Pasco County university to offer AI master's degree

Saint Leo University is enhancing its presence in the AI realm, introducing a master's degree in artificial intelligence. 

The Pasco County university's AI graduate degree, launching in fall 2024, is intended to build on current degree offerings in robotics and AI, computer science and cybersecurity and will offer courses in cloud computing security, advanced computing architecture and practical application of AI. The degree classes, according to a statement, are online only and will require 30 credit hours for completion.

“This is the right time to prepare the workforce to embrace this technology,” says Vyas Krishnan, associate dean of Saint Leo’s College of Computing, Artificial Intelligence, Robotics and Data Science in a the release. “We are at the stage where AI is going to be transformative. The software and technical aspects of AI are going to impact most industries in significant ways. AI also is going to improve efficiency with the way we do things. We already see them [businesses and industries] using Chat GPT to improve writing and researching.”

The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics includes artificial intelligence professionals in its categories of computer and information research scientists and data scientists and predicts that these occupations will increase 23% and 35%, respectively, through 2032. Several fields that incorporate use of AI include health care, finance, retail, manufacturing, automotive, transportation and logistics. Someone with a graduate degree in AI can expect a starting salary of $100,000-$125,000.

Saint Leo University is the second institution in the Tampa Bay area to announce a graduate program in AI and is designated as a National Center of Academic Excellence in Cybersecurity by the National Security Agency & Department of Homeland Security. USF announced a graduate program starting in the fall of 2024 and a college focused on Artificial Intelligence opening in 2025. 

Saint Leo is a regionally accredited university that offers more than 60 degree programs to more than 14,190 students each year. The deadline to apply for the program is Aug. 19. Classes for the semester begin Monday, Aug. 26. For information about the degree program, contact Van Nguyen, chair/director of the departments of Computer Science and Project Management, at [email protected].