Artificial Intelligence (AI) or machine intelligence are “intelligent” machines or systems that perform the jobs and tasks that would normally be performed by humans. These tasks may include such things as game-playing computers and cars which are self-driven. Our good friends Alexa and Siri are also examples of artificial intelligence. Acquiring a degree in Artificial Intelligence gives individuals the ability to create these intelligent systems and machines.
Since creativity is one of the elements of artificial intelligence that is difficult to transmit, furthering the field of robotics and AI will always require the human element. According to this report from the World Economic Forum, Artificial Intelligence may create up to 58 million jobs by 2022. The article goes on to say that it is critical that “individuals take a proactive approach to their own lifelong learning, and that governments create an enabling environment to facilitate this workforce transformation.” This challenge can be met, at least in part, by those on the inside who have studied the subject. This list offers some of the best options for online studies of robotics and artificial intelligence to help future professionals pursue careers and to meet the AI challenges of the future.
Methodology:
In the development of this list, the OnlineSchoolsCenter.com researcher/writers utilized the following criteria in their selection process:
- Online or hybrid format courses, degrees, certificates, or diploma programs in Artificial Intelligence, Robotics, Machine Learning, or an equivalent topic,
- Notability and excellence among journalistic and academic resources,
- Popularity among past and current students,
- Faculty members with credible experience and credentials,
- Legitimacy among artificial intelligence and robotics companies and organizations,
- And an approachable school website with easy to use coursework and an exciting virtual learning experience.
For a deeper understanding into our methodology beyond the degree specific criteria listed above, please visit our Methodology Page.
UDACITY
Standouts:
Udacity offers a huge amount of online programs in artificial intelligence, machine learning, and robotics. The programs listed below are only a fraction of those available in total. Students learn how to design and create their own businesses or achieve high-paying positions of responsibility in all sorts of industries. Courses and programs are available to anyone who wants to make an account with Udacity and start learning about robotics and artificial intelligence. The programs are flexible and offer a fun and exciting learning platform with a focus on student success. Some businesses at which graduates of Udacity now work include Audible, FINRA, and Keeward.
Campus Location: Mountain View, CA
Cost:
- Costs vary from program to program $199-2,400 each
Program Sample:
- Artificial Intelligence for Trading
- AI Product Manager
- Intro to Machine Learning
- Machine Learning Engineer
- AI Programming with Python
- Deep Learning
- Computer Vision
- Natural Language Processing
- Deep Reinforcement Learning
- Artificial Intelligence
LEARN MORE ABOUT UDACITY’S ONLINE ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE PROGRAMS
MASSACHUSETTS INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY
Standouts:
From the notable MIT Sloan School of Management and the Computer Science and Artificial Intelligence Laboratory comes an incredible opportunity in business strategy. This program is a Management and Leadership Certificate with a Track in Artificial Intelligence: Implications for Business Strategy. The coursework includes a strong focus on the managerial and organizational implications of artificial intelligence technologies and how such developments align with the world of business. The program has outstanding reviews from past and current students, all of which are available on the website listed below. The program is six weeks long, with concentrations in machine learning, robotics, and natural language processing.
Campus Location: Cambridge, MA
Cost:
- $3,200 for the entire program
Coursework Sample:
- An Introduction to Artificial Intelligence
- Machine Learning in Business
- Artificial Intelligence in Business and Society
LEARN MORE ABOUT MIT’S ONLINE ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE MANAGEMENT AND LEADERSHIP CERTIFICATE
COLORADO STATE UNIVERSITY—GLOBAL CAMPUS
Standouts:
Colorado State University-Global Campus has recently developed an Artificial Intelligence and Robotics degree specialization. The new coursework corresponded with the Information Technology, Management Information Systems and Business Analytics, or Computer Science Bachelor’s Degrees. The specialization consists of five courses in machine learning and robotics and is essentially a minor. Students learn how to identify the main principles of AI, analyze mechanisms, and apply control techniques, as these skills correspond to their particular major. Online degrees can be completed 100% online at CSU-Global Campus, and coursework is accelerated and synchronous to provide all of the flexibility possible.
Campus Location: Greenwood Village, CO
Cost:
- $350 per credit hour
- $1,050 per course (3 credits)
- $8,400 per academic year
- $10,500-31,500 per degree (depending on transferrable credits)
Coursework Sample:
- Artificial Intelligence
- Fundamental of Information Retrieval and Web Searching
- Principles of Robotic Theory
LEARN MORE ABOUT COLORADO STATE UNIVERSITY—GLOBAL CAMPUS’ ONLINE DEGREE SPECIALIZATION IN ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE (AI) AND ROBOTICS
NVIDIA DEEP LEARNING INSTITUTE
Standouts:
The NVIDIA Deep Learning Institute has excellent coursework in Artificial Intelligence and Robotics that is well-suited to students, developers, electrical engineers, computer science professionals, and more. Each course includes pertinent information surrounding the computer science and engineering necessary between each component of robotics. There is an outstanding array of resources and tools available for online learners, as well as webinars and presentations that take place throughout the year. Students can engage in online content only, but there are in-person workshops available for those who can spare the time to travel.
