Applied AI—Connect, MPS (Boston)

The Master of Professional Studies in Applied AI—Connect program is designed for students without prior experience in engineering, computer technology, or statistics. The program requires an additional 9 semester hours of coursework that provide the intensive, hands-on instruction necessary for students considering a career change to artificial intelligence, connecting the student's current background to artificial intelligence applications.

For the 2025–2026 academic year, the MPS Applied AI—Connect program is being offered as a collaboration between the College of Professional Studies and the Office of the Provost. During this period, students will follow Northeastern University’s Graduate Academic Calendar and be governed by the academic policies and procedures documented in the university’s Graduate Catalog.

During the time a student is designated under the Office of the Provost, the College of Professional Studies will provide each student with full academic and student support services (e.g., academic advising services, co-op and career advising services, International Tutoring Center, etc.).

Beginning in the 2026–2027 academic year, students enrolled in the MPS Applied AI—Connect program will transition to the College of Professional Studies, and their official college designation will be updated accordingly in the academic system of record. At that time, students will be governed by the academic policies and procedures documented in the university’s Graduate Catalog, specifically relating to the College of Professional Studies.

Connect Courses

Course List

Code	Title	Hours
AAI 5015	Mathematical Concepts	3
AAI 5025	Python	3
AAI 5035	Research Methods and Scientific Writing	3

Core Courses

Course List

Code	Title	Hours
Complete the following:
AAI 6600	Applied Artificial Intelligence	3
AAI 6610	Applied Machine Learning	3
AAI 6620	Applied Natural Language Processing	3
AAI 6630	Applied Computer Vision	3
Restricted Electives		6
AAI 6640	Applied Deep Learning
AAI 6650	Recommender System
AAI 6655	Prompt Engineering
AAI 6665	Generative Artificial Intelligence
AAI 6740	Applied Reinforcement Learning
AAI 6790	Applied Quantum AI
AAI 6850	Applied Blockchain AI
AAI 6900	AI for Autonomous Systems
AAI 6983	Special Research Topics in AI
Capstone
AAI 6980	Integrated Experiential Capstone	4

Concentration or Electives Option 

A concentration is not required. Students may complete the electives option in lieu of a concentration.

• AI for 3D Imaging
• Conversational AI and Chatbots
• Machine Learning for Cybersecurity 
• Electives Option

Optional Experiential Learning Opportunities

The College of Professional Studies encourages its students to incorporate optional experiential learning opportunities in their academic plans. 

Course List

Code	Title	Hours
Co-op
This option requires 1 additional semester hour of credit and tuition in addition to this program's required credit hours.
INT 6200	Experiential Project Preparation	1
COP 6945	Co-op Work Experience—Full Time	0
or COP 6946	Global Co-op Work Experience—Full Time
or COP 6954	Co-op Work Experience - Half-Time
Integrative Experiential Learning
This option substitutes for 3 semester hours of restricted elective credits in programs that require at least 3 semester hours of restricted elective credits. If the student has already completed the program's restricted electives or the program does not have an elective requirement, this option requires 3 additional hours of credit and tuition in addition to this program's required credit hours.
INT 6943	Integrative Experiential Learning	3

Program Credit/GPA Requirements

43 total semester hours required
Minimum 3.000 GPA required

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AI for 3D Imaging Concentration

Course List

Code	Title	Hours
Complete the following:
AAI 6710	Graph Signal Processing	3
AAI 6720	Graph Neural Networks	3
AAI 6730	Deep Learning for 3D Point Cloud Analysis	3
Complete one of the following:		3
AAI 6640	Applied Deep Learning
AAI 6650	Recommender System
AAI 6665	Generative Artificial Intelligence
AAI 6740	Applied Reinforcement Learning
AAI 6790	Applied Quantum AI
AAI 6850	Applied Blockchain AI
AAI 6900	AI for Autonomous Systems

Conversational AI and Chatbots Concentration

Course List

Code	Title	Hours
Complete the following:
AAI 6660	Chatbot Architecture	3
AAI 6670	Chatbot Application	3
Complete two of the following:		6
AAI 6640	Applied Deep Learning
AAI 6650	Recommender System
AAI 6655	Prompt Engineering
AAI 6665	Generative Artificial Intelligence
AAI 6740	Applied Reinforcement Learning
AAI 6790	Applied Quantum AI
AAI 6850	Applied Blockchain AI
AAI 6900	AI for Autonomous Systems

Machine Learning for Cybersecurity Concentration

Course List

Code	Title	Hours
Complete the following:
AAI 6680	AI for Cybersecurity	3
AAI 6690	Machine Learning for Cyberdetection	3
Complete two of the following:		6
AAI 6640	Applied Deep Learning
AAI 6650	Recommender System
AAI 6665	Generative Artificial Intelligence
AAI 6740	Applied Reinforcement Learning
AAI 6790	Applied Quantum AI
AAI 6850	Applied Blockchain AI
AAI 6900	AI for Autonomous Systems

Electives Option

Course List

Code	Title	Hours
Complete any College of Professional Studies graduate-level courses, unused courses in this program, or a combination of both in lieu of a concentration to meet total program required semester hours.