The University of California, Irvine announced on October 3, 2025, a new professional master’s degree titled Master of Applied Artificial Intelligence for Science.
Scheduled to begin in Fall 2026, the program will welcome its first cohort for a 9-month, in-person experience.
Designed by the School of Physical Sciences, the initiative reflects UCI’s growing emphasis on practical education that connects artificial intelligence with real scientific challenges.
It targets professionals and graduates who aim to enhance their research and analytical capabilities through AI-driven methods.
Purpose and Significance
Artificial intelligence has become an essential force in modern scientific research, driving progress across data-heavy disciplines such as physics, chemistry, biology, and environmental science.
Many existing AI and data science programs, however, remain heavily rooted in computer science and engineering.
Scientists who wish to integrate AI into their work often face steep learning curves without structured educational pathways.
UCI’s Master of Applied Artificial Intelligence for Science aims to bridge that gap by creating a program specifically designed for the scientific community.
The initiative recognizes that scientific inquiry increasingly depends on AI to process complex data, simulate experiments, and uncover insights impossible through traditional methods.
It encourages scientists to adopt machine learning approaches not only as analytical tools but as extensions of their research methodologies.
Several goals define the program’s broader significance:
- Filling the educational void between traditional scientific training and computational data analysis.
- Promoting interdisciplinary expertise among future scientists, enabling them to communicate effectively with both researchers and data engineers.
- Advancing scientific discovery through AI-assisted innovation, improving accuracy and speed in experimentation.
- Strengthening workforce readiness, as industries demand professionals capable of merging data science with physical and biological research.
Graduates will emerge prepared to lead AI integration in laboratories, research institutions, and industrial sectors. UCI aims to cultivate a new generation of scientists fluent in both experimental design and algorithmic reasoning.
Target Audience and Admission Requirements
Candidates for this program include both domestic and international students who hold a bachelor’s degree in physical or biological sciences.
It has been intentionally designed to welcome professionals and recent graduates seeking to integrate AI into their scientific disciplines.
Admission does not require prior programming experience or related work history, ensuring accessibility for candidates transitioning into AI from pure science backgrounds.
Students will join a collaborative environment where they can learn foundational computing skills while applying those skills to real scientific challenges.
UCI’s admissions framework encourages diversity in scientific expertise, allowing chemists, biologists, physicists, and environmental scientists to bring different perspectives into AI-powered discovery.
Curriculum Overview
Coursework begins with fundamental training in Python programming, data handling, statistics, and mathematics for AI.
These core areas ensure students gain confidence in the technical aspects before moving to advanced subjects such as deep neural networks, large language models, and generative AI.
An industry-readiness component integrates data engineering, visualization, and ethical AI deployment.
Learners engage in hands-on projects featuring real-world datasets, enabling them to design, train, and deploy AI solutions that solve actual scientific problems.
Students looking to further polish their academic writing or need structured support for their projects may also consider using a reputable writing service like EssayPro, which assists with essays, research papers, and thesis preparation across scientific disciplines.
Key features of the curriculum include:
- Portfolio development for career advancement
- Practical collaboration with UCI researchers and industry partners
- Exposure to emerging AI frameworks and tools used in modern labs
Graduates will leave the program with technical fluency and a professional portfolio demonstrating applied AI competence in scientific settings.
Career Prospects and Industry Alignment
Students will find opportunities in sectors that increasingly depend on AI, including energy, biotechnology, national laboratories, and government agencies.
These industries demand professionals who can refine and apply AI models to improve efficiency, accuracy, and discovery.
Graduates will be capable of customizing algorithms to specific scientific needs, optimizing material properties, modeling biological systems, or managing energy data with advanced automation.
Such skills are already in demand, as organizations seek employees who can translate complex data into actionable scientific insight.
The program’s design reflects UCI’s alignment with current workforce needs, ensuring graduates emerge as competitive candidates ready to bridge AI technology with applied science.
Employers in both private and public sectors will view these graduates as essential contributors to AI-driven progress.
Institutional Strengths
UC Irvine’s location within Southern California’s innovation corridor provides strategic access to leading technology and scientific companies.
Students benefit from partnerships and proximity to organizations specializing in data analytics, biotech, and advanced research.
Leadership and faculty support are integral to the program’s structure.
Interim Dean Kieron Burke and Program Director David Kirkby, a Chancellor’s Professor, bring exceptional expertise and academic vision. Their involvement ensures a balance between academic rigor and industry relevance.
UC Irvine’s reputation as a top 10 public university, according to U.S. News & World Report enhances the program’s credibility.
With over 36,000 students, 224 programs, and five Nobel laureates, UCI continues to demonstrate excellence in research, teaching, and innovation at a global level.
Program Development Context
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The idea for the Master of Applied Artificial Intelligence for Science emerged as AI began playing a greater role in UCI’s own laboratories.
Faculty recognized that many scientists were already using AI tools informally but lacked the structured education necessary to apply them effectively and ethically.
To meet this need, UCI developed a program that bridges research and application through formal coursework and lab-based projects.
It provides a science-focused alternative to general AI and data science degrees, emphasizing domain-specific learning and hands-on practice.
Only a few institutions in California currently offer AI programs dedicated to scientists, such as Stanford, USC, UC Santa Cruz, and University of San Diego.
UCI distinguishes its program through:
- Integration with real laboratory projects conducted on campus.
- Accessibility to scientists without prior coding experience.
- Curriculum designed by interdisciplinary faculty spanning physics, chemistry, and computer science.
- Partnerships with national and private research entities to ensure real-world relevance.
The Bottom Line
UC Irvine continues to strengthen its position as a leader in forward-thinking academic innovation through the Master of Applied Artificial Intelligence for Science.
The program will prepare a new generation of scientists capable of harnessing AI for real-world impact across disciplines.
Future goals include expanding the curriculum and fostering partnerships that reinforce UCI’s role as a model for AI education in the sciences.
By bridging computational techniques with traditional research, the institution ensures that its graduates will be ready to thrive in an AI-driven scientific environment.
