Penn’s Graduate School of Education announced the launch of an education-specific degree in AI.
Credit: Abhiram JuvvadiPenn’s Graduate School of Education will welcome its inaugural cohort for an AI-focused education degree in fall 2025, the first of its kind in the Ivy League.
The Learning Analytics and Artificial Intelligence Master of Science in Education program — which was announced in November 2024 — is an online program targeted for professionals who have an interest in how AI and learning science can be integrated into education globally. The curriculum is designed to explore a variety of topics from the power and potential of machine learning to the ethical implications of AI in education.
The program “teaches [students] the latest AI techniques, learning analytics algorithms and tools, as well as how to engineer data streams to turn raw data into features that are interpretable to humans and large language models (LLMs),” according to its program website. The program grounds AI in the history of educational thought and aims to address challenges to improve educational outcomes.
Ryan Baker, a Penn GSE professor and program faculty member explained how the program will utilize a fully online community.
“The program involves a combination of traditional virtual classroom discussion with the use of intelligent tutoring systems for assignments, video discussion chats with a virtual instructor, and working on discussion forums with instructors, TAs, and a generative AI assistant named JeepyTA,” Baker said.
“The Masters of Learning Analytics and Artificial Intelligence is designed to prepare graduates to work in the use of artificial intelligence in education, including both emerging-generation generative AI and previous-generation machine learning methods such as predictive analytics and knowledge modeling,” Baker added.
Haiying Li, the who will serve as the Program Manager, emphasized the importance and significance of offering this degree at Penn.
“It’s exciting to see how big data, powered by advanced AI, is transforming our lives — and education is no exception. Our programs provide students with a unique platform to integrate cutting-edge techniques in learning analytics and AI, driving innovation in education,” Li said.
This program differs from a Masters of AI in Engineering in that it is focused on applications of these technologies specifically to education, and integrates technical methods relevant to the use of AI in real-world educational settings.
Students are required to take ten courses with eight required courses and two elective courses over 1-2 years, depending on part-time or full-time enrollment, culminating in a capstone project.
Required courses include “Big Data, Education, and Society” and “Core Methods in Educational Data Mining” among many others. Electives include 5000 level or above EDUC courses focussing on language models, deep learning, and transformer models.
“Applicants are expected to have some background in quantitative methods along with some past demonstrated interest in education, and must learn Python prior to beginning the program,” Baker said.
The program is accepting applications on a rolling basis, but applicants are encouraged to submit an application on or before the priority deadline of February 1 for enrollment in the Fall 2025 class.
The Daily Pennsylvanian is an independent, student-run newspaper. Please consider making a donation to support the coverage that shapes the University. Your generosity ensures a future of strong journalism at Penn.
Donate
