Ottawa University offers a Master of Science in Computer Science with an AI and Machine Learning Specialization at its Kansas City campus in Overland Park, Kansas. It is the university’s only master’s degree with machine learning coursework that is listed on its program pages and scheduled for 2026–27.
The 42-credit-hour program follows an executive format: students attend a residency weekend on campus three times a year and complete a workplace practicum in every term. Seven core courses cover cloud systems, networks, architecture, and project management, and the five-course specialization adds two machine learning courses and a data science course.
Last reviewed: October 2026
Quick Facts
| Degree | MS in Computer Science, AI and Machine Learning Specialization |
| School | Information Science and Technology Institute |
| Location | Overland Park, Kansas (Kansas City campus) |
| Format | Weekend residency, with alternating terms online |
| Credits | 42 credit hours |
| Practicum | 12 terms of executive practicum (6 credit hours) |
| Campus Residencies | Three weekends per year |
| Application Fee | $75 |
| GRE | Strongly encouraged for international applicants |
Official MS in Computer Science page
Curriculum
Ottawa’s catalog describes this as an executive computer science degree focused on practical applications. Machine learning is concentrated in the specialization, and the core is weighted toward systems, infrastructure, and management.
Students complete 42 credit hours consisting of:
- 21 credit hours of major core courses
- 15 credit hours in a specialization, either AI and Machine Learning or Cybersecurity
- 6 credit hours of executive practicum, taken over 12 terms
Major Core Courses
- CST 7010 – Advanced Computer Science Topics
- CST 7080 – Cloud System Design
- CST 7090 – Advanced Network Design and Deployment
- CST 7100 – Scalable Computer Architecture
- CST 7300 – Advanced Systems Analysis and Design
- CST 7500 – IT/IS Project Management
- CST 7600 – Ethics in Computer Science
Advanced Computer Science Topics is a survey course that touches on artificial intelligence, machine learning, computer vision, natural language processing, big data, and cloud computing. Ethics in Computer Science includes artificial intelligence ethics, bias in algorithms, and data privacy.
AI and Machine Learning Specialization
- CST 7020 – Programming Language Logic
- CST 7030 – Analysis of Algorithms and Computation
- CST 7040 – Fundamentals of AI and Machine Learning
- CST 7050 – Neural Machine Learning and Data Mining
- CST 7060 – Data Science for Business Intelligence
Fundamentals of AI and Machine Learning covers supervised and unsupervised learning, including decision trees, neural networks, clustering, and regression. Neural Machine Learning and Data Mining covers deep learning, convolutional and recurrent neural networks, natural language processing, and data mining algorithms, using TensorFlow, Keras, and PyTorch. Data Science for Business Intelligence covers data mining techniques, statistical analysis, and data visualization.
The published curriculum has no electives, so these are the only machine learning and data science courses in the degree. Students who choose the Cybersecurity Specialization instead do not take them.
Executive Practicum
The catalog requires 12 terms of executive practicum, worth 6 credit hours in total. The practicum courses are EXP 8701 – Executive Practicum and EXP 8702 – Executive Practicum – Concentration, each worth half a credit hour.
Each practicum course combines a faculty-led seminar with work experience. Students must be employed in a training position related to their concentration and complete at least 40 contact hours with the employer during the course. The catalog does not list a thesis or a capstone course.
Cost and Tuition
Ottawa is a private university and charges graduate tuition by the credit hour at its Kansas City campus.
The university’s 2026–27 tuition and fees schedule for the Kansas City campus does not list a per-credit tuition rate for the MS in Computer Science, so applicants need to request the current rate from the university. The schedule does list these fees for master’s students:
| Charge | Amount |
|---|---|
| Application fee, master’s program | $75 |
| Resource and Administration Fee | $220 per term |
| Conferral Fee | $195 |
The schedule took effect on August 24, 2026, and Ottawa notes that tuition and fees are subject to change.
View Ottawa University tuition and fees
Admission Requirements
Ottawa lists two ways to qualify for the program:
- a bachelor’s degree in computer science, software engineering, or a related field such as physics, mathematics, or electrical engineering
- a bachelor’s degree in an unrelated field plus one to two years of professional work experience in an IT-related field
The catalog does not publish a separate admission entry or minimum GPA for this program. For international graduate applicants in general, it asks for a U.S. equivalent undergraduate GPA of 3.0 or above.
Application Materials
The program page does not list application materials. The catalog requires international applicants to submit:
- an affidavit of financial support showing the ability to pay for one full year
- an essay of up to two double-spaced pages on their sense of purpose at Ottawa University
- proof of English proficiency
Ottawa states that the GMAT or GRE is strongly encouraged for international graduate students. It does not list either test for domestic applicants to this program.
For English proficiency, the catalog accepts a TOEFL score of 79, an IELTS score of 6.5, or a Duolingo English Test score of 110, each with section minimums. Applicants whose bachelor’s or first master’s degree was taught in English can document that instead.
Application Deadlines
Ottawa does not publish application deadlines for this program. Its 2026–27 calendar schedules a residency weekend at the start of each semester, so applicants should confirm available start terms with the university.
| Term | Residency Weekend |
|---|---|
| Fall 1, 2026 | September 18–20, 2026 |
| Spring 1, 2027 | February 5–7, 2027 |
| Summer 1, 2027 | May 21–23, 2027 |
| Fall 1, 2027 | September 17–19, 2027 |
Program Format
Ottawa lists the MS in Computer Science at one location, its Kansas City campus in Overland Park, Kansas. It is not listed at the residential campus in Ottawa, Kansas, or as a fully online degree.
The university groups the program with its weekend residency programs. The year has six terms, and the residency weekend falls in the first term of each semester, with the second term listed as online. Standard weekend class times are Friday from 1 to 9 p.m., Saturday from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m., and Sunday from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m.
The 12 required practicum terms correspond to two years of year-round enrollment at six terms per year.
Ottawa titles the program “MSCS w/ CPT” on its website, a reference to Curricular Practical Training, and lists it among the graduate programs open to international students in Overland Park. Because the practicum requires employment in a related training position in every term, applicants should confirm how that requirement applies to them before enrolling.
Who Is This Program Best For?
Ottawa University’s MS in Computer Science is a practical option for people working in IT who want a broad computing degree with an introduction to machine learning and can attend three weekends a year in the Kansas City area.
It may be especially appealing to students interested in:
- applied machine learning and deep learning at an introductory graduate level
- cloud system design, networks, and scalable architecture
- IT project management and systems analysis
- a schedule built around weekend residencies rather than weekly classes
- combining study with a related job through the executive practicum
- admission from an unrelated bachelor’s degree with IT work experience
Machine learning makes up a small part of this degree. Two of the 12 academic courses are machine learning courses, the curriculum has no electives, thesis, or capstone, and computer vision and natural language processing appear only as topics within broader courses. The program also requires related employment throughout, and its tuition rate is not on the published schedule. Students who want a machine learning focused curriculum, research opportunities, a weekly campus program, or clearly published costs may want to compare other Kansas schools.
Official Ottawa University Program Links
- MS in Computer Science program page
- 2026–2027 catalog entry
- CST course descriptions
- Executive Practicum course descriptions
- 2026–27 weekend residency dates
- International students page
- English language proficiency requirements
- Tuition and fees
Related Machine Learning Programs in Kansas
Students can also compare Ottawa University with other master’s programs in machine learning, artificial intelligence, and related fields offered in Kansas.
- Fort Hays State University – Hays
- Kansas State University – Manhattan
- Pittsburg State University – Pittsburg
- University of Kansas – Lawrence
- Wichita State University – Wichita