Graduate programs

Master of Science in AI for Business

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Program format

In person

Commitment

Full time or part time

Duration

Nine to 21 months

Overview

The SMU Cox Master of Science in AI for Business (MSAIB) prepares students to lead AI-driven innovation across industries. This STEM-designated program combines technical training in predictive AI, generative AI, machine learning, analytics and AI ethics with a strong foundation in business strategy and decision-making. Students develop the skills to evaluate, implement and manage AI technologies while understanding their capabilities, limitations and ethical implications.

Designed to address the growing demand for AI-savvy business leaders, the curriculum emphasizes real-world application through experiential learning and hands-on use of industry tools and platforms, including Hadoop, Spark, NodeXL, SAS, R, Python, Google Analytics, Alteryx and Tableau. Students learn to translate complex data and emerging technologies into actionable business insights that drive organizational performance.

As AI continues to transform industries ranging from financial services and technology to healthcare, consulting and human resources, the MSAIB equips graduates with the technical expertise, strategic perspective and leadership skills needed to create business value and guide organizations through technological change.


A Culture that sets us apart

At SMU Cox, you’ll join a community of driven peers, alumni who open doors, expert faculty and dedicated staff who support your goals as their own. Here, when you win, we all win.

Student success

SMU Cox provides students with support at every stage of their professional journey. From one-on-one career coaching and employer connections to a 42,000-plus-member alumni network, students have access to the resources, mentorship and opportunities that help turn career aspirations into outcomes.

This program prepares you to excel in the following areas and professions:

  • AI strategy
  • Business analytics and data science
  • Machine learning analytics
  • AI project management
  • Financial services and FinTech
  • Marketing analytics and customer intelligence
  • AI implementation
  • Data-driven business analytics

Top 20%

Best National Universities

U.S. News & World Report (2026)

56%

wage premium for workers with AI skills

PwC Global AI Jobs Barometer (2025)

+30%

more AI jobs in Dallas than the national average

Nucamp (2024)

Admissions

Deadlines and details

Key dates and admissions information to help plan your application with confidence.

International students

All the essential admission requirements international students need to know.

Application questions

Connect with a Graduate Admission team member for answers to application questions.

Additional links

Requirements

  1. Current resume
  2. Written essays
  3. Unofficial transcripts or degree progress reports that show cumulative GPA and grades for each course taken
  4. Official transcripts from bachelor’s degree institution, institutions where 12 or more credit hours were taken and graduate degrees are required for candidates offered admission
  5. Two references (Name and contact information only. Recommendation letters are not required nor are they requested from references)

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Tuition and financial aid

Tuition and costs

Explore the cost breakdown of tuition for graduate programs.

Financial aid

Find information on scholarships and financial support available at SMU.

Curriculum and learning

Featured courses

ITOM 6216

Generative AI for Business

Explores how businesses can leverage generative AI tools to drive innovation and streamline processes in diverse sectors such as operations, marketing, finance, etc. Students investigate core AI capabilities, understand key technical foundations, practice working effectively with AI tools and develop strategic roadmaps tailored to unique business needs. By evaluating practical use cases, assessing potential impacts and crafting effective implementation plans, students learn to harness the power of generative AI.

A 6233

Strategic Digital Marketing in an AI-Driven World

Focuses on strategic digital marketing in the era of artificial intelligence and e-commerce. It aims to equip participants with a solid understanding of digital marketing principles and tools, emphasizing their application to solve strategic marketing problems. The curriculum covers a wide range of topics, from AI advancements to digital vision and implementation, including digital business models, channels, social media and mobile marketing. With a strong emphasis on Gen AI-assisted decision making, the course provides hands-on opportunities for participants to think and act like strategic digital marketing decision-makers, preparing them for the rapidly evolving digital landscape in marketing.

ITOM 6217

Data Mining and Machine Learning

Examines how companies can leverage machine learning and data mining to gain insights for operational and competitive intelligence. Reviews the use of artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning (ML) for business applications. Discusses several data mining technologies such as CART, neural networks, clustering and association-based reasoning and examines relevant considerations that managers must make in applying these technologies to different types of decision and planning problems. Includes lectures, cases and hands-on exercises using appropriate software.

View course catalog

Outside the classroom

Research

SMU Cox offers cutting-edge research around the latest uses of AI in corporate strategy, e-commerce, market analytics, asset management and more. This research is addressed through specialized academics, faculty research and high-performance computing to solve real-world problems.