Campus Location: Santa Clara, CA (Corporate Headquarters)
Cost:
- Costs vary from course to course $0-90 each
Coursework Sample:
- Getting Started with AI on Jetson Nano
- Image Classification with DIGITS
- Image Segmentation with TensorFlow
LEARN MORE ABOUT NVIDIA DEEP LEARNING INSTITUTE’S ONLINE AI COURSES
COLUMBIA UNIVERSITY
Standouts:
Columbia University in the City of New York is one of the most prestigious and highly celebrated institutions of higher education in the country and offers online robotics and artificial intelligence students excellent opportunities for advancement. The MicroMasters Program and the Postgraduate Diploma are both certification programs, whereas the Computer Science Master’s Degrees are full-length. Those who navigate to the Columbia University website listed below will find numerous other certification and master’s programs in the realms of electrical and mechanical engineering and machine technologies. Still, the programs listed below are the only ones that are robotics-specific.
Campus Location: New York, NY
Cost:
- $2,104 per credit hour
- $6,812 per course
- Approximately $26,933 per certification (four courses—MicroMasters)
- Approximately $67,175 per Master’s Degree
Program Options:
- MicroMasters Program in Artificial Intelligence
- Computer Science Master’s Degree – Vision, Graphics, Interaction, and Robotics
- Computer Science Master’s Degree – Machine Learning
- Postgraduate Diploma in Machine Learning and Artificial Intelligence
LEARN MORE ABOUT COLUMBIA UNIVERSITY’S ONLINE ROBOTICS AND ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE PROGRAMS
STANFORD UNIVERSITY
Standouts:
This online Artificial Intelligence Graduate Certificate is a four-course program with excellent opportunities in machine learning education. There is a wide range of robotics and AI coursework available. The tuition is based on the number of classes you wish to take, which could theoretically be more than four, but four is the required minimum for earning the certificate. There are prerequisite courses necessary for admission into the artificial intelligence certificate, which includes programming experience, linear algebra, and statistics and probability. The program is guaranteed to enhance students’ understanding of these areas and develop new skills in the decision and implementation of robotics.
Campus Location: Stanford, CA
Cost:
- $1,300 per unit (3-4 units per course)
- Approximately $15,700 for entire certificate
Coursework Sample:
- Natural Language Processing with Deep Learning
- Probabilistic Graphical Models: Principles and Techniques
- Decision Making Under Uncertainty
Recommended Schools
LEARN MORE ABOUT STANFORD UNIVERSITY’S ONLINE ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE GRADUATE CERTIFICATE
GOOGLE – AI
Standouts:
Google for Education offers a series of courses in their Artificial Intelligence Department that are excellent for both beginner engineers and seasoned experts. The classes go over a vast range of topics relating to AI and machine learning, while also discussing their ethical nature and economic benefits. These free courses are available to anyone and are anywhere from one to four hours in length. They provide activities, reading and writing assignments, projects, and more. Students can read robotics publications from industry professionals, as well as engineers from Google. There are excellent online tools available from Google as well that aid students in the creation of their robotics projects.
Campus Location: Mountain View, CA (Google Headquarters)
Cost:
- Free of charge
Coursework Sample:
- Clustering
- Recommendation Systems
- Testing and Debugging in Machine Learning
LEARN MORE ABOUT GOOGLE’S ONLINE AI COURSES
WIREGRASS GEORGIA TECHNICAL COLLEGE
Standouts:
Wiregrass Georgia Technical College provides an outstanding online Robotics Technician course that develops intensive skills applicable to the successful construction and manipulation of robotics machinery. The course is 155 hours in length and includes all of the most pertinent topics, from metal cutting fluid safety to electrical systems and motor controls. This online robotics course can be completed entirely at a distance, and, while it is not an instructor facilities course, it does provide excellent resources and support systems for all students.
