graduate studies in applied artificial intelligence

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steve nordstrom, associate dean, school of computing

core faculty

steve nordstrom, professor of computer science and software engineering
ken mayer, jr., assistant professor of computing and information technology

program overview

artificial intelligence has exploded in capability and popularity in recent years, disrupting many established industries and leaving urgent knowledge and skills gaps in its wake. it is critical that professionals in the modern workforce understand modern solution trends in ai, learn and grow new skill sets in ai tools, develop competencies in industry-specific ai solutions, and develop a deeper understanding of the impact that ai has on society.

the master of science in applied artificial intelligence program explores the foundations, languages, case studies, and ethical impacts of artificial intelligence. discipline-specific application sequences explore ai solution trends which solve problems and explore outcomes in a variety of specific industries– healthcare, business, education, liberal arts, engineering, entertainment, and more. finally, students cooperate to build ai projects in an innovative educational setting designed to meet the needs of particular industrial applications where ai is emerging as the preferred solution strategy.

the program requires 30 credits of graduate study comprised of 15 credit hours from a core of ai courses, a combination of 6 credit hours discipline-specific ai application courses and 6 credit hours of discipline-specific ai studio courses, and a 3 credit hour capstone. (pending sacscoc approval expected fall 2024.)

required core: 15 credits of core courses:

msai 5513: foundations of artificial intelligence
msai 5523: the language of computation
msai 5533: artificial intelligence interfaces
msai 5543: case studies in artificial intelligence
msai 5553: ethics and societal impact of artificial intelligence

the schedule and offering format of the courses in the degree are designed to better accommodate remote participants alongside an on-ground contingent of students. course delivery formats are 8-week sections in term-i or term-ii of fall, spring, and summer semesters which meet one night per week (thursdays) from the hours of 5:30-9:00 pm. this gives on-ground meeting students sufficient time to travel to campus for face-to-face interactions, and on days when classes are not meeting it gives all students time to meet in small groups.

students with backgrounds in computer languages, programming, or similar experience can elect to test out of the first language-based course (msai 5523 language of computation) by passing an exam (cbe) covering basic and advanced topics of computer languages.

minimum credits

the master of science in applied artificial intelligence requires completion of 30 semester hours. the certificate in applied artifical intelligence requires completion of 9 semester hours. this requirement does not include hours accumulated to satisfy academic deficiencies or prerequisites.

projects and studio work

individual and group projects are a required component of most graduate classes. most group projects are facilitated with a combination of online meetings, emails, and phone calls. as part of the curriculum, students will complete a capstone project which can be designed to support items such as an employer’s strategic initiative or an entrepreneurial opportunity. each student will work with a faculty mentor to define the capstone and advance through the process of completing the requirements of this project.

admission

admission to the program is based on a combination of many factors, including undergraduate and/or graduate academic record, professional experience, an interview and references. the admissions committee also considers your entrance application essay, interview, and goals statement in the admissions process.

eligible students

applicants must hold a u.s. bachelor’s degree or its equivalent, or be a student currently enrolled in a graduate program and intend to pursue the applied artificial intelligence degree or certificate sequentially or simultaneously to the graduate program. applicants must have on file a transcript including a minimum math course of college algebra or above. students who are simultaneously enrolled in a graduate program at another institution must provide evidence of being in good academic standing from their primary graduate program and maintain good academic standing in it as well as the msai program as per academic requirements of both institutions. additionally, proof of successful completion of one pre-requisite statistics course is required. international students should refer to the international student section of the graduate catalog.

application process

• application fee. a non-refundable $50 application fee must be submitted online with credit card or by check before the application is evaluated by the admissions committee. 
• coursework in college algebra or higher. 
• two letters of recommendation. the references selected need to be individuals who are able to comment on your academic or professional abilities as well as your interpersonal skills.
• personal statement of goals and purpose for obtaining the degree. consider including such information as:
  • how the university can assist your personal and career goals
  • why you are seeking a degree or certificate in applied artificial intelligence
• resume
• official transcripts from each institution attended. please allow up to 4 weeks for transcript delivery.
• health form. each applicant must submit a completed health form signed by a health care provider. (to print a copy of the health form, visit www.fellaworld.com/healthcenter/ forms.) this form must be submitted directly to lipscomb’s health center.
• ferpa. the family educational rights and privacy act affords students certain rights of access to educational records; even if you are independent of your parents, you must submit this form prior to enrollment.
• an english competency exam is required for international students. (see section titled international students for more information.)
• an interview is required for admission to the program. interviews are conducted by invitation only. the director of the applied artificial intelligence program will evaluate each application for competitiveness and request an interview with those determined to be qualified applicants. 

all application items should be submitted to the office of graduate admissions no later than 90 days before the beginning of the semester or term in which the student plans to enroll. 
forms should be emailed to gradadmissions@lipscomb.edu or mailed to graduate studies in applied artificial intelligence, 世界杯2022预选赛录像回放 , one university park drive, nashville, tn 37204-3951.

transfer and waiver of courses

although all graduate credit hours may be transferred from another accredited institution, a maximum of six hours will be counted toward a master’s degree in the raymond b. jones college of engineering. the msai program director will evaluate the course(s) being proposed for transfer and make a determination of suitability. no course with a grade below a “b” will be considered for transfer.

documentation

students are required to provide satisfactory documentation of personal identification for off-site learning experiences required in many programs of graduate study at 世界杯2022预选赛录像回放 . failure to provide proper credentials will result in failure to complete the desired course of study. for complete policy, see section entitled required documentation for off-site learning experiences in the opening section of this catalog.

academic policies

course load

a student enrolled for six hours is considered a full-time student. a student enrolled for less than six hours is considered a part-time student. no student will be permitted to enroll for more than 12 hours per semester without special approval from the director of the graduate program.

academic standing

see graduate academic standing policy.

statute of limitations

all requirements for a degree in the raymond b. jones college of engineering must be completed within a five-year period from the time of initial matriculation.

minimum gpa

the minimum cumulative grade-point average on all graduate education programs is 3.00 for all graduate courses taken for graduate credit while pursuing the degree. no grade below a “c” is acceptable. such grades will not apply toward degree completion.

graduation

students who do not file their intent to graduate form in the registrar’s office by the announced application deadline may be delayed in graduating.  to be eligible to graduate, all coursework required for the degree must be completed prior to the degree conferral date.  no graduate certificate or ms degree may be conferred until a bachelor’s, graduate, or terminal degree has been conferred.

graduate students receiving degrees are hooded during the may and dec. commencement exercises.

appeals

any exceptions to the above stated requirements would require approval by the associate provost for research and graduate studies in collaboration with the dean of the college and the program director.

tuition and fees for 2024-2025

*program trip fee (see program information for details)*

return to: all graduate programs