Cached at:
08/27/26, 09:34 PM
# UC Berkeley launches 2-semester, $84K AI master’s program
Source: [https://www.dailycal.org/news/campus/academics/uc-berkeley-launches-2-semester-84k-ai-master-s-program/article_2698e1fa-7dc3-45c9-8fb6-4d4caa6b87fb.html](https://www.dailycal.org/news/campus/academics/uc-berkeley-launches-2-semester-84k-ai-master-s-program/article_2698e1fa-7dc3-45c9-8fb6-4d4caa6b87fb.html)
Starting next fall, students with an undergraduate degree in fields related to computer science or data science will have an opportunity to delve into machine learning and AI through UC Berkeley’s new Master of Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning\.
The program spans two semesters and is a graduate professional degree, meaning it is meant to help prepare students for careers working with AI\. It is offered through the College of Computing, Data Science, and Society and will be taught by electrical engineering and computer sciences as well as statistics faculty\.
The program’s website lists estimated costs as $84,004\.
“The Master of Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning program was inspired by the pressing need to bridge rigorous academic theory with hands\-on, ethical deployment during a pivotal shift in the AI landscape,” said CDSS Associate Dean for Students Narges Norouzi in an email\.
In the fall, students will take courses such as principles of data science, foundational statistics and an introduction to machine learning\. The curriculum includes both existing and new courses, including “Applied Case Studies & Responsible AI Seminar” and “Communication Skills for Data Professionals,” which were designed for the program, according to Norouzi\.
Before the spring semester, students will engage in a two\-day “Silicon Valley immersion program” that consists of site visits to local companies\. The immersion experience is meant to be an “exploratory bridge between academic coursework and industry practice,” Norouzi said in the email\.
Students will be required to take a course on AI ethics in the spring; then, they can “customize their degree” through electives in subjects such as natural language processing, optimization, deep neural networks and reinforcement learning, according to Norouzi\. Students will complete a comprehensive exam at the end of the program\.
The program will also host workshops and events with large technology companies, AI startups and venture capital firms to highlight the real\-world applications of technological tools, according to Norouzi\.
The application largely mirrors that of other UC Berkeley graduate programs and costs the same $135 fee for U\.S\. citizens and permanent residents\.
Other universities such as the University of Pennsylvania and Johns Hopkins University provide similar master’s degrees in AI, though they are either fully online or longer than UC Berkeley’s\. However, learning platforms such as Udacity also offer an “accredited AI degree” that requires a subscription for about $250 per month\.
AI engineer roles have been on the rise in recent years, and they now pay more than two times as much as jobs not related to AI, according to a report from LinkedIn’s Economic Graph Research Institute\.
“The Master of Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning is structured as a condensed two\-semester program to prepare students for a fast\-evolving industry without lengthy career interruption,” Norouzi said in the email\. “MAIML will use the fall semester to build core competencies and the spring semester to support students in applying these competencies to their career goals\.”