Artificial Intelligence (AI) is one of the most interesting disciplines within Computer Science to study right now. With a degree in AI, a student gains the ability to enter a broad range of domains, and can work across industries where data is being used to build new business models. It is thus imperative that students choose the right college or university to get their degree in the field of AI.
While a degree in AI is easily available now, the subject itself is more conceptual and requires its practitioners to describe quality and understand meanings in different contexts. It also requires access to computer labs with large datasets and ability to practise machine learning, computer vision, natural language processing, speech recognition, and other data analytics.
Machine learning is often the most practised in the field of AI and machine learning engineering has emerged as a growing field. It requires learners to take large datasets and implement AI programs to gain inference that will help make business decisions.
To specialise in the field of AI, these top universities in the US offer access to best AI labs and opportunity to learn, build, and test AI models.
Carnegie Mellon University
Carnegie Mellon University in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, is the best college for specialisation in the field of AI. The School of Computer Science was the first to offer a Bachelor’s degree in AI in the US and now offers two degrees – Bachelor of Science in AI (BSAI) and Master of Science in AI and Innovation (MSAII). Both the degrees are interdisciplinary with MSAII offered by the Language Technologies Institute.
The BSAI degree offers in-depth knowledge needed to transform large amounts of data into actionable decisions. The curriculum is designed to help students focus on how complex inputs can be used to make decisions or enhance human capabilities. The MSAII degree helps students identify potential AI applications, and develop and deploy them to large practical problems. Carnegie Mellon sets the standard for AI learning with its industry collaboration and exposure to the latest technology.
Stanford University
Stanford University needs no introduction in the field of AI with the Stanford Artificial Intelligence Laboratory (SAIL) studying and researching AI since 1962. SAIL offers courses, hosts events, and manages outreaches to school. Stanford University offers Graduate Certificate in Artificial Intelligence with one required course called Artificial Intelligence: Principles and Techniques and three required electives.
Students get a maximum of three years to complete this certificate course. Stanford University also offers a Bachelor of Science in Computer Science, which includes courses on AI. The Graduate Certificate in Artificial Intelligence is essentially stepping into the classroom of professors and leading AI experts like Andrew Ng and learning topics like robotics, computer vision, and natural language processing.
Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT)
MIT is one of the oldest technology universities in the world. Founded in 1861 in response to growing industrial needs of America, the Artificial Intelligence Laboratory was set up in 1959 to conduct its own research and experimentation. The AI Lab merged with the Laboratory for Computer Science in 2003 as the two fields merged and the result was the Computer Science and Artificial Intelligence Laboratory.
Students can pursue Bachelor of Science in Computer Science with Artificial Intelligence research and course work opportunities. MIT has more than 100 senior researchers and faculty members representing eight academic departments. The MIT Lab conducts research under the categories of AI, Systems, and Theory. In addition to Bachelor’s degrees, MIT Sloan School of Management and the MIT Computer Science and Artificial Intelligence Laboratory (CSAIL) have collaborated to offer a self-paced online course called Artificial Intelligence: Implications for Business Strategy.
University of California, Berkeley
The University of California, Berkeley offers specialisation in the field of AI through Berkeley Artificial Intelligence Research Laboratory (BAIR). The lab has more than two dozen faculty members and over a hundred graduate students. The courses are taught by the Computer Science and Electrical Engineering faculty.
The courses offered by BAIR include:
- Introduction to Artificial Intelligence
- Computational Imaging
- Robotic Manipulation and Interaction
- Introduction to Machine Learning
The University of California, Berkeley also offers related courses such as an online short course in collaboration with GetSmarter called Artificial Intelligence Strategy. In partnership with Emeritus, it offers an online course called Artificial Intelligence Business Strategies and Applications.
Harvard University
Harvard University began its effort to offer education in engineering and science with the opening of Lawrence Scientific School in 1847. Now, the university offers its courses through John A. Paulson School of Engineering and Applied Sciences. With 76 tenured faculty members and more than 1,300 students in attendance, Harvard University offers computer science degrees across undergraduate and doctoral levels.
