |
At 32 credits, tuition comes to about $30,448 for Michigan residents and about $34,504 for non-residents. A 4-credit course is about $3,806 in-state and $4,313 non-resident.
The tuition page does not list separate mandatory fees. Rates can change each year, so students should confirm current costs with the university.
View Oakland University tuition rates
Admission Requirements
Applicants need a bachelor’s degree in computer science, information technology, software engineering, computer engineering, or an equivalent field. Applicants from other disciplines are considered after completing prerequisite courses.
Regular admission requires a minimum 3.0 undergraduate GPA on a 4.0 scale. Applicants with a GPA between 2.7 and 3.0 may be offered admission with limited standing.
Entering students should have completed one course in each of:
- probability and statistics
- programming
- Calculus II
Calculus III and linear algebra are recommended but not required. Missing prerequisites must be completed with a grade of B or better before entering the program. The department can also consider industry experience or certificates in programming and algorithms, which it verifies in an interview.
Application Materials
Applicants submit:
- online graduate application and $45 application fee
- official transcripts from all post-secondary institutions attended
- two recommendation forms from faculty or professionals in the field
- CV or resume
- proof of English proficiency when required
The GRE is required only for applicants who graduated from an institution not accredited by a U.S. regional accrediting agency, and those applicants need a Quantitative Reasoning score at the 70th percentile or better. The department may waive the GRE for applicants with a GPA of at least 3.0 on their last degree or at least two years of engineering work in the United States.
International applicants also submit a course-by-course transcript evaluation from a NACES member organization.
Application Deadlines
| Entry Term | Deadline |
|---|---|
| Fall | February 15 (early), April 15 (regular), July 15 (late) |
| Winter | October 1 (early), November 15 (regular) |
| Summer | March 1 |
All application documents must be received by the deadline before a file is reviewed. The Graduate School lists general international deadlines of May 1 for fall, September 1 for winter, and January 1 for summer, so international applicants should plan around the earlier date.
Program Format
The graduate catalog lists the MS in Artificial Intelligence as an in-person program with a length of two years and no required summer semesters.
Most courses are scheduled in the late afternoon and early evening for part-time students who work in industry. Full-time students register for 8 to 12 credits per semester.
Oakland does not describe an online version of this degree. Up to 9 credits of graduate coursework may be transferred from another institution with department approval.
Who Is This Program Best For?
Oakland University’s MS in Artificial Intelligence is a strong option for students with a computing or STEM background who want required AI and machine learning courses and an engineering-oriented concentration in the Detroit area.
It may be especially appealing to students interested in:
- machine learning and deep learning
- embedded AI and edge computing
- robotics and autonomous vehicle systems
- AI in manufacturing and machine vision
- AI for cybersecurity and IT operations
- evening classes alongside full-time work
- a choice between a thesis and a coursework-only degree
The degree has only two required AI and machine learning courses, and with 4-credit courses the full program is about eight courses. Deep learning is required only in the Machine Learning concentration, natural language processing is an elective, and the program is taught in person. Students who want an online degree, a larger set of required machine learning courses, or a data science and statistics focus may want to compare other Michigan schools.
Official Oakland University Program Links
- MS in Artificial Intelligence program page
- Graduate catalog entry and requirements
- MS in Artificial Intelligence overview
- Graduate School steps to apply
- International graduate applicants
- Tuition rates
Related Machine Learning Programs in Michigan
Students can also compare Oakland University with other master’s programs in machine learning, artificial intelligence, and related fields offered in Michigan.
- Eastern Michigan University – Ypsilanti
- Grand Valley State University – Grand Rapids
- Lawrence Technological University – Southfield
- Michigan State University – East Lansing
- Michigan Technological University – Houghton
- University of Michigan – Ann Arbor
- University of Michigan-Dearborn – Dearborn
- Wayne State University – Detroit
- Western Michigan University – Kalamazoo