Syracuse University MS in Artificial Intelligence Science

Syracuse University offers a Master of Science in Artificial Intelligence Science through the College of Engineering and Computer Science.

The 30-credit program is taught in person on the Syracuse campus and is new for fall 2026. Introduction to Machine Learning and Artificial Intelligence Algorithms are required courses, students choose a specialization course in AI hardware design or natural language processing, and the degree ends with a two-semester capstone or a master’s thesis.

Last reviewed: October 2026

Quick Facts

DegreeMS in Artificial Intelligence Science
SchoolCollege of Engineering and Computer Science
LocationSyracuse, New York
FormatIn person, full time or part time
Credits30
SpecializationAI hardware design or natural language processing
Culminating ExperienceTwo-semester capstone or master’s thesis
Minimum GPANo minimum published
GREOptional
Tuition$2,086 per credit hour (2026–27)
Application DeadlinesMay 1 (fall), November 1 (spring)

Official MS in Artificial Intelligence Science page

Curriculum

Syracuse offers this degree through its Department of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science. It is a standalone program, separate from the university’s MS in Computer Science and from the applied AI and data science master’s degrees in the School of Information Studies.

Students complete 30 graduate credits consisting of:

  • 12 credits of core courses
  • 3 credits in a specialization course
  • 6 credits of capstone or thesis
  • 6 credits of AI electives
  • 3 credits of a general engineering elective

Core Courses

  • ASE 510 – Formal Foundations of Artificial Intelligence
  • ASE 511 – Introduction to the Theory and Practice of AI and Machine Learning
  • ASE 665 – Introduction to Machine Learning
  • ASE 669 – Artificial Intelligence Algorithms

ASE 510 and ASE 511 are 500-level bridge courses. They cover logic, proof, linear algebra, and introductory AI so that graduates of mathematics, physics, and engineering programs can enter without a computer science degree.

ASE 665 covers supervised and unsupervised learning, regression, decision trees and ensemble models, neural networks, and deep learning. ASE 669 covers search, automated reasoning, probabilistic models, and reinforcement learning.

Specialization Course

Students take one of the following, which sets a hardware or software focus:

  • ASE 660 – AI Hardware Design Fundamentals
  • CIS 668 – Natural Language Processing

AI Electives

Students select two courses from:

  • CIS 637 – Multiagent Systems: Concepts and Programming
  • CIS 735 – Machine Learning for Security
  • ELE 653 – Image and Video Processing
  • ELE 715 – Robot Manipulators I
  • ASE 660 – AI Hardware Design Fundamentals
  • CIS 668 – Natural Language Processing
  • ASE 690 – Independent Study
  • CIS 731 – Artificial Neural Networks
  • PAI 796 – Philosophy and Ethics of Data Science

A course cannot count toward two requirements. The program has no course dedicated to deep learning, computer vision, or data mining. Deep learning is a topic within ASE 665, and Artificial Neural Networks is an elective.

General Engineering Elective

Students select one course from:

  • ECS 629 – Modeling and Optimization Techniques
  • CIS 545 – Introduction to Combinatorics
  • CIS 623 – Assured Programming with Formal Methods
  • CIS 655 – Computer Architecture
  • CIS 675 – Design and Analysis of Algorithms
  • ELE 603 – Functional Methods of Engineering Analysis

Any course from the AI electives list can also be used here.

Capstone or Thesis

Most students complete ASE 653 – Artificial Intelligence Capstone 1 and ASE 654 – Artificial Intelligence Capstone 2, a two-semester sequence of team projects covering AI system specification, design, development, and evaluation. Students planning doctoral study or research can take ASE 997 – Masters Thesis for 6 credits instead and defend the thesis before a faculty panel.

Cost and Tuition

Syracuse is a private university and charges graduate tuition by the credit hour, with the same rate for New York residents and nonresidents.

For the 2026–27 academic year, the university lists:

CategoryAmount
Graduate tuition, per credit hour$2,086
Health and Wellness Fee, per year$908
Activity Fee, per year$120

At 30 credits, tuition comes to about $62,580 at the 2026–27 rate, before fees and scholarships. Students who sign a university housing contract also pay a $460 Residential Internet and Cable Access and Service Fee.

The College of Engineering and Computer Science awards merit-based tuition grants of 5 to 50 percent to select admitted master’s students. There is no separate application, but students must apply by the published deadlines to be considered.

Rates can change each year, so students should confirm current costs with the university.

View Syracuse University graduate costs

Admission Requirements

Applicants should hold a bachelor’s degree in a STEM or engineering field. A computer science degree is not required, because the two bridge courses are built into the 30 credits.

The college does not publish a minimum GPA. Its graduate admissions page reports an average GPA of 3.3 for admitted master’s students, and faculty committees review each application as a whole.

Application Materials

Applicants submit:

  • graduate application and $75 application fee
  • transcripts from every post-secondary institution attended
  • letters of recommendation
  • personal statement
  • resume or CV
  • TOEFL, IELTS, or Duolingo scores for international applicants, when required

The GRE is optional for spring 2027 and fall 2027 applications, although the college recommends submitting a score. Unofficial transcripts are accepted for review, and an official degree-bearing transcript is required after admission.

Application Deadlines

The College of Engineering and Computer Science lists these deadlines for its master’s programs:

Entry TermDeadline
FallMay 1
SpringNovember 1

Decisions are sent on a rolling basis. The program page does not list its own dates, so applicants should confirm with the college that the program admits in their intended term.

Program Format

The college lists the MS in Artificial Intelligence Science as an in-person program on the Syracuse campus. It is not among the college’s online master’s degrees.

Students can enroll full time or part time. The college states that its master’s programs are usually completed in 24 months, and that some students finish in a year and a half.

The program is new. Syracuse announced it as part of a wider set of AI degrees for fall 2026, alongside a bachelor’s degree in artificial intelligence science in the same department.

Who Is This Program Best For?

Syracuse University’s MS in Artificial Intelligence Science is a strong option for STEM and engineering graduates who want an algorithm-focused AI degree on campus without first completing a computer science core.

It may be especially appealing to students interested in:

  • machine learning and core AI algorithms
  • AI hardware design and acceleration
  • natural language processing
  • a two-semester team capstone or a research thesis
  • entering AI from mathematics, physics, or engineering
  • part-time study on campus

The program is in its first year, is offered in person only, and is priced at private university tuition. Six of the 30 credits are bridge courses, the plan has room for only two AI electives, and there is no dedicated course in deep learning, computer vision, or data mining. Students who want an online degree, a longer list of advanced machine learning electives, or lower tuition may want to compare other New York schools or the university’s MS in Applied Data Science.

Students can also compare Syracuse University with other master’s programs in machine learning, artificial intelligence, and related fields offered in New York.

View All Machine Learning Programs in New York