University of Southern Maine

How this program compares

Benchmark this program against our national recognition pages and use the key guides below to evaluate ROI, admissions difficulty, and outcomes.

Admission Snapshot

Typical admitted student: Applicants typically need a bachelor's degree in computer science, mathematics, engineering, or a related field with a GPA of 3.0 or higher. Some programs require programming experience and may recommend the GRE, though it is increasingly optional for competitive applicants.

About This Program

This graduate program prepares students for high-impact careers in software development and the quantitative analysis of large datasets for modeling.

Career Outcomes

Lead as Operations Research Analyst in Cross-Industry AI with machine learning expertise

• 1. Machine Learning Engineer
• 2. Data Scientist
• 3. AI Research Scientist
• 4. Analytics Engineer

What You'll Learn

• Design and implement machine learning models for real-world data science problems
• Develop proficiency in AI frameworks, deep learning architectures, and large language models
• Apply statistical and computational methods to extract insights from complex datasets
• Build scalable data systems and deploy AI solutions in production environments

Curriculum Highlights

The program requires 30 credits, including a culminating master's thesis or project focused on AI research or solving software application problems.

Top Employers

Top employers include Google, Meta, Microsoft, Amazon, OpenAI, and major financial institutions like JPMorgan Chase and Goldman Sachs.

Admissions

Applicants typically need a bachelor's degree in computer science, mathematics, engineering, or a related field with a GPA of 3.0 or higher. Some programs require programming experience and may recommend the GRE, though it is increasingly optional for competitive applicants.

Application Materials

• Statement of Purpose: Required
• Letters of Recommendation: 2–3
• Resume: Required
• Transcripts: Official transcripts required

Academic Requirements

• Degree Required: Bachelor's degree
• GRE/GMAT: Optional
• TOEFL/IELTS: Required for international students (TOEFL 80+ / IELTS 6.5+)