Rice University is adding a Master of Artificial Intelligence, or MAI, degree starting in the fall of 2027. Students can start applying now, with the first class expected to have about 20 students.
The program comes out of Rice’s Department of Computer Science. It is a three-semester, 30-credit-hour curriculum built for students who want to work in AI engineering, development and research. Chris Jermaine, the department’s chair, told the university that graduates would be ready to take jobs at companies like OpenAI or Anthropic.
Jermaine on the Program
Jermaine described the program’s target audience in straightforward terms. “People that come into the program, the Master of AI, maybe they’ve got a background in computer science,” he said. “And by the time they’re done, they would be capable of going and working for a company like OpenAI or Anthropic.”
He estimated the first cohort beginning in 2027 will have around 20 students. The small cohort size suggests a hands-on, closely mentored approach.
A Degree With No Accreditation
The program is not specifically accredited. Jermaine defended that choice directly.
“In computing, accreditation is not necessarily as important as it is in other areas of engineering,” he said. “Now, Rice has an accreditation, and we have to follow all of those [guidelines], and they’ll be looking at the degree program, our accreditors.”
That is a notable position for a new master’s program. The absence of specific accreditation for the MAI signals that Rice sees AI as a distinct enough discipline to operate outside the usual engineering framework.
Foundational AI vs. The Industry
Jermaine framed the curriculum as a balance between stability and flexibility. He argued that the core principles of AI have not changed substantially in decades.
“The innermost workings of AI actually haven’t changed extensively for decades,” he said. “So those foundations, I think, are relatively constant, and students will be required to take this core, which is going to cover that material. And I don’t think any of that’s going to change anytime soon.”
But he acknowledged that the context around AI shifts fast. “Now, what certainly changes is everything that surrounds that, right?” he said. “Agentic AI sort of didn’t exist a year or two ago, and so we’ll have to constantly update our offering surrounding that core.”
The distinction matters for prospective students. A foundational approach means the program teaches what AI actually does, not just the latest tool or framework. That could appeal to candidates who want lasting skills over trendy ones.
How Rice Got Here
Rice is not new to AI education. In 2025, the university began offering a Bachelor of Science in AI, a degree that several higher education institutions are now starting to offer.
Some schools — like the University of Texas at Austin, Texas A&M University, and the University of Houston — already offer master’s degrees in artificial intelligence. Fewer offer a purported “MAI” degree, making Rice’s program one of the few with that specific title.
Jermaine said the program was recently approved by Rice’s Faculty Senate.
The Small Cohort Design
The 30-credit-hour structure across three semesters is what Rice has announced. But the small cohort size is unusual.
A cohort of 20 students means each student gets significant individual attention. That is a deliberate design choice. It allows for more hands-on instruction and closer mentoring than a larger program would typically permit.
What the Degree Covers
Jermaine’s comments suggest the curriculum will include both established AI fundamentals and recent developments. The core will cover the foundational material that has remained constant, while the surrounding coursework will adapt to new areas like agentic AI.
The program is designed to train students for roles in AI engineering, development and research.
The Bottom Line
Rice’s MAI is a small, focused program that emphasizes the enduring principles of AI over the latest trends. It is designed for students with a computer science background who want to build careers at companies like OpenAI or Anthropic.
The lack of accreditation is a deliberate choice, though Jermaine did not frame it that way. Jermaine’s framing — that computing has a different relationship to accreditation than other fields — suggests Rice sees AI as a distinct discipline worth treating separately.
The program’s small cohort size and hands-on approach are also worth noting. They suggest Rice is prioritizing quality over quantity.
For prospective students, the key questions are simple: do you want foundational knowledge, and do you want it taught in a close-knit group of 20 students? If so, Rice’s MAI appears to be a strong fit.
Key Facts Box
- Degree: Master of Artificial Intelligence (MAI)
- Start date: Fall 2027
- Application window: Open now
- First cohort: Estimated 20 students
- Program length: Three semesters, 30 credit hours
- Accreditation: Not specifically accredited
- Undergraduate counterpart: Bachelor of Science in AI, launched in 2025
- Other Houston-area programs: University of Texas at Austin, Texas A&M University, University of Houston offer master’s in AI
The program is a clear signal that Rice sees AI as a permanent part of its academic portfolio. The MAI is coming, and it will be ready for students in the fall of 2027.
Source material: “Rice University to offer Master of Artificial Intelligence degree program in 2027,” Houston Public Media.
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