Wayne State University offers a Master of Science in Artificial Intelligence through the James and Patricia Anderson College of Engineering in Detroit.
The 30-credit program is taught on campus and is divided into three majors hosted by different engineering departments. In the AI Algorithms and Systems major, hosted by Computer Science, Introduction to Machine Learning and Applications, Artificial Intelligence I, and Deep Learning are all required courses. Students choose a thesis or a coursework-only plan.
Last reviewed: October 2026
Quick Facts
| Degree | MS in Artificial Intelligence |
| Majors | AI Algorithms and Systems, AI Hardware and Systems, or Industrial AI |
| School | James and Patricia Anderson College of Engineering |
| Location | Detroit, Michigan |
| Format | Campus |
| Credits | 30 |
| Culminating Experience | Thesis (Plan A) or coursework only (Plan C) |
| Minimum GPA | 2.75 for regular admission |
| GRE | Not required |
| Tuition | $1,005.13 per credit hour for Michigan residents, effective fall 2026 |
| Application Deadline | Reviewed up to the start of each semester |
Official MS in Artificial Intelligence page
Curriculum
The MS in Artificial Intelligence is a single degree shared by three departments. Each student is admitted to one major: AI Algorithms and Systems in Computer Science, AI Hardware and Systems in Electrical and Computer Engineering, or Industrial AI in Industrial and Systems Engineering. It is separate from the university’s MS in Computer Science, which has its own Artificial Intelligence concentration.
Students in the AI Algorithms and Systems major complete 30 graduate credits consisting of:
- 9 credits of AI Algorithms and Systems core courses
- 3 credits from the AI Hardware and Systems core
- 3 credits from the Industrial AI core
- 15 credits of electives under Plan C, or 9 credits of electives and a 6-credit thesis under Plan A
All courses must be graduate-level courses offered within the College of Engineering. Students need a 3.00 grade point average to graduate.
AI Algorithms and Systems Core
- CSC 5825 – Introduction to Machine Learning and Applications
- CSC 6800 – Artificial Intelligence I
- CSC 7760 – Deep Learning
Unlike the university’s MS in Computer Science, the major does not require a course in theory of automata or design and analysis of algorithms.
Courses From the Other Two Majors
Students take one course from the AI Hardware and Systems core:
- ECE 5995 – Special Topics in Electrical and Computer Engineering I (Design of Deep Learning Systems section)
- ECE 7500 – Artificial Intelligence for Natural Language Processing
- ECE 7640 – Online and Adaptive Methods for Machine Learning
They also take one course from the Industrial AI core:
- IE 6010 – IoT and Edge AI Programming
- IE 7860 – Intelligent Analytics
- DSA 6100 – Statistical Learning for Data Science and Analytics
Electives
Under Plan C, at least 12 of the 15 elective credits come from the AI Algorithms and Systems list. Under Plan A, at least 6 of the 9 do. The list includes:
- CSC 5100 – Introduction to Mobility
- CSC 5272 – Principles of Cyber Security
- CSC 5280 – Introduction to Cyber-Physical Systems
- CSC 5430 – Game Programming and Design I, with lab CSC 5431
- CSC 5800 – Intelligent Systems: Algorithms and Tools
- CSC 5870 – Computer Graphics
- CSC 6430 – Game Programming and Design II, with lab CSC 6431
- CSC 6710 – Database Management Systems I
- CSC 6860 – Digital Image Processing and Analysis
- CSC 7710 – Database Management Systems II
- CSC 7800 – Artificial Intelligence II
- CSC 7810 – Data Mining: Algorithms and Applications
- CSC 7825 – Machine Learning
Approved sections of CSC 5991 – Special Topics in Computer Science and CSC 7991 – Advanced Topics in Computer Science also count. The co-advisor for the major decides which electives are appropriate for each student.
Data mining, the second machine learning course, and digital image processing are electives rather than core courses. Natural language processing is available only as one of the three choices in the AI Hardware and Systems core.
Thesis and Coursework Plans
Plan A combines 24 credits of coursework with 6 credits of CSC 8999 master’s thesis. Plan C is 30 credits of coursework. The college recommends Plan A for students who intend to pursue a doctoral degree. The bulletin does not list a capstone project or comprehensive examination for Plan C.
