Align MS in Artificial Intelligence
Break into artificial intelligence from any background and future-proof your career. You’ll begin by developing a foundation in computer science alongside supportive peers learning computer science for the first time. Then you’ll dive into machine learning, vision, intelligent interaction, robotics and agent systems, or knowledge management and reasoning. You can also opt for a paid co-op or internship with one of 800-plus employer partners. In as little as 2.5 years, you’ll be ready to create human-centered responsible AI.
Program highlights
Semester hours
44 total semester hours required
Start term
Fall and spring admission
Modality
On campus in Boston; full- time or part-time
Experience
Optional paid, full-time co-op or internship, in person or remote
Specializations
Vision, intelligent interaction, robotics and agent-based systems, machine learning, knowledge management and reasoning
Career prospects and top employers
Demand for AI skills is high. About 1 million new AI and machine learning positions are expected globally over the next five years (Final Round AI, 2025). The strategic nature and compensation of AI jobs are also increasing. In fact, 75% of employers prefer advanced degrees for AI leadership roles (HR Drive). The Align MS in AI qualifies you for strategic, high-paying AI roles.
Align graduates move into AI roles like machine learning engineer, natural language processing engineer, computer vision engineer, AI software developer, AI product manager, data scientist, and AI consultant.
Khoury College connects you to a network of more than 800 employer partners for co-ops and internships across North America, including Amazon, Ford Motor Company, Roche/Genentech, Goldman Sachs, Nok Nok Labs, Sway AI, US Soccer Federation, and more. You bring your unique background, and Align helps you turn it into impact.
What makes Align different
- Built for non-computer science majors. Start with graduate-level bridge courses that help you build a strong foundation in computer science. You’re admitted to the master’s program from the start, with no need to reapply once you’ve completed the bridge courses.
- Supportive cohort model. Learn with peers from more than 150 academic backgrounds.
- Experiential edge. Add an optional paid, full-time co-op or internship to gain professional computer science experience before you graduate — Northeastern is ranked #1 in the US for co-ops and internships (USNews, 2025). You’ll also tackle project-rich courses that address industry needs.
- Human-centric, responsible AI. Learn methods and ethics together so your systems are safe, useful, and accountable.
How the Align program works
AI specializations
Robotics and agent-based systems
Build autonomous systems — warehouse robots, drones, arms — that perceive, plan, and act in dynamic environments.
Machine learning
Design, train, and deploy models for real-world needs, from risk prediction to recommendations, using modern ML pipelines.
Computer vision
Teach machines to “see” for healthcare imaging, autonomy, and geospatial analytics — classification, detection, and segmentation.
Intelligent interaction
Create text, speech, and multimodal interfaces (chatbots, copilots) using human-in-the-loop methods and evaluation.
Knowledge management and reasoning
Represent complex domains and reason under uncertainty with planning and probabilistic inference for trustworthy decisions.
Paths: coursework-only or thesis
Learning outcomes
The Align MS in Artificial Intelligence will prepare you to meet graduate-level standards in computer science and AI via the academic bridge, then going on to:
- Understand representations, algorithms, and techniques used across the AI industry and academia and be able to apply and evaluate them in applications as well as develop your own.
- Understand the basic processes that an agent must perform, from perceiving its environment, making decisions on how to act and performing those actions, as well be able to develop and evaluate the technology that can be used to perform these processes.
- Understand and apply machine learning techniques to draw inferences from data and help automate the development of AI systems and components.
- Understand the various ways and reasons humans are integrated into mixed human-AI environments, whether it is to improve overall integrated system performance, improve AI performance, or influence human performance and learning.
- Understand the ethical concerns in developing responsible AI technologies.
- Model human behavior, develop human-AI systems, and evaluate their performance.
- Demonstrate knowledge of the use of AI algorithms and processes in one of the specialization areas: robotics and agent-based systems, vision, intelligent interaction, machine learning, and knowledge representation and reasoning.
Student experience and support
Student perspective: Rajen Aldis
Associate Director of Informatics Research at Cambridge Health Alliance
“I enjoyed bringing my code skills up to speed, and then I enjoyed transitioning to the mainstream master’s part of the program … I did a data science concentration, so I did the AI course and data mining courses. The friends that I had and the other people in Align, they were doing a lot of cool stuff. I found it admirable to see the resiliency of people. Folks had so much going on, but still found a way to devote themselves.”
A program that fits your life. Choose full- or part-time pacing with a clear transition and support from master’s bridge courses to MS in AI coursework.
Career support built in. Co-op advising, résumé reviews, interview prep, and employer connections.
Inclusive community. Learn with peers from 150+ academic backgrounds in a culture that welcomes every perspective.
Campus location: Boston
Boston pairs leading hospitals, life sciences, finance, education, and civic tech with a fast-growing AI scene — and Northeastern’s Institute for Experiential AI (IEAI) is right here. It’s a collaborative hub for human-centric AI and includes an AI Ethics Advisory Board that helps organizations deploy AI responsibly worldwide.
Applications and admissions
How to apply
The Align apply page has everything you need to know about applying to the Align MS in AI program at Khoury College, including:
- Align admissions requirements
- Timelines and deadlines
- Resources and contact information
Degree costs
Visit Student Financial Services for current tuition and fee information, and to find tools and calculators to help you estimate the cost of your degree, based on 44 required semester hours.
Financial support
Pursuing a master’s degree is a significant investment in your future. Northeastern University and Khoury College of Computer Sciences are here to help support you in any way we can. From financial aid to scholarship opportunities to co-op placements and teaching assistantships, there are multiple options to help fund your degree as you work toward your goals.
Application deadlines
Domestic
Spring 2026 semester: December 1
Fall 2026 semester: August 30
International
Spring 2026 semester: November 1
Fall 2026 semester: May 1
Meet our faculty
Get to know the engaged, experienced professors who are here to support you every step of the way.
Bethany Edmunds
“Northeastern has a really important role to play in making sure that the decisions technologists are making for other people, and the influence that they have on everyday lives, are done knowingly and ethically. We think of it as a math problem but software actually changes people’s well-being.”
Ready to explore?
Have questions?
Find answers in our FAQ, or complete this form to learn more about the Align MS in Computer Science program. One of our enrollment counselors will contact you soon.