The University at Buffalo offers an Engineering Science (Artificial Intelligence) MS through the School of Engineering and Applied Sciences. The degree awarded is a Master of Science in Engineering Science with an artificial intelligence focus.
The 30-credit program is taught in person in Buffalo. Eight of its ten courses are a fixed core that includes machine learning, reinforcement learning, pattern recognition, and a choice of computer vision or natural language processing. Students finish with a project, an internship, or an additional elective.
Last reviewed: October 2026
Quick Facts
| Degree | Engineering Science (Artificial Intelligence) MS |
| School | School of Engineering and Applied Sciences |
| Location | Buffalo, New York |
| Format | In person, full time or part time |
| Credits | 30 |
| Culminating Experience | Master’s project, internship, or an additional elective with an oral presentation |
| GRE | Optional |
| Application Deadline | Rolling; February 15 encouraged |
| Tuition | $471 per credit (New York resident), fall 2026 |
| Typical Length | About one and a half years |
| STEM Designated | Yes |
Official Engineering Science (Artificial Intelligence) MS page
Curriculum
The program is listed among the interdisciplinary graduate programs of the Department of Computer Science and Engineering. It is separate from the department’s MS in Computer Science and Engineering and from the university’s Engineering Science master’s degrees in Data Science and in AI and Data Innovation.
Students complete 30 graduate credits, ten 3-credit courses, consisting of:
- 24 credits of core courses
- 3 credits of electives
- 3 credits for a capstone experience
Core Courses
- EAS 510 – Basics of Artificial Intelligence
- EAS 501 – Numerical Math for Computing and Data Science
- CSE 574 – Intro to Machine Learning
- CSE 531 – Algorithms Analysis and Design
- CSE 587 – Data Intensive Computing
- CSE 573 – Computer Vision or CSE 635 – NLP and Text Mining
- CSE 546 – Reinforcement Learning
- CSE 555 – Pattern Recognition
The department’s advising page describes a fixed sequence. The first fall covers artificial intelligence basics, numerical math, machine learning, and algorithms. The spring covers data intensive computing, computer vision or natural language processing, reinforcement learning, and pattern recognition.
Electives
Students select one course. The list includes:
- CSE 676 – Deep Learning
- CSE 674 – Advanced Machine Learning
- CSE 601 – Data Mining and Bioinformatics
- CSE 568 – Robotics Algorithms
- CSE 567 – Computational Linguistics
- CSE 535 – Information Retrieval
- CSE 563 – Knowledge Representation
- EE 559 – Big Data Analytics
- MAE 600 – Deep Learning for Mechanical Engineering
- MGS 662 – Optimization Methods for Machine Learning
Other electives come from electrical, mechanical, industrial, and chemical engineering and from the School of Management. No more than 3 credits may come from outside the School of Engineering and Applied Sciences.
Deep Learning and Advanced Machine Learning are electives rather than core courses, and the standard plan has room for only one elective.
Capstone Experience
The recommended option is a 3-credit master’s project, completed as supervised research with a faculty member, as an industry internship, or through CDA 650 – Experiential Projects in AI and Data Science. Students can instead take a second elective and give an oral presentation to the program director in their final semester.
A Practicum Track, a full-time internship for academic credit that fulfills the capstone, is open to students who enroll in spring 2026 or later. The program pages do not describe a thesis option.
Cost and Tuition
The University at Buffalo is part of the State University of New York and charges graduate tuition by the credit hour, with different rates for New York residents and nonresidents.
For fall 2026, Student Accounts lists these graduate rates:
| Category | New York Resident | Nonresident |
|---|---|---|
| Tuition per credit hour | $471.00 | $1,105.00 |
| Tuition, 12 credits | $5,655.00 | $13,255.00 |
| Tuition and fees, 12 credits | $7,314.86 | $14,914.86 |
At 30 credits, tuition comes to about $14,130 for a New York resident and about $33,150 for a nonresident, before fees. Fees add about $1,660 in a full-time semester, and students taking 9 to 11 credits pay fees at the full-time rate.