Other Majors
The AI Hardware and Systems major uses the three Electrical and Computer Engineering courses above as its core, with electives in robotics, digital image processing, and fuzzy systems. The Industrial AI major uses the three Industrial and Systems Engineering courses above as its core, with electives in operations research, digital automation, and manufacturing analytics. Each follows the same 9, 3, and 3 credit core pattern.
Cost and Tuition
Wayne State is a public university and charges graduate tuition by the credit hour. The College of Engineering has its own graduate rate, and non-residents pay about twice the resident rate.
The Registrar’s fee chart, effective fall 2026, lists these rates for College of Engineering master’s programs:
| Category | Michigan Resident | Non-Resident |
|---|---|---|
| Tuition per credit hour | $1,005.13 | $2,014.90 |
| Student Service Fee per credit hour | $69.63 | $69.63 |
| Registration Fee per semester | $402.91 | $402.91 |
At 30 credits, tuition comes to about $30,154 for a Michigan resident and about $60,447 for a non-resident, before fees. The Student Service Fee adds about $2,089 over 30 credits, and the Registration Fee is charged in each semester of enrollment.
Some courses also carry a course material fee. Rates can change each year, so students should confirm current costs with the Registrar.
View Wayne State University tuition and fee charts
Admission Requirements
Applicants need a bachelor’s degree or the equivalent from an accredited institution. The graduate bulletin asks for a degree in engineering and states that students from all science, technology, engineering, and math disciplines are considered.
Regular admission requires a minimum 2.75 GPA. Applicants with a GPA of 2.5 to 2.74 may receive qualified admission.
Entry also depends on admission to the Graduate School, the College of Engineering, and the department that hosts the chosen major. Professional experience is considered when it is included in the application.
Application Materials
Applicants submit:
- online graduate application and $50 application fee
- transcripts from prior institutions
- proof of English proficiency when required
The GRE is not required. Letters of recommendation, a statement of purpose, and a resume are optional.
The college accepts a TOEFL iBT score of 79, an IELTS score of 6.5, or a Duolingo score of 125 as proof of English proficiency. International applicants also need a course-by-course transcript evaluation from WES, ECE, or SpanTran.
Application Deadlines
The college reviews master’s applications up to the start of each semester and does not publish a fixed deadline for domestic applicants. It encourages applying for the fall or winter term.
For international applicants, the College of Engineering lists these dates:
| Entry Term | Applicants Inside the U.S. | Applicants Outside the U.S. |
|---|---|---|
| Fall | June 1 | May 15 |
| Winter | October 1 | October 1 |
| Spring/Summer | February 1 | January 1 |
The program page advises international students to apply three to six months in advance to allow time for visa processing.
Program Format
The college lists the format of all three majors as traditional, meaning the degree is taught on the Detroit campus. The program page and the bulletin do not describe an online or hybrid version.
Wayne State does not publish a typical time to completion for this degree. The fall term begins in August and the winter term in January.
Students who need online study can look at the university’s online MS in Computer Science with an Artificial Intelligence concentration. It is a different degree, with a required course in theory of languages and automata or in algorithms, and it is offered under the coursework-only plan.
Who Is This Program Best For?
Wayne State’s MS in Artificial Intelligence is a strong option for students with an engineering or other STEM background who want an on-campus AI degree in Detroit with machine learning and deep learning in the required core.
It may be especially appealing to students interested in:
- machine learning and deep learning
- classical artificial intelligence, including search, planning, and knowledge representation
- data mining and digital image processing as electives
- AI hardware, edge AI, and industrial analytics alongside computer science
- a thesis option as preparation for doctoral study
- admission without the GRE or required recommendation letters
The degree is taught on campus, is aimed at applicants with STEM degrees, and requires two courses outside the student’s own major. Natural language processing and computer vision have limited coverage, and non-residents pay about twice the resident tuition rate. Students who want an online degree, who come from a non-STEM background, or who want deeper coursework in natural language processing may want to compare other Michigan schools or the university’s online MS in Computer Science.
Official Wayne State University Program Links
- MS in Artificial Intelligence program page
- Graduate bulletin entry, AI Algorithms and Systems major
- Computer Science graduate courses
- College of Engineering graduate admissions
- College of Engineering international admissions
- Online MS in Computer Science: Artificial Intelligence
- Tuition and fee charts
Related Machine Learning Programs in Michigan
Students can also compare Wayne State 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
- Oakland University – Rochester
- University of Michigan – Ann Arbor
- University of Michigan-Dearborn – Dearborn
- Western Michigan University – Kalamazoo