Graduate Certificate Programs in Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning

What do you do when you’ve finished your Bachelor’s in Artificial Intelligence or related degree and need some additional education and training…but don’t want to go through a master’s program? You sign up for an Artificial Intelligence or Machine Learning graduate certificate program instead!

What are Artificial Intelligence Graduate Certificate Programs?

An AI graduate certificate program allows busy working professionals to build upon their undergraduate knowledge and practical experiences, developing and refining in-demand skills in AI, machine learning, statistics, deep learning, and associated topics. AI and ML grad certs typically take a year or less to complete, often less than half the time to finish a master’s (unless you pursue an accelerated AI master’s degree). In many cases — such as with Drexel — grad students can even use their course credits towards a full graduate degree later if desired.

More and more, organizations are looking for employees who have the specialized AI and ML skills necessary to do advanced work. Savvy employers realize that those skills can be obtained faster and just as effectively through an AI or ML graduate certificate program versus a full master’s degree.

Who are AI Certificate Programs Designed For?

AI and ML graduates certificates are an ideal opportunity for recent bachelor’s program graduates. They’re also the perfect solution for working professionals who 1) love the fields of AI, ML, computer science, engineering, or robotics, and 2) are ready to take their skills to the next level and advance their careers.

Programming languages, natural language processing, computer vision algorithms, and advanced mathematics are just a few of the core and advanced AI and ML skills you can master through a graduate certificate. Additional specialized competencies can be developed through your choice of electives. Combined, these skills will empower you to be more competitive for higher positions and qualify for a promotion or raise. This newfound expertise can be applied immediately in the field, without waiting to finish a graduate degree.

Starting an AI or ML certificate program is also a fantastic way to “test the waters” before jumping headfirst into a graduate AI program. After all, grad school courses are super challenging and not everyone is ready for the commitment.

It’s always nice to have the option to count credits towards a master’s later, either at the same school or by transferring credits. That said, remember that not every master’s program accepts all credits for transfer, so your best bet may be to stay with the same university. Drexel’s Graduate Certificate in AI program allows students to terminate at the grad certificate level or continue towards a Master’s in AI (or Computer Science or Data Science)!

Types of AI Graduate Certificate Programs

When it comes to AI graduate certificate programs, there is no “one size fits all” model. Like full degree programs, AI graduate certificates may be completed online, on-campus, or via a hybrid method (i.e., partially online). Students can enroll in a program focused solely on AI or ML; it’s simply a matter of preference and availability.

Popular examples include:

Online

• Stanford University Online – Artificial Intelligence Graduate Certificate
• University of South Dakota – Artificial Intelligence Graduate Certificate

On-Campus

• George Washington University – Graduate Certificate in Artificial Intelligence
• University of Missouri – AI and Machine Learning Graduate Certificate
• Johns Hopkins University – Artificial Intelligence Graduate Certificate (courses offered online or virtual live)

Hybrid

• Drexel University – Graduate Certificate In Artificial Intelligence And Machine Learning (offered online or on-campus)
• The University of Texas at Dallas – Graduate Certificate in Applied Machine Learning (offered online or on-campus)

You might consider signing up for an Artificial Intelligence graduate certificate in a related field such as Computer Science, Data Science, Engineering, or Robotics which also offers focus courses in AI or ML. For example, Worcester Polytechnic Institute offers a Graduate Certificate and Advanced Graduate Certificate Programs in Computer Science with numerous AI depth course options.

Coursework for AI Graduate Certificate Programs

An AI graduate certificate generally requires between 12 and 15 credits to complete, allowing for a mixture of required core coursework plus electives.

Note: this number doesn’t include prerequisite courses necessary for program admittance.

Prerequisites may include courses such as C/C++, linear algebra, or statistics and probability. If prereqs haven’t been completed, it may still be possible to apply for provisional acceptance, depending on the program and which classes you’re missing.

Typical core classes vary by program, but a few common ones include:

• Algorithms for Data Science
• Applied Machine Learning
• Artificial Intelligence
• Creating AI-Enabled Systems
• Foundations of Algorithms
• Introduction to Machine Learning

AI Certificate Program Structure

Most AI or ML graduate certificate programs are structured to be completed quickly and efficiently. However, courses are typically the same ones offered to master’s degree students; thus classes run the standard length of the term unless the program is specifically designed to be standalone with shorter courses to expedite completion.

On-campus courses must be attended in real-time, naturally, but online courses can usually be completed asynchronously at your convenience. Some courses may be taught “virtual live” allowing students to attend remotely via teleconferencing.

Unless the program’s description states otherwise, students can usually decide if they want to knock out all core courses first or mix things up by taking electives simultaneously. This can be very helpful during scheduling, in the event that a required course’s seats are all filled up and you don’t want a delay. Obviously, if an elective requires foundational knowledge learning from a core course, you should take the core course first.

Online Artificial Intelligence Certificate Programs

Increasingly, colleges and universities are making their AI graduate certificate programs available either fully online or partially. We’ve identified roughly 50 online programs, with more being developed each year!

While some schools advertise their programs as fully online or hybrid, others don’t make the specifics clear. If there’s a program you’re interested in that doesn’t overtly specify it’s online, dig around in the catalog to see how classes are offered. Keep in mind — some grad schools are picky about keeping online and on-campus programs separate. If in doubt, reach out to a program point of contact.

Your general online experience depends on several factors. Online AI graduate certificate programs are convenient for busy working professionals, students with families, or those who want to attend a program outside their geographical area. Depending on your circumstances, you might need to attend a 100% online program or you might have enough flexibility to do a hybrid version, going to campus on occasion for classes and events.

You’ll want to carefully review each program to check if it offers core and elective courses that interest you and will benefit your career. Take a look at the department faculty and see who is teaching those courses — professors or instructors? Ideally, it’s better to learn from the most experienced teachers possible. It’s also important to see who is doing the most cutting-edge research relevant in today’s constantly evolving world of AI.

How Much Do AI Certificate Programs Cost?

While some industry certifications are priced at a flat rate, AI graduate certificate courses are part of a college’s standard course catalog and count as academic credit. Thus, tuition is based on credit hours and the number of courses required. Different programs require a different number of overall credits.

Most classes count for three academic credits, and every school charges its own tuition rates per credit (with graduate credits costing more than undergraduate ones). Meanwhile, since a certificate requires fewer credits than a full graduate degree program, you can save up to half the cost while still obtaining a prestigious academic achievement that bolsters your career and pays for itself in the long run.

AI Certificate Cost Examples

Johns Hopkins notes that its graduate-level courses are worth three credit hours. The online cost for its Applied Machine Learning course is $4,755. Since the Johns Hopkins program requires 10 courses in total, you can expect to pay ~$47,555 in tuition costs, not including application fees, books, supplies, or other fees. Note, that figure also excludes the cost of prerequisite courses.

Keep in mind, Johns Hopkins is one of the premier higher education institutions in the world, so tuition runs high. Other AI graduate certificate courses will be significantly less. On a vastly more affordable scale, the University of South Dakota’s Artificial Intelligence Graduate Certificate only requires four classes. That’s 12 credits at a graduate tuition rate of $470.45 per credit hour, for a total tuition cost of only $5,645.40.