Campus Location: Valdosta, GA
Cost:
- $1,695 for the entire course
Course Topic Sample:
- Electrical Systems
- Automation
- Mechanical Systems
LEARN MORE ABOUT WIREGRASS GEORGIA TECHNICAL COLLEGE’S ONLINE ROBOTICS TECHNICIAN COURSE
INDIANA STATE UNIVERSITY
Standouts:
This online Bachelor’s in Electronics Engineering Technology is a degree completion program designed for transfer students with freshman and sophomore-level credits. The curriculum lays the foundational requirements for students to enter into the robotics and controls/automation fields. Coursework is offered in Electronics Technology, Mechanical Engineering, and Technology Management, which gives students a first-class degree with which to start a serious career in robotics engineering. Graduates have gone on to work in highly technical areas of engineering after studying robotics at this well-accredited online university.
Campus Location: Terre Haute, IN
Cost:
- $9,036 per semester for residents
- $11,656 per semester reduced rate for non-residents
- $19,960 per semester for non-residents
Coursework Sample:
- Introduction to Robotics and Automation
- Fundamentals of Manufacturing Processes
- Programmable Logic Controllers and Control Systems
LEARN MORE ABOUT INDIANA STATE UNIVERSITY’S ONLINE ROBOTICS DEGREE
ROCHESTER INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY
Program Standouts:
The Rochester Institute of Technology offers a nine-credit certificate program in Mechatronics Engineering that is designed for currently practicing electrical and mechanical engineers. The curriculum includes foundational coursework in robotics and mechatronics, and there are required lab experiences on the RIT campus that help to cement cross-disciplinary skills and knowledge in any mechanical or electrical engineer’s repertoire. Graduates have gone on to work with Boeing, Knorr-Bremse, ITT, BorgWarner, and more, after learning from highly experienced faculty members at the Rochester Institute of Technology online.
Campus Location: Rochester, NY
Cost:
- $1,616 per credit hour
- $14,544 full program tuition
Coursework Sample:
- Embedded Systems for Mechatronics
- Foundations of Circuits and Electronics
- Foundations of Thermal and Mechanical Systems
LEARN MORE ABOUT THE ROCHESTER INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY’S ONLINE MECHATRONICS ENGINEERING CERTIFICATE
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
What is the main focus of a career in Artificial Intelligence and Robotics, and is there a difference between the two?
Naturally, you would assume that the fields of Artificial Intelligence and Robotics are the same thing; however, each subject is very different, but often they are used together to accomplish the intended goal. Let’s take a quick look at what each topic entails.
Undoubtedly, the human brain is capable of a wide array of intellectual capabilities. Still, when a manufacturing factory requires the need for automation, Artificial Intelligence is often necessary to program the computer systems used in today’s modern technology. Therefore, AI is a computer-related field in which experts are tasked with developing and implementing computerized programs that can instruct machinery (or robots) to take the place of a human employee.
What is Robotics, you ask? Are you picturing a short silver man on wheels with flashing lights fetching you the morning paper? Or getting you a cold bottle of water out of the refrigerator? Although that would be nice, the field of Robotics deals with a different type of robot or perhaps more commonly known as modern machinery. Robots are typically designed and built to follow the orders set forth by those focused on the Artificial Intelligence aspect of the field. Artificially intelligent robots are created to perform complex tasks.
What can I do with a degree or certificate diploma in the field of AI and Robotics?
There are many career options for students who are interested in pursuing a career in Artificial Intelligence and Robotics. As the two are viewed differently by the computer science community, they are often related or commonly connected to each other; therefore, many lucrative job possibilities abound.
Work in the field of AI can be located within the military and by public or privately-owned companies or factories. In addition, healthcare facilities also employee AI and Robotics experts. Job titles may include machine learning researchers, computer scientists, computer software analysts and developers, video game developers, robotics programmers, computer engineers, and consultants. Also, within the healthcare field, robotics are used in the development of artificial prosthetics and hearing aids. Trade schools employee AI professionals to provide technical training to vocational students.
Salaries can range from $100,000 to upwards of $150,000 annually, depending on the field of expertise, degree level, and experience. As a growing field, demand for qualified personnel in AI and Robotics is definitely on the rise.
What will I learn in an online Artificial Intelligence and Robotics program?
Anyone interested in a computer-related field can benefit from formal training in the field of Artificial Intelligence and Robotics. In addition, you can choose to earn a degree in the field, or many schools offer certificate programs. Although 100% online degree programs may be hard to locate, other computer focused coursework is readily available online.
What will you learn? Depending on your program and degree level, you will typically learn about microprocessors and circuits, digital electronics, AI mathematics, industrial robotics, motion planning, and machine learning, as well as mechatronic systems, artificial intelligence, and control systems, to name a few.
In addition, today’s coursework in AI and Robotics may also include psychology classes. Interestingly in this field, students now benefit from understanding the human mind and reasoning; therefore, helping in the development of computer-related technology.
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“What all of us have to do is to make sure we are using AI in a way that is for the benefit of humanity, not to the detriment of humanity.” – Tim Cook