Every student’s path looks different. These Frequently Asked Questions cover the key questions people ask about the Collaborative Intelligence program, from managing costs to balancing school with a busy life.
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Collaborative intelligence is the ability to co-create with both people and artificial intelligence – it combines AI fluency and human-centered skills.
MACI’s AI-forward faculty keep current with developments in AI, and can update examples, platforms, and assignments every term to match the evolving landscape. The program’s course descriptions are broad enough to accommodate these changes: the descriptions name skills and frameworks each course develops rather than locking in today’s specific tools. The courses develop digital resiliency: the ability to continue to adapt to the transforming digital environment, so once students graduate from MACI, they can steer through changes.
Further, a couple of MACI’s "Human Edge" courses — The Science of Learning and Navigating Change — focus on building the underlying judgment and adaptability to evaluate AI tools and systems not yet in existence. These are more durable skills than mastery of any single platform.
MACI was designed to be online and flexible to support students with busy schedules. At the same time, we know it's important for human connection! You will have opportunities for interaction through advising, office hours, peer exchange and networking activities.
MACI's online community hub will enable connections with fellow students and faculty regarding professional opportunities, current news items related to the program, and other topics of common interest.
MACI courses are intentionally interdisciplinary, drawing on frameworks from fields like communication studies, psychology, philosophy, management, professional writing, and education. MACI’s faculty members come from a range of disciplines and work to deliver a curriculum that integrates these diverse fields. Given the program’s breadth, every student will find aspects of the curriculum of particular interest, and will be able to expand and enrich the specialized, discipline-specific perspectives they bring into the program by setting those perspectives in the program's broad context.
The skills MACI develops — critical thinking, discernment, persuasive communication, workplace collaboration, workflow design, and practical judgment, all in the matrix of AI — apply across every field.
The University of St. Thomas has a range of AI-focused graduate programs.
A good number are technical: they are designed for engineers and practitioners who build AI systems. These programs include the M.S. in Artificial Intelligence, the Graduate Certificate in AI Foundations, the Graduate Certificate in Applied AI, and Center for Applied Artificial Intelligence programs.
The M.A. in Artificial Intelligence Leadership (MAIL), which is non-technical, is a leadership program designed to complement the technical programs just listed. MAIL prepares students to lead AI initiatives, teams, and strategy.
MACI is non-technical, and it’s not an AI-leadership program. MACI focuses on developing the human capacities to learn, adapt, communicate, collaborate, and exercise sound judgment, and on applying these capacities in AI-shaped settings.
There are no prerequisites for any MACI course (other than the strong foundation in liberal learning supplied by a bachelor’s degree). Many students will have used AI for their undergraduate courses; but in case you haven’t done this, MACI offers optional (free) AI badges, available as part of the MACI degree's onboarding module, covering AI basics. The onboarding module can be accessed after enrollment, prior to taking your first MACI course.
Instructors recognize that students arrive with different levels of AI familiarity, and will work to meet you where you are.
To apply, you'll need:
Most students will have undergraduate credits that transfer in:
If you are not sure that you have six undergraduate credits that will transfer into MACI, you are welcome to consult with the MACI team to review your options.
Typically, it will be possible to find suitable undergraduate credits. A MACI program advisor or co-director can assist you with this. If it's not possible to find suitable undergraduate credits, the MACI team will help you find elective coursework to bring your total MACI credits up to 30.
You can apply to begin your MA in Collaborative Intelligence several times a year. View application deadlines and classroom start dates on the MACI admissions page.
MACI can be completed in as little as seven months, with the option to spread courses out if needed. It's up to you! Your academic advisor will support you along the way.
The MACI program is 100% online and asynchronous. That means you decide when to log in and engage with your coursework, depending on your schedule. There is no set time for each class.
Adjusting your pace is normal. At the end of each seven-week course, you can decide to adopt a slower pace and take fewer credits, or temporarily step back from coursework altogether and return when ready. Your advisor will help you assess your options.
Employers want their team members to demonstrate AI competency and people skills. That's exactly what MACI was designed to provide. The program will help you develop distinctly human collaborative skills and exercise those skills in AI-enabled workplaces, across a variety of industries.
AI is changing how people work across fields, from writing and research to planning, communication, and decision-making. Across the board, it's making basic AI fluency essential, and it's increasing the importance of people skills at the same time. That's why MACI is designed for students from a wide range of industries and career interests.
Through applied project work, you'll build examples that help you talk about how you can co-create with other people and with AI, and how you think about the role of AI at work. These examples will result in a program portfolio consisting of an artifact from each course. Your program portfolio can be presented to prospective employers and discussed during job interviews.
The 2026-2027 tuition rate for the MACI program is $900 per credit.
Total tuition for the MACI degree is $21,600, assuming that six undergraduate credits transfer in (for a total of 30 credits). Typically, six undergraduate credits will transfer in. Read more about total costs and financial aid on the MACI Tuition and Aid page.
Financial aid may be available to help you with your educational needs, including during periods of financial hardship. Visit the Graduate Financial Aid office to learn more about what you may qualify for as a MACI student.
If you are completing the FAFSA to apply for federal financial aid, you may list the University of St. Thomas using the school code 002345.
Learn more about the University of St. Thomas and the new M.A. in Collaborative Intelligence by requesting more information or attending a virtual group information session.