International students also pay a $100 International Student Fee each semester. The application fee is $100.
Student Accounts notes that the fall 2026 rates were approved by SUNY pending final administrative action. Rates can change each year, so students should confirm current costs before enrolling.
View University at Buffalo tuition and fees
Admission Requirements
The program recommends a bachelor’s degree in engineering, computer science, mathematics, the physical sciences, or a related field. Applicants with non-engineering degrees are evaluated individually.
Applicants need a solid programming background, shown through formal coursework or comprehensive online study.
The program page does not publish a minimum GPA.
Application Materials
Applicants submit:
- online application through UB GradConnect and $100 application fee
- transcripts for all post-secondary work
- resume or CV
- one letter of recommendation
- proof of English proficiency when required
The GRE is optional. Unofficial transcripts are accepted for review, with official transcripts and proof of degree required after an offer. Letters from professors are strongly preferred.
English proficiency minimums include a TOEFL iBT score of 79, an IELTS score of 6.5, or a Duolingo English Test score of 120.
Application Deadlines
Applications are accepted on a rolling basis throughout the year.
| Applicant Group | Deadline |
|---|---|
| All applicants | Rolling; February 15 encouraged |
The program page does not list entry terms, and the published course sequence begins in the fall. Applicants interested in a spring start should confirm availability with the School of Engineering and Applied Sciences.
Program Format
The Graduate School lists the program as in person, with 100 percent of courses offered in person. Full-time and part-time study are both listed.
Full-time students typically take 12 credits in the fall, 12 in the spring, and 6 in a final semester. Students who complete an internship or project over the summer can take 3 credits then and the last 3 credits in the following fall.
The program page describes the length as a year and a half, while the Graduate School lists 1.5 to 2 years.
The degree is STEM approved, which allows eligible international students to apply for the 24-month STEM OPT extension.
Who Is This Program Best For?
The University at Buffalo’s Engineering Science (Artificial Intelligence) MS is a strong option for students with an engineering or computing background who want a prescribed, in-person AI curriculum at public university tuition.
It may be especially appealing to students interested in:
- machine learning and pattern recognition
- reinforcement learning
- computer vision or natural language processing
- data intensive computing
- an internship or industry project as the capstone
- a STEM-approved degree that can be finished in about a year and a half
The curriculum is mostly fixed, with a single elective, so deep learning and advanced machine learning compete for one slot. The program is not offered online, and its pages do not describe a thesis. Students who want an online degree, a research thesis, or more elective room may want to compare other New York schools or the university’s MS in Computer Science and Engineering.
Official University at Buffalo Program Links
- Engineering Science (Artificial Intelligence) MS program page
- Advising and program overview
- Graduate School program listing
- Institute for Artificial Intelligence and Data Science graduate programs
- Resident tuition and fees
- Nonresident tuition and fees
Related Machine Learning Programs in New York
Students can also compare University at Buffalo with other master’s programs in machine learning, artificial intelligence, and related fields offered in New York.
- Binghamton University – Binghamton
- City College of New York – New York
- Clarkson University – Potsdam
- Columbia University – New York
- Cornell University – Ithaca
- Fordham University – New York
- Hofstra University – Hempstead
- Long Island University – Brooklyn
- Manhattanville University – Purchase
- Marist University – Poughkeepsie
- Mercy University – Dobbs Ferry
- New York University – New York
- Pace University – New York
- Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute – Troy
- Rochester Institute of Technology – Rochester
- St. John’s University – Queens
- Stony Brook University – Stony Brook
- SUNY Buffalo State University – Buffalo
- SUNY New Paltz – New Paltz
- SUNY Oswego – Syracuse
- SUNY Polytechnic Institute – Utica
- Syracuse University – Syracuse
- University at Albany – Albany
- University of Rochester – Rochester
- Utica University – Utica
- Yeshiva University – New York