The University of Pennsylvania is at the forefront of integrating AI into various disciplines among elite academic circles, not to mention the Ivy League community. Here, the University of Pennsylvania is actively dedicated to innovation and excellence in service of the human good, educating promising young adults on how to capitalise on AI technologies and apply them in different educational and professional settings.

In this blog post, I am going to share what are arguably the first two online master’s degrees in AI offered by any Ivy League school. Both of the following online master’s degrees are delivered by the University of Pennsylvania.

Master of Science in Engineering in AI (MSE-AI) Online degree

In 2024, the University of Pennsylvania School of Engineering and Applied Science introduced the Raj and Neera Singh Programme in Artificial Intelligence—Master of Science in Engineering in AI (MSE-AI) Online degree—which is the first online graduate programme of its kind offered by Ivy League universities.

For those who have an undergraduate degree in Computer Science, Computer Engineering, or an equivalent degree, and an interest in artificial intelligence, the MSE-AI Online programme is suitable for you.

The MSE-AI Online programme will equip students with the mathematical and algorithmic foundation to develop groundbreaking AI systems, along with the broad perspective to deploy new technologies in an ethical and responsible way.

It is worth noting that applications for the MSE-AI Online degree are accepted every Fall and Spring, adding flexibility to your academic journey in learning about AI and its applications.

The online AI degree programme requires the completion of 10 courses, comprising seven core courses, two technical electives, and one free elective. As of the 2024/25 rates, the tuition fee is $3,500 per course unit, meaning that the entire MSE-AI degree costs $35,000.

There is good news. For those who require financial support, the University of Pennsylvania School of Engineering and Applied Science offers the Dean’s Master’s Scholarship. Starting with the autumn 2022 cohort, incoming Penn Engineering Online students have been eligible to apply for the Dean’s Master’s Scholarship.

Master of Science in Education (M.S.Ed.) Learning Analytics and Artificial Intelligence (Online) Degree

If engineering is not your specialisation, you may want to check out this Master of Science in Education (M.S.Ed.) Learning Analytics and Artificial Intelligence (Online). Launching in Fall 2025, this fully online programme prepares professionals to integrate AI and learning science, driving innovation in education globally.

The new M.S.Ed. degree programme is designed to equip data scientists, educators, administrators, and technologists with the skills and knowledge necessary to harness AI’s potential in education settings. The curriculum will cover a broad range of topics, including the power and potential of machine learning, data analytics, the social contexts of data, technologies that adapt to student needs, and the ethical implications of AI in education. The online programme is designed for working professionals from around the world, who will gain hands-on experience with AI tools and technologies.

The Penn Graduate School of Education is accepting applications on a rolling basis. It takes 16 months for full-time study or two years for part-time study. Students are required to study 10 courses, including eight compulsory courses and two elective courses. As of the 2024/25 rates, the tuition fee is $4,876 per course credit, meaning that the entire M.S.Ed. degree costs $48,760.

So what are you waiting for? Mastering AI skills gives us significant advantages in professional development. If you are looking to advance your career or expand your career focus, either of these online master’s degrees in AI may be for you.

Good luck, and happy learning.