Faculty

At SMU Cox School of Business, our professors are graduates of the world’s leading business schools. They’re consultants to global corporations, top practitioners in their fields and widely published researchers investigating leading-edge topics. Cox faculty is made up of passionate teachers who bring new ideas and techniques into the classroom, challenge you to question conventional thinking and inspire you to share their excitement about the issues that drive their work.

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headshot of Aren Cambre

Aren Cambre

Clinical Professor
Sreekumar Bhaskaran

Sreekumar Bhaskaran

Professor
Dean's Distinguished Research Professor

Rowena J. Gan

Assistant Professor
Timothy McDonough

Timothy McDonough

Clinical Professor
Karthik Babu Nattamai Kannan

Karthik Babu Nattamai Kannan

Visiting Assistant Professor

Ranjith Raghunath

Adjunct Professor
R. Canan Savaskan-Ebert

R. Canan Savaskan-Ebert

Associate Professor
Headshot of Venky Shankar

Venky Shankar

Professor
Harold M. Brierley Endowed Professor
Academic Director, Brierley Institute for…
Jane Tan

Jane Tan

Assistant Professor
Helmuth Ludwig

Helmuth Ludwig

Professor of Practice

Justin Gressel

Professor of Practice
Program Director, Master of Science in Business Analytics

Facilities

Students in the MS in business analytics program at Cox can collaborate with the Career Management Center.

Career Management Center

The Cox CMC partners with MSAIB candidates, alumni and employers to build collaborative relationships that culminate in successful careers.


The Business Leadership Center at SMU Cox helps masters in business analytics students learn to lead.

Edwin L. Cox Business Leadership Center

The BLC enhances classroom experiences by developing students’ leadership skills through seminars, executive speaker series, experiential learning programs and coaching.

Frequently asked questions

The STEM-designated Master of Science in AI for Business (MSAIB), offered in full-time and part-time formats, empowers students to master both predictive and generative AI alongside advanced analytics, machine learning frameworks and AI ethics—all tailored to real-world business applications. With hands-on training using industry-leading platforms and expert faculty, MSAIB graduates are uniquely equipped to lead AI-driven transformation across diverse industries.


While business analytics focuses on using data to identify trends, solve problems and support decision-making, the Master of Science in AI for Business is designed to help students understand how organizations can strategically apply artificial intelligence to create value and drive innovation. Students learn how to evaluate AI technologies, implement AI-powered solutions and lead AI initiatives across business functions.

The program combines technical understanding with business strategy, preparing graduates to help organizations navigate AI transformation, manage emerging technologies and make informed decisions about AI adoption. It is well suited for students who want to lead the future of AI in business rather than focus primarily on data analysis and business intelligence.

The Master’s in AI for business program prepares you for evolving and emerging roles across diverse sectors. These range from technology and finance to consulting and healthcare.

Some examples of roles you can pursue include:

  • AI consultant
  • AI project manager
  • Business transformation specialist
  • Customer experience designer
  • Data analyst
  • Predictive modeler
  • Process optimization manager
  • Technology implementation specialist

The AI for business Master’s degree is a hybrid, business-focused program with a strong technical foundation. Focusing on business applications of advanced analytics, machine learning frameworks, predictive AI and generative AI, graduates learn to use AI to inform decision-making in areas like operations, marketing and finance.

The goal of the program is to teach both the technical workings of AI and its strategic business application, rather than on producing pure software engineers.


No. Generally, you do not need a computer science or coding background to study AI for business at SMU. The degree is designed specifically for professionals looking to apply AI to business, and it focuses more on strategic implementation of existing analytic tools than coding.

The AI for business Master’s degree curriculum is designed to build technical and strategic business knowledge of AI. Foundational courses will develop your technical skills in programming, prompt engineering and AI tools. You’ll also gain an understanding of database management and explore machine learning for pattern recognition and prediction. As you get deeper into the program, your coursework will emphasize integrating AI within business contexts: identifying AI opportunities, determining data needed to support integration and understanding the roles of different teams in the implementation process. In addition to gaining AI expertise, you’ll develop an understanding of how to apply AI ethically and effectively.


The Master of Science in AI for Business program is ideal for recent college graduates—as well as early-career professionals—who want to delve into new and emerging AI tools and technologies that are revolutionizing the ways we do business. It’s an advanced degree for those who envision themselves combining business with technological innovation, who are ready to lead their organizations into the future.


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