The University of South Carolina Aiken offers a Master of Computer and Information Science (MCIS) with Cyber Security and Information Technology pathways. Machine learning is built into the graduate core through MCIS A620: Introduction to Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning, which every MCIS student completes.
The program requires 30 graduate credits and is a good fit for students who want a broad computing master’s degree with exposure to AI and machine learning rather than a dedicated M.S. in Machine Learning. Students can pair the required AI/ML course with cybersecurity, networking, database, software, and systems coursework.
| Degree | Master of Computer and Information Science (MCIS) |
| ML component | Required AI and Machine Learning core course |
| Credits | 30 |
| Tracks | Cyber Security; General / Information Technology |
| Format | Campus-based |
| Typical length | Varies by enrollment plan |
| Preferred GPA | 3.0 |
| GRE | Not required |
Why USCA Fits Machine Learning Students
USCA does not market the MCIS as a standalone machine learning degree. Its value for ML students comes from combining a required graduate AI/ML course with a broader computer and information science curriculum.
The official MCIS program requires 30 credits and brings together computer science, cybersecurity, engineering, and information technology. Every student completes four core courses in advanced programming, database systems, computer networking, and artificial intelligence and machine learning.
That structure makes USCA most relevant for students who want AI and machine learning as part of a broader technical master’s degree. Students who want most of their graduate coursework devoted to machine learning, deep learning, or data science may prefer a more specialized program.
Curriculum and Machine Learning Coursework
All MCIS students complete a 12-credit graduate core:
- MCIS A610: Advanced Programming Concepts
- MCIS A613: Advanced Database Management Systems and Programming
- MCIS A616: Computer Networking
- MCIS A620: Introduction to Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning
The required MCIS A620 course is the main reason the degree belongs in a machine learning program directory. It gives every student formal graduate-level exposure to AI and machine learning instead of leaving ML as an optional elective.
After the core, students choose either the Cyber Security track or the General / Information Technology track. Each track includes 12 credits of required coursework plus 6 credits of electives.
Cyber Security Track
The Cyber Security curriculum adds four required courses:
- Information & Networking Security
- Vulnerability and Risk Assessment
- Traceable Systems and Computer Forensics
- Wireless and Mobile Security
This route can make sense for students interested in the overlap between machine learning and cybersecurity. USCA has also expanded work in this area through its Center for Cyber Initiatives, Awareness, and Artificial Intelligence, which connects cybersecurity education with applied AI research.
Information Technology Track
The General / Information Technology track includes Survey of Information Technology, Information Systems Engineering, Software and Systems Project Management, and Advanced Web Development. Students then use six elective credits to add approved cybersecurity or network science coursework.
Hands-On Learning and AI Research
USCA emphasizes applied experience throughout the MCIS program. The university highlights capstone projects, individual research, internships, paid campus technology roles, and work connected to its security operations centers.
Students interested in AI can also benefit from USCA’s growing cybersecurity and artificial intelligence activity. The university’s Center for Cyber Initiatives, Awareness, and Artificial Intelligence supports applied research in cybersecurity and machine learning and helps connect academic work with workforce needs in the region.
This applied setting gives the program a different character from a purely theory-focused computer science degree. Students can build computing fundamentals while seeing how AI, security, networks, and data systems interact in real technical environments.
Program Length and Format
The MCIS requires 30 graduate credits. USCA allows flexible enrollment, so completion time depends on how many courses a student takes each term. The university defines full-time graduate enrollment as at least six credits for tuition purposes, while the MCIS program also supports part-time study.
USCA presents the MCIS as a campus-based program in Aiken. Students who need a fully online machine learning master’s degree should compare other schools before applying.
Admissions
USCA evaluates MCIS applicants based on their full academic background. The current admission requirements include:
- A bachelor’s degree from an accredited institution
- Substantial coursework in computer science or a related field
- Transcripts from undergraduate and graduate study
- A preferred minimum GPA of 3.0
- Three letters of recommendation, with at least two preferably from faculty
- English-language proficiency documentation when required
The GRE is not required. Applicants with a GPA below 3.0 can still be considered for probationary admission and may submit GRE scores or relevant work experience as additional evidence. Some students may also need preparatory coursework based on transcript review.
Tuition and Financial Aid
For 2026–27, USCA lists graduate tuition at $572.25 per credit hour for South Carolina residents and $1,240 per credit hour for nonresidents when enrolled part time. At 30 credits, the resident tuition rate equals about $17,167.50 before required fees. The comparable nonresident per-credit calculation is about $37,200 before fees.
Full-time graduate tuition is charged by semester rather than simply by multiplying the per-credit rate. USCA currently lists $6,867 per semester for residents and $14,880 per semester for nonresidents. Students should use the university’s current tuition and fee schedule for their actual enrollment plan.
The MCIS program also lists a Graduate Studies Scholarship that can provide up to $500 annually and may extend in-state tuition eligibility to qualifying on-campus nonresident and international students. Graduate assistantships and other financial aid may also be available.
Is USCA a Good Choice for Machine Learning?
USCA is a useful option for students who want a broad computer and information science master’s degree with a required machine learning component. The 30-credit structure is compact, the GRE is not required, and students can choose between cybersecurity and IT pathways.
The main limitation is specialization depth. The MCIS is not a dedicated machine learning degree, and the published curriculum centers on one required AI/ML course within a wider computing program. Students who want advanced study across several ML-specific courses may find stronger fits elsewhere.
For students interested in AI applications in cybersecurity, networks, or information systems, however, USCA offers a practical and affordable South Carolina option with growing institutional activity in both cybersecurity and applied AI.