Master's in Artificial Intelligence Programs in Florida

Florida is home to many excellent colleges and universities, but they have some catching up to do when it comes to AI education. We found just nine AI graduate degree programs in Florida; your options include Florida Atlantic University, the University of Miami, and Florida Polytechnic University. We did find top schools (e.g., University of Florida) with graduate certificate programs in artificial intelligence and machine learning, so we predict more master’s degrees in AI are on the way. Watch this space, which should develop quickly.

Artificial Intelligence Education in Florida

Florida isn’t usually considered a leader in artificial intelligence, but it has been making considerable progress in recent years. The state is home to many top universities well-positioned to usher in a generation of AI leaders, and students are beginning to notice. While Florida doesn’t have as many AI graduate degree programs as states like California or New York, it offers unique degrees tailored to AI, robotics, computer science, machine learning, and intelligent systems.

In 2019, Florida Atlantic University’s College of Engineering and Computer Science launched the state’s first MS with a Major in AI (MSAI), administered by the Department of Computer and Electrical Engineering and Computer Science. The university designed the degree to prepare the first wave of AI professionals for “jobs that are not yet defined.” The curriculum consists of AI theory and methods, combined with subfields like vision, data analytics and algorithms, knowledge management and reasoning, and machine learning.

One of Florida’s most notable AI master’s programs is at the University of Miami. The university’s College of Engineering offers the MS in Electrical and Computer Engineering – Concentration in Artificial Intelligence (AI). An advisory board of industry experts oversees the program, which educates students in neural networks, data mining, and machine learning. Students complete 27 credit hours before demonstrating their skills through a final capstone project.

When it comes to robotics, you will want to look at Florida Polytechnic University’s MS in Engineering – Robotics, offered by the Department of Computer Engineering and Electrical Engineering. It is an interdisciplinary track that includes courses like Advanced Computer Vision, Advanced Autonomous Systems, and Advanced Artificial Intelligence.

It is also helpful to note that the University of West Florida’s Department of Intelligent Systems and Robotics offers the state’s first Ph.D. in Intelligent Systems and Robotics. It is one of only of its kind offered in the entire U.S., and it enables students to build the skills necessary for developing new theories and technologies.

Online Master’s in Artificial Intelligence Programs in Florida

Florida offers a couple of online master’s in AI programs and one online graduate certificate. While options may be limited, Florida has more online AI degrees than most states.

Florida Atlantic University’s Department of Computer and Electrical Engineering and Computer Science has its online MS in Artificial Intelligence. Their innovative training curriculum, which involves AI theory, methods, and technologies, aims to help students join the AI-and-autonomy workforce. Some of the courses included in this program are Computational Foundations of Artificial Intelligence, Social Networks and Big Data Analytics, and Natural Language Processing.

At Nova Southeastern University, you will find the online MS in Computer Science – Artificial Intelligence. The AI concentration includes courses like Data Mining and Knowledge Discovery in Databases, and Information Retrieval and Web Search Engine Technology. Visit the program homepage to learn more about the curriculum and read alumni success stories.

The Artificial Intelligence Outlook in Florida

Florida’s artificial intelligence scene has been developing (and improving!) over the past few years, with AI-related investments on the rise and academic institutions taking note of the growing interest in artificial intelligence and machine learning.

In July of 2020, the University of Florida announced a public-private partnership with NVIDIA to strengthen UF’s research in the field. The partnership’s goal is to address “some of the world’s most formidable challenges, create unprecedented access to AI training and tools for underrepresented communities, and build momentum for transforming the future of the workforce.” The funding also goes towards an AI-centric data center that holds the country’s most powerful university-owned supercomputer.

Another significant AI development came to the state in 2021 when UF added 100 new AI-focused faculty, which will help position AI as a core competency. Initiatives like these are crucial to advancing the AI landscape in Florida, which could eventually catch up to some of the more advanced states (e.g., California). Keep an eye on this space – Florida may be on the way to becoming an AI hub.