The University of Missouri Board of Curators approved the University of Missouri-Kansas City’s plan to launch a new Master of Science in Artificial Intelligence degree this fall, pending approval from both the state and the Higher Learning Commission.
Housed in the School of Science and Engineering, the Master of Science in Artificial Intelligence is a 30-credit hour program designed to meet growing workforce demand for advanced artificial intelligence expertise across industry and research sectors. The program will offer courses covering foundational and advanced topics in artificial intelligence, machine learning and natural language processing.
UMKC has already established itself as a leader in artificial intelligence education and research, with AI‑focused initiatives implemented across academic units. This new program builds on that foundation, positioning UMKC at the forefront of AI‑driven innovation.
UMKC Chancellor Mauli Agrawal announced plans for the new master’s degree in AI as well as a Bachelor of Science in AI at his State of the University address in October 2025. The bachelor’s degree is in the early stages of planning.
“This new master’s degree in artificial intelligence reflects our responsibility as a university to lead – not follow – during moments of profound change,” Agrawal said. “Employers across every sector are seeking professionals equipped with the skills, judgment and creativity needed to harness AI’s powerful potential. This new degree positions UMKC graduates at the forefront of innovation, ready to succeed in a rapidly evolving, AI-driven economy.”
The new Master of Science in AI program will be open to applicants with a bachelor’s degree in computer science or a related field such as data science, information technology, software engineering, informatics and mathematics.
With artificial intelligence emerging as a transformative field in the computing industry, demand for AI-related occupations (especially software developers, database architects and engineers) continue to grow. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, software developers’ employment is projected to increase 17.9% from 2023 to 2033, significantly outpacing average job growth. LinkedIn also ranked “Artificial Intelligence Engineer” and “Artificial Intelligence Consultant” as the two fastest-growing roles in 2025.
The new Master of Science in Artificial Intelligence program is developed to prepare students for high-demand careers in fields like healthcare, finance, manufacturing, cybersecurity, robotics and intelligent systems. Drawing on UMKC’s strengths as a Carnegie Research 1 institution, the program will leverage the school’s research expertise and industry partnerships to provide students with a curriculum that incorporates applied experience with real-world challenges.
While UMKC currently offers a Master of Science in Computer Science with an emphasis in artificial intelligence, the new degree boasts a much more robust AI curriculum. The existing emphasis incorporates AI-focused electives within a broader computer science curriculum. However, the Master of Science in Artificial Intelligence program is fully dedicated to AI with both required and elective courses centered on artificial intelligence topics, such as artificial intelligence ethics.
Graduates of the Master of Science in Artificial Intelligence program will be prepared for roles such as machine learning engineer, computer vision engineer, robotics engineer, data engineer and software engineer, as well as emerging positions including AI ethics officer, data-centric AI specialist and prompt engineer. Some graduates are also expected to pursue entrepreneurial ventures, contributing to workforce development, innovation and economic growth in Kansas City and across Missouri.