SANTA CLARA, Calif.–(BUSINESS WIRE)–Santa Clara University’s School of Engineering today announced the launch of a new interdisciplinary Master of Science in Artificial Intelligence (MSAI) program, designed to equip students with cutting-edge skills in AI technologies while emphasizing ethical responsibility and real-world application. The program will welcome its first cohort in Fall 2025.
As artificial intelligence continues to transform industries and reshape our daily lives, the demand for professionals who can develop, implement, and manage AI systems has skyrocketed. Santa Clara University’s MSAI program responds to this demand with a rigorous, hands-on curriculum and two tailored concentrations—Computer Science and Engineering (CSEN) and Electrical and Computer Engineering (ECEN)—to meet the needs of diverse student backgrounds and career goals.
“Santa Clara’s new MSAI program is a bold step forward in preparing the next generation of AI leaders,” said Kendra Sharp, dean of the School of Engineering. “What sets our program apart are the software and hardware tracks, a deep integration of ethical training, and opportunities for AI practicums with Silicon Valley partners. Our graduates will leave with the technical skills and the values and vision to use AI for good.”
The CSEN concentration focuses on the computational, algorithmic, and software foundations of AI, which is ideal for students with backgrounds in computer science or software engineering. The ECEN concentration emphasizes hardware-oriented AI applications, including embedded systems, the Internet of Things, robotics, and AI chip design, for electrical and computer engineering students.
A uniform curriculum structure across both concentrations includes:
- Essential fundamentals in mathematics, ethics, and professional development
- AI foundational courses covering machine learning, deep learning, and reinforcement learning
- Advanced AI electives tailored to each concentration
- A culminating AI practicum involving real-world industry or research-based projects developed in collaboration with Silicon Valley partners.
“Artificial intelligence is evolving rapidly, and we must ensure it evolves responsibly,” said Yi Fang, a computer science and engineering professor and director of SCU’s Responsible AI initiative. “Through our MSAI program, students will gain technical mastery and a critical understanding of AI’s societal impact. They will be empowered to create intelligent and trustworthy technologies.”
The MSAI program draws on the expertise and resources of Santa Clara’s departments of Computer Science and Engineering and Electrical and Computer Engineering. It aligns closely with the University’s Impact 2030 strategic plan, emphasizing interdisciplinary collaboration, industry engagement, and the ethical application of emerging technologies.
Graduates of the MSAI program will be uniquely positioned to drive innovation in AI-powered industries, including healthcare, transportation, energy, finance, semiconductors, and more, while upholding the Jesuit values of social responsibility and the common good.
For more information about the Master of Science in Artificial Intelligence program, visit scu.edu/engineering/graduate/ms-ai/
About Santa Clara University’s School of Engineering
Santa Clara University’s School of Engineering, established in 1912, inspires and develops engineering leaders of competence, conscience, and compassion—entrepreneurial thinkers who will build a more just, humane, and sustainable world. Offering a range of degree programs and situated in Silicon Valley, the School serves as a vibrant hub for research, innovation, and collaboration with industry leaders.
About Santa Clara University
Founded in 1851, Santa Clara University sits in the heart of Silicon Valley—the world’s most innovative and entrepreneurial region. The University’s stunningly landscaped 106-acre campus is home to the historic Mission Santa Clara de Asís. Ranked among the top 15 percent of national universities by U.S. News & World Report, SCU has among the best four-year graduation rates in the nation and is rated by PayScale in the top 1 percent of universities with the highest-paid graduates. SCU has produced an elite number of Fulbright Scholars, as well as four Rhodes Scholars. With undergraduate programs in arts and sciences, business, and engineering, and graduate programs in six disciplines, the curriculum blends high-tech innovation with social consciousness grounded in the tradition of Jesuit, Catholic education. For more information, see www.scu.edu.
Contacts
Media Contact
Lisa Robinson | SCU Media Communications | lrobinson2@scu.edu | 408-551-3601
