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Master of AI Strategy and Innovation

Lead organizations strategically and ethically through the world of artificial intelligence with an online Master of AI Strategy and Innovation. Go beyond a single artificial intelligence course with a curriculum that empowers you to drive innovation, solve high-impact challenges, and build beneficial AI solutions.

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At a Glance

8 days left to apply
Average 2 Years to Completion
Start date: May 11, 2026
Expert Faculty Mentorship
  • Format: Online
  • Tuition: $38,940
  • Term: Summer 2026
  • 10 Courses

Why Choose a Master of AI Strategy and Innovation from Wake Forest

The Master of AI Strategy and Innovation program takes a holistic, human-centered approach to artificial intelligence.

Developed in collaboration with industry experts, the curriculum blends technical skill-building with strategic leadership and cross-functional communication, so that you can guide organizations through digital transformation with confidence and clarity

Rooted in Wake Forest’s Pro Humanitate mission, you’ll explore issues like bias, privacy, transparency, and global regulatory standards, gaining the tools to champion responsible innovation. Whether you’re advancing in tech, healthcare, finance, or the public sector, this program equips you to lead AI initiatives that create lasting, positive impact.

Master of AI Strategy and Innovation Core Courses

You’ll complete 7 required online courses, including a capstone that brings everything together. Each course lasts 7.5 weeks. There’s no required order for these courses, so you are free to take courses in the sequence that works best for your schedule, depending on availability.

AI Foundation and Evolution
Course ID: AIN 710
Gain knowledge of the overview and historical progression of AI. This course will cover key topics such as machine learning, neural networks, natural language processing, and the historical milestones that have shaped the development of AI. It will also explore the current landscape and future directions of AI, emphasizing its use in various industries to give students a thorough understanding of AI's foundational theories, practical applications, and evolutionary trajectory.
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Strategic Leadership in AI
Course ID: AIN 712
Learn and perform the best practices for building AI systems in real-world applications. This course will include modules on change management specific to AI implementation. Students will build AI systems knowledge and the skills necessary to develop and implement AI strategies effectively in diverse organizational contexts.
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Emerging Tools and Technologies in AI
Course ID: AIN 714
Learn to leverage the latest tools and methodologies in the field. In this course, students will track the continuous iterations of AI as one of the most rapidly evolving technologies of our time through large language model (LLM) benchmarking. Students will experiment with various LLMs, learning to craft and refine prompts to optimize model outputs for different application
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Applications of Machine Learning Techniques
Course ID: AIN 720
Gain deeper understanding of machine learning techniques, including supervised, unsupervised, and reinforcement learning. This course will cover key algorithms—such as linear regression, decision trees, support vector machines, k-means clustering, and neural networks—and emphasize practical applications. It will help students become proficient in selecting and applying appropriate machine learning techniques to solve complex problems.
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Ethics and Responsible AI
Course ID: AIN 722
Explore the key areas of consideration when deploying products that contain AI. This course will cover the social, political, and economic effects that AI may have on society, including an understanding of public concerns with AI such as economic, equity, and human rights. Students will study diverse ethical issues that arise with the widespread and rapid integration of AI technologies, as well as the tools and frameworks for ensuring ethical AI practices to mitigate AI bias.
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AI Implementation Across Industries
Course ID: AIN 724
Learn more about the selection and implementation of AI across various industries and teams. This course will equip students with the skills to leverage AI technologies in interdisciplinary contexts to foster collaboration, ethical decision-making, problem-solving, and impactful integration. Students will review real-world, industry-specific case studies and strategic frameworks in various sectors.
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Capstone: Interdisciplinary AI Project
Course ID: AIN 799
Demonstrate applied comprehensive AI knowledge to real-world problems using practical techniques and interdisciplinary approaches. The capstone project will vary depending on student interest and goals. Students will work with practicing professionals or industry partners in a relevant field to define and develop their capstone project. Students must complete all core courses prior to the capstone project.
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Master of AI Strategy and Innovation Electives

You will choose 3 electives to take at any time during the program when your selection is available. Wake Forest SPS designs electives with flexibility and relevance in mind. You’ll have access to a wide range of courses across all programs, so you can tailor your learning and deepen your expertise to meet your goals. Below is what is recommended by the program’s academic director.

