The University of Michigan-Dearborn offers a Master of Science in Artificial Intelligence through the College of Engineering and Computer Science.
The 30-credit program can be completed on the Dearborn campus, online, or through a mix of both. Artificial Intelligence and a machine learning course are part of the required core, and students declare one of four concentrations: Machine Learning, Computer Vision, Knowledge Management and Reasoning, or Intelligent Interaction.
Last reviewed: October 2026
Quick Facts
| Degree | MS in Artificial Intelligence |
| Concentrations | Machine Learning, Computer Vision, Knowledge Management and Reasoning, or Intelligent Interaction |
| School | College of Engineering and Computer Science |
| Location | Dearborn, Michigan or Online |
| Format | Campus, online, or a combination |
| Credits | 30 |
| Culminating Experience | Coursework, project, or thesis option |
| Minimum GPA | 3.0 |
| GRE | Not required |
| Tuition | $1,206 per credit hour for Michigan residents (2026–27) |
| Advisory Deadlines | August 1 (fall), December 1 (winter), April 1 (summer) |
| STEM Designated | Yes |
Official MS in Artificial Intelligence page
Curriculum
UM-Dearborn offers this degree through its Department of Computer and Information Science. It is a standalone program, separate from the university’s MS in Computer and Information Science and MS in Data Science, and its concentration lists also draw on electrical and computer engineering and industrial and manufacturing systems engineering courses.
Students complete 30 graduate credits consisting of:
- 12 credits of required core courses
- 9 credits in one declared concentration
- 9 credits of electives, which can include a 3-credit project or a 6-credit thesis
Students must hold a 3.0 cumulative GPA each semester and at graduation. Courses with a grade of C- or below do not count toward the degree.
Required Core
- CIS 505 – Algorithm Analysis and Design
- CIS 553 – Software Engineering
- CIS 579 – Artificial Intelligence
- CIS 581 – Computational Learning or ECE 579 – Intelligent Systems
Two of the four core courses cover artificial intelligence and machine learning. The other two are algorithms and software engineering, so the degree keeps a computer science foundation.
Machine Learning Concentration
Students who choose this concentration complete three courses from:
- CIS 511 – Introduction to Natural Language Processing
- CIS 512 – Introduction to Quantum Computing
- CIS 536 – Text Mining and Information Retrieval
- CIS 5570 – Introduction to Big Data
- CIS 581 – Computational Learning
- CIS 583 – Deep Learning
- CIS 585 – Advanced Artificial Intelligence
- ECE 552 – Fuzzy Systems
- ECE 555 – Stochastic Processes
- ECE 579 – Intelligent Systems
- ECE 5831 – Pattern Recognition and Neural Networks
- ECE 679 – Advanced Intelligent Systems
- IMSE 505 – Optimization
- IMSE 606 – Advanced Stochastic Processes
Deep Learning and Introduction to Natural Language Processing are concentration choices, not core requirements, so students who want them need to select them.
Other Concentrations
Each of the other concentrations also requires three courses from its own list. Examples include:
- Computer Vision: ECE 585 – Pattern Recognition, ECE 586 – Digital Image Processing, ECE 588 – Robot Vision, CIS 515 – Computer Graphics and Visual Computing
- Knowledge Management and Reasoning: CIS 568 – Data Mining, CIS 5700 – Advanced Data Mining, CIS 582 – Trustworthy Artificial Intelligence, CIS 685 – Research Advances in Artificial Intelligence
- Intelligent Interaction: ECE 531 – Intelligent Vehicle Systems, ECE 544 – Mobile Robots, IMSE 577 – Human-Computer Interaction, CIS 589 – Edge Computing
Electives and Completion Options
The final 9 credits follow one of three options:
- Coursework: three elective courses
- MS Project: a one-semester, 3-credit project with a written report, plus two elective courses
- MS Thesis: a two-semester, 6-credit research thesis, plus one elective course
Electives can come from any concentration outside the one the student declared. Courses from elsewhere in the college or from partner colleges need approval from a faculty advisor or the program director.
