Master of Science in Applied Artificial Intelligence

Requirements Checklist

Candidates who possess real-world or research experience will be best positioned for acceptance into the program. Unless otherwise noted, candidates are required to have or provide the following:

• Bachelor’s degree in Software Engineering, Statistics, Computer Science, Data Science, IT, Electrical Engineering or a related STEM field from an accredited institution.
• Bachelor’s GPA of 2.75 or higher (official transcripts required)
  • Candidates with GPA under 2.75 or with degrees from other fields can apply, but will be asked to provide an essay including relevant and convincing explanations of their experience, skills and motivation (guidelines provided on Applications page).
  • Candidates with GPA under 2.75 are also strongly encouraged to complete a standardized test such as GRE or GMAT.
• International applicants/English Language Exam Score
  • International applicants must submit an official score report from one of the following acceptable English proficiency exams (test scores must be no more than two years old from the time the applicant submits their online application):
  • Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) iBT exam: Students will require a minimum score of 4.5 for all tests taken after Jan. 21, 2026. Note: For TOEFL exams taken before Jan. 21, 2026, the minimum total score required is 83. 
  • International English Language Testing System (IELTS) Academic exam: IELTS minimum score of 7.
  • Duolingo English Test: Minimum total score of 120 on Duolingo English Test.
  • For additional details on International Applicant Requirements, please see the separate “Are You an International Applicant?” section of the page.
• A personal statement outlining their overall qualifications for the program. Candidates should consider responses to the following questions and prompts:
  • What are your biggest strengths as a professional (or future professional) in the field of artificial intelligence?
  • What excites you about AI?
  • What motivates you to learn AI?
  • What are your future career goals and how will USD’s MS-AAI program help you achieve them?
  • Elaborate on your prior industry or research experiences that would strengthen your candidacy for the program.
  • What aspects of the USD MS-AAI curriculum are attractive to you?
  • Elaborate on your academic preparedness for the program by describing your skills and experience in college level calculus, linear algebra and/or statistics, programming in Python, and with GitHub. If you do not possess these skills and experience, you will be asked to please submit an additional one-page summary explaining your strategy for preparation in these areas. For resources to help acquire these skills, see the learning resources at the bottom of this page.
• Resume or curriculum vitae
• Recommendation letter from candidate’s current supervisor/manager
  • Or two letters of recommendation from external references for candidates who are unable to obtain a letter of recommendation from a current supervisor.
  • Optional: Video to allow faculty to get to know you as a candidate. Please limit the video to two minutes.
• Applicants are also required to complete an Applied Artificial Intelligence Self-Assessment Test in preparation for the program. Your enrollment adviser will share further details about this self-assessment.
• Please note that students who are accepted into USD’s MS in Applied Artificial Intelligence program are required to submit a non-refundable deposit payment for your accepted term (equal to 5% of the tuition cost for your first semester). This will ultimately be applied toward your first tuition payment, provided you enroll in the program and start your first course.
• Please also be advised that all students are charged a $20 fee each semester to cover a Slack Pro Account that allows you to have access to your MS-AAI Slack student and instructor community. This fee is non-refundable and cannot be waived for any students. Only active students will maintain access to their Slack Pro, and students will lose access to this account upon graduation.

The process starts with the submission of your online application. You can find additional information and guidance on preparing your application by visiting the Starting Your Application section our main Admissions Requirements page. If you have questions regarding the requirements or any aspect of the application process, please contact an enrollment advisor for assistance.

We strongly encourage you to please contact us if you are interested in the program but do not meet all of the admissions requirements. Our application review process always includes a holistic look at your experience and background, and we understand that a low undergraduate GPA or lack of professional experience is not necessarily indicative of your potential success in our program.

For further reading and preparation for the MS-AAI program, some suggested resources are listed at the bottom of this page.

Applications for admission are accepted on a rolling basis. A decision will be recommended by the Review Committee within one week of your application being submitted.

PLEASE NOTE: Due to regulations from the Department of Education, the University of San Diego is unable to enroll students in its online degree programs who reside in select states. Please view the list of states on the State Authorization Status & Compliance page. This restriction does not apply to applicants interested in a campus-based program.

Additional supporting materials may be requested. If you are interested but do not meet all published admissions requirements, complete and submit the short form on this page and advisor will be in touch to assist you.