The courses available at Harvard University in the field of AI include:
- Online Professional Certificate in Computer Science for Artificial Intelligence (in collaboration with edX)
- Online Introduction to Artificial Intelligence with Python
- Online Data Science: Machine Learning
- Online Introduction to Deep Learning
- Online Text Analytics and Natural Language Processing
Yale University
The Department of Computer Science at Yale University offers four main areas of study, including theory of computation, AI, numerical analysis, and systems. The advantage of a computer science degree from Yale is its truly interdisciplinary nature combining subjects such as psychology, linguistics, music, medicine, and others.
Degrees offered in AI include:
- Bachelor of Science in Computer Science with an Artificial Intelligence research focus
- Bachelor of Arts in Computer Science with an Artificial Intelligence research focus
- Master of Science in Computer Science with an Artificial Intelligence research focus
- Doctor of Philosophy in Computer Science with an Artificial Intelligence research focus
At Yale, students can either get Bachelor of Science or Art degrees, a terminal Master of Science, and a Doctor of Philosophy. The research is carried out in the Intelligent Computer Lab and The Centre for Computational Vision and Control. These labs work on enabling AI to effortlessly interact with non-digital or 3D worlds.
Cornell University
With one of the oldest computer science departments in the US, Cornell University offers students access to nearly 40 full-time faculty members and a student body of more than 250 graduates and 700 undergraduates. Cornell focuses its research in the field of graphics, programming languages, robotics, scientific computing, and artificial intelligence.
Degrees offered in AI include:
- Bachelor of Science in Computer Science with Artificial Intelligence research
- Bachelor of Arts in Computer Science with Artificial Intelligence research
- Master of Engineering in Computer Science with Artificial Intelligence research
- Master of Science in Computer Science with Artificial Intelligence research
- PhD in Computer Science with Artificial Intelligence research
The students and faculty at Cornell get access to the Joan and Irwin Jacobs Technion-Cornell Institute. They also get to skill themselves in the field of game and decision theory, machine learning, NLP, robotics, vision, computational linguistics, and computational sustainability.
University of Maryland-College Park
With its Computer Science department formally established in 1973, the University of Maryland-College Park has risen in ranks to offer among the most competitive coursework right now. With 50 tenured faculty members and approximately 250 graduate students, it offers a thorough introduction to AI through its curriculum.
Degrees in Computer Science:
- Bachelor of Science in Computer Science
- Combined Bachelor/Master of Science in Computer Science
- Master of Science in Computer Science
- PhD in Computer Science
It may not offer a degree with AI mentioned in the name but it gets students prepared in the comprehensive subjects such as automated planning, cognitive modelling, evolutionary computation, game theory, machine learning, natural language processing, and neural computation.
Columbia University in the City of New York
The Fu Foundation School of Engineering and Applied Science and edX offer a MicroMasters programme at Columbia University. This is the first of its kind certificate programme comprising four courses: AI, Machine Learning, Robotics, and Computer Animation.
Degrees and Programmes in AI:
- ColumbiaX MicroMasters Program in Artificial Intelligence (offered online)
- Bachelor of Science in Computer Science
- Bachelor of Science in Computer Engineering
- Bachelor in Computer Science and Mathematics
- Bachelor of Arts in Information Science
- Minor/Concentration in Computer Science
- Master of Computer Science
- Doctor of Philosophy in Computer Science
Colorado State University-Global Campus
The Colorado State University in Aurora, Colorado offers an online Master of Science degree in Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning. In order to qualify for this degree, students are required to have a background in Discrete Mathematics and Statistics. The masters programme helps students learn core requirements such programming and software development with emphasis on deep learning libraries.
This is an advanced level degree that will lead to careers such as Intelligence or Interaction Designer, Systems Analyst, AI or Machine Learning Engineer. While most courses mentioned here prepare you intellectually, Colorado State University also focuses on real world application across healthcare, manufacturing, oil/gas, and automotive industries.