The University of Chicago has launched its first AI Master’s program—the Master of Science in Applied Artificial Intelligence—jointly offered by the Department of Physical Sciences and the Institute for Data Science. The program will begin enrolling in Fall 2027, with applications opening in September 2026. This nine-month full-time program focuses on generative AI and AI agents, featuring four core courses and three elective tracks. It emphasizes real-world application and portfolio building, and the faculty includes industry AI experts, aiming to cultivate interdisciplinary talents with practical AI skills. The competition for AI Master’s programs at top US universities continues to heat up, with AI emerging as an independent talent development track. Following Columbia University, Johns Hopkins University, the University of Michigan, and UC Berkeley, which have all launched AI-related Master’s programs, the University of Chicago has officially announced its first graduate program specifically dedicated to artificial intelligence.
The new program, titled Master of Science in Applied Artificial Intelligence, is a joint initiative of the University of Chicago’s Physical Sciences Division and Data Science Institute. The first cohort will enroll in Fall 2027, with applications expected to open in September 2026.

Unlike many programs that primarily focus on introductory machine learning courses, the University of Chicago’s program targets the talent needs of the generative AI and AI Agent era. Program director and Senior Professor of Teaching Arnab Bose stated that with the rapid development of generative AI and the increasing number of AI agents entering real-world applications, companies need more than just those with a grasp of machine learning and deep learning fundamentals; they need practitioners who can truly deploy AI technology in real-world environments.
Therefore, this program does not end with “learning AI,” but rather with “applying AI to solve problems.” The nine-month, full-time program is primarily designed for students with existing technical backgrounds, aiming to help them further develop their skills in designing and implementing AI systems based on their existing programming, data science, or engineering backgrounds.
In terms of curriculum, students first need to complete four core courses: Fundamentals and Principles of Artificial Intelligence, Advanced AI Architecture and Applications, AI Security, Governance and Risk Control, and AI Leadership and Value Creation. After completing the core courses, students also need to choose five elective courses from three directions: AI in Practice, Frontier AI, and Performance AI.