Deep Learning and Advanced AI
Course ID: AIN 750
Explore the foundations of neural networks, deep learning networks, and their various problems. This course will have students participate in hands-on labs with real-world datasets to enhance practical skills and use prompt engineering to interact with advanced models.
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Applied Computer Vision for AI
Course ID: AIN 751
Gain an introduction to computer vision by exploring a combination of traditional AI, machine learning, image processing, and mathematical theories to provide ways of programming a computer to understand visual imagery. The course will expose students to the techniques required to efficiently analyze images for representation in applicable context scenarios.
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Strategic Communications
Course ID: CMS 722
Internal and external stakeholders expect greater transparency and responsiveness from organizational leaders today. This course emphasizes the practice of internal and external strategic communications through the analysis of case studies. This course examines real organizational challenges and students work to identify solutions.
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Machine Learning & Artificial Intelligence
Course ID: FTA 724
Explore the impact of machine learning, deep learning, and artificial intelligence tools in finance. While learners will not engage in coding or the building of machine learning and AI tools, this course will cover the practical application of these tools to solve problems in asset management, corporate finance, and financial institution settings.
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Artificial Intelligence for Health Informatics
Course ID: HIF 752
This course will review the foundations of artificial intelligence (AI) with applications to the prevention, detection, diagnosis, and prognosis of diseases. Learners will differentiate various artificial intelligence concepts and enabling technologies, and discover and employ processes used in designing and implementing artificial intelligence systems to prevent bias and inequities.
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Leadership & Change Management
Course ID: LDR 722
Explore the knowledge, skills, and tools necessary to successfully undertake change. This course delves into the leadership principles, styles, frameworks, and skills required to guide, motivate, and direct teams. Learners will develop the ability to prepare, support, and assist individuals, teams, and organizations in organizational change.
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Leadership, Ethics, and the Legal Landscape of Digital Marketing
Course ID: DMG 714
This course covers the ethics of digital marketing and product liability, and it explores emerging issues related to the buying and selling of consumer data, the use of artificial intelligence (AI) to predict and to influence human behavior, and other consumer privacy concerns. This course will enable students to develop a comprehensive ethical decision-making philosophy so that they are well equipped to address challenging situations in their professional marketing roles.
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The people who develop & continually refine programs bring expertise from…
Wake Forest SPS understands that I’m a working individual and created this program for people like me to not only learn what I need to receive a degree but also apply it to what I’m doing now
— Ellie Matthews, SPS alum

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start your tomorrow?

Your goals are within reach—and we’re here to help you get there.

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Meet the Experts Guiding Your Journey

Carm Taglienti
Carm Taglienti, Ed.D
Academic Director, Artificial Intelligence Strategy & Innovation
Wake Forest University
Tonya Balan Headshot
Tonya Balan, Ph.D.
Academic Director, Public Policy and Data Analytics
Wake Forest University
Hamza Alsarhan
Hamza F. Alsarhan, D.Eng.
Artificial Intelligence Strategy & Innovation Faculty
Khendr’a Reid
Global Head of Data and AI Strategy Specialist at AWS
Amazon Web Services
Gorrell P. Cheek, Ph.D.
Head of AI Security Controls Engineering
JPMorgan Chase & Co.
Darren W Pulsipher
Chief Enterprise Architect Public Sector
Intel Corp

Where Your Master of AI Strategy and Innovation Can Take You

With a Master of AI Strategy and Innovation, you’ll be prepared to lead at the intersection of technology, business, and ethics—where AI is transforming every industry. Graduates are equipped to step into forward-looking roles such as AI Strategy Lead, Innovation Director, Digital Transformation Consultant, Product Manager, or Responsible AI Officer. These roles are in demand across sectors like healthcare, finance, education, manufacturing, and government, where organizations are seeking professionals who can turn emerging technologies into strategic advantages.

The career outlook is strong: according to PwC, AI could contribute up to $15.7 trillion to the global economy by 2030, driving demand for leaders who can implement AI thoughtfully and at scale. As a Wake Forest graduate, you’ll be ready to shape the future of AI—not just by building smarter systems, but by ensuring those systems are fair, transparent, and aligned with human values.

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