Cost and Tuition
UM-Dearborn charges graduate tuition by the credit hour. Rates depend on the college, on Michigan residency, and, for nonresidents, on whether the student is in a fully online program.
For the 2026–27 academic year, the university lists these master’s rates for the College of Engineering and Computer Science:
| Category | Tuition per Credit Hour | Estimated 30-Credit Total |
|---|---|---|
| Michigan resident | $1,206 | $36,180 |
| Nonresident, fully online program | $1,508 | $45,240 |
| Nonresident, on-campus or hybrid program | $2,017 | $60,510 |
The 30-credit totals are estimates based on the per-credit rate and cover tuition only. All students also pay a $200 registration assessment each semester.
The schedule does not show a separate online rate for Michigan residents. Rates are approved each year by the Board of Regents and can change, so students should confirm current costs with the university.
View UM-Dearborn tuition and fees
Admission Requirements
Regular admission requires a bachelor’s degree in a science, technology, engineering, or mathematics field from an accredited institution.
Applicants need an overall GPA of 3.0 or higher.
Entering students should have completed prerequisite coursework in:
- programming, with two required courses
- mathematics, with two required courses
- statistics, with one required course
The program page lists the prerequisites by UM-Dearborn course number and accepts equivalents. Calculus III and linear algebra are recommended but not required. Students missing a prerequisite can make it up after entering the program, with a grade of B or better within their first two semesters.
Application Materials
Applicants submit:
- online graduate application and $60 application fee
- transcripts from all post-secondary institutions attended
- statement of purpose of about 500 words
- resume or CV of up to two pages
The GRE is not required. Letters of recommendation are optional. The college recommends one for applicants with a GPA below 3.0 or a non-traditional background.
Unofficial transcripts are accepted for the admission review. Official transcripts are required before enrollment.
Application Deadlines
The program uses rolling admission with advisory deadlines:
| Entry Term | Domestic or Fully Online Applicants | International Applicants Needing a Student Visa |
|---|---|---|
| Fall | August 1 | May 1 |
| Winter | December 1 | September 1 |
| Summer | April 1 | Not available |
Applications are generally accepted until about two weeks before classes begin. The university does not admit international students on a student visa to this program for the summer semester.
Program Format
The degree may be completed entirely on campus, entirely online, or through a combination of on-campus and online courses.
All courses are scheduled in the late afternoon and evening, which the university describes as convenient for part-time students who work.
The degree is STEM designated, which allows eligible international students to apply for the STEM OPT extension. Students in the college’s master’s programs are expected to finish within five years of first enrollment.
UM-Dearborn undergraduates in computer and information science or software engineering can also reach the degree through an accelerated 4+1 option.
Who Is This Program Best For?
UM-Dearborn’s MS in Artificial Intelligence is a strong option for STEM graduates who want an AI degree with evening classes and the choice of campus or online study in the Detroit area.
It may be especially appealing to students interested in:
- machine learning and deep learning
- computer vision and image processing
- natural language processing and text mining
- robotics and intelligent vehicle systems
- a choice of coursework, project, or thesis
- part-time study while working, with no GRE
Half of the required core is algorithms and software engineering, each concentration is only three courses, and deep learning is not required of every student. Admission is aimed at applicants with a STEM bachelor’s degree. Students who want a fully prescribed machine learning curriculum, a statistics-centered data science degree, or a lower per-credit rate may want to compare other Michigan schools.
Official University of Michigan-Dearborn Program Links
- MS in Artificial Intelligence program page
- Graduate catalog entry
- Apply as a graduate student
- Graduate admissions dates and deadlines
- Tuition and fees
- STEM-designated program list
Related Machine Learning Programs in Michigan
Students can also compare University of Michigan-Dearborn 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
- Oakland University – Rochester
- University of Michigan – Ann Arbor
- Wayne State University – Detroit
- Western Michigan University – Kalamazoo