Master’s in Artificial Intelligence Programs in Pennsylvania

Pennsylvania’s rising fast when it comes to exciting AI/ML academic offerings! With 13 master’s, 7 PhDs, and 2 certificate programs, the state is strengthening its reputation as a leading tech hub. The state of PA issued a challenge to Silicon Valley, incentivizing entrepreneurs with lower costs and high-quality resources in cities like Philadelphia and Pittsburgh. Check out Ivy League Penn State’s 100% online Master of Professional Studies in AI, or browse our listings for more great opportunities!

Artificial Intelligence Education in Pennsylvania

Pennsylvania is an excellent choice for students considering master’s programs in artificial intelligence. With major cities like Pittsburgh being home to some of the world’s leading AI companies and universities, there are many opportunities for education and work.

One such university is Carnegie Mellon University (CMU), which was the birthplace of AI over half a century ago. Consistently ranked as one of the best AI schools in the United States, it offers three impressive AI programs. Those interested in robotics can pursue the M.S. in Robotics offered through the Robotics Institute. Students split their work between research, course work, and a public thesis talk. Carnegie Mellon is also home to the National Robotics Engineering Center (NREC), which is largely responsible for Pittsburgh’s transition into a tech economy. The NREC was created by CMU, NASA, the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, the city of Pittsburgh, and local foundations. With an initial investment of less than $10 million 25 years ago, the center has raised over half a billion dollars in total direct funding.

Carnegie Mellon also offers a regular M.S. in Machine Learning and a unique M.S. in Machine Learning (5th-Year option). The latter enables students to complete the degree one year sooner by taking some of the courses as an undergraduate.

Another of the state’s prestigious universities, the University of Pennsylvania (UPenn), offers an M.S. in Design – Robotics and Autonomous Systems. It’s the most recent offering of the Architecture Department’s advanced M.S.D. programs. One of the most exciting aspects of this degree is that students develop, present, and exhibit robotically manufactured architectural prototypes.

UPenn also offers an M.S.E. in Robotics – Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning Specialization. The program is offered through the General Robotics, Automation, Sensing & Perception Lab (GRASP), which works with many local startups and carries out projects revolving around autonomous micro UAVs, autonomous service robots, human-robot coordinated transportation, and more.

Finally, the University of Pittsburgh offers an M.S. in Intelligent Systems at its Pittsburgh campus. The program pulls together impressive faculty across disciplines, including the School of Medicine, School of Law, and School of Engineering. The program focuses on creating a collaborative environment, with faculty members and students regularly presenting their research in seminars.

Online Master’s in Artificial Intelligence Programs in Pennsylvania

Pennsylvania offers five online artificial intelligence master’s programs in a range of subfields – that’s more than you’ll find in most other US states.

Two of the online programs offered by Drexel University include an Online M.S. in Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning and an M.S. in Robotics and Autonomy. The former allows students to combine the degree with any other degree from the College of Computing & Informatics to create a customizable dual degree program. The program’s world-class faculty members have active research in machine learning, computer vision, game AI, applied machine learning in security, and more.

The other online master’s programs in Pennsylvania include the Online Master of Professional Studies in Artificial Intelligence at Penn State – World Campus and the Online MBA – Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Machine Learning (ML) Track at Villanova University. Penn State’s program offers students the chance to join a faculty-led student group that works to solve contemporary issues in AI and coordinates student teams for AI/ML events like Kaggle competitions.

The Growing Role of Artificial Intelligence in Pennsylvania

Pennsylvania is quickly making a name for itself as an AI leader. Universities like Carnegie Mellon are responsible for many of today’s greatest robotics creations, and cities like Pittsburgh are becoming hubs for both AI startups and established companies.

Pittsburgh is a leader on many fronts. It is a global hub for robotics innovation and discovery, a hub for self-driving cars and smart traffic signals, and the first city to implement K-12 AI education programs. Some of the world’s top AI companies like Uber and Facebook – Oculus call Pittsburgh home. One of the city’s most significant AI investments came in 2017 when Ford pledged to invest $1 billion over five years in Argo AI, which works to engineer and test self-driving cars in the city.

While not as advanced in AI as Pittsburgh, Philadelphia is also preparing for an AI-driven world. And with good reason, given 43.9 percent of jobs in the Greater Philadelphia area have the potential to be automated. The city is turning computer science into a core part of public schools’ curriculum, and local community colleges are beginning retraining initiatives. The city’s focus on academia will help prepare the next generation of AI workers, and now it’s time for the private sector to catch up with investment.

Pennsylvania is one of the best states for those looking for an AI master’s program because it’s genuinely embracing and implementing AI into society. It has been a leader in this space since the creation of AI, and it will continue to do so far into the future.