How a MEng Degree Helped Alejandro Mendoza Stand Out in the AI Field

Artificial intelligence has quickly moved from emerging technology to everyday business tools. But as more organizations adopt AI, professionals across industries are asking an important question: how do you move beyond simply using AI tools and actually understand how they work?

For Alejandro Mendoza, a software engineer with a background in math and computer science, that question became increasingly relevant as AI technologies began rapidly transforming the tech landscape. Looking to deepen his expertise, he pursued the Online Master of Engineering with a concentration in AI and Machine Learning at the University of Illinois Chicago.

The professional degree program focuses on leadership development alongside technical coursework in artificial intelligence and machine learning, helping students build both technical knowledge and practical industry skills. In the spotlight below, Alejandro Mendoza shares how earning a MEng degree helped him strengthen his AI expertise and apply those skills directly in his work.

Discovering a Growing Interest in Artificial Intelligence

I completed both my bachelor’s and master’s degrees at UIC, and my background is in math and computer science. That degree naturally led me toward engineering and software development.

I started my career as a full-stack developer at a small law firm, then moved into consulting, including CRM and data consulting. Over time, I began working more closely with data systems and platforms such as Salesforce and eventually started building more advanced solutions for companies, including AI-driven systems.

Around the time I started the MEng program, AI was really starting to explode. ChatGPT had just become very popular, especially outside of the tech space, and companies were beginning to figure out how it might fit into their work. I remember experimenting with it early on and even getting questioned about it at work. That moment made it clear that AI would reshape the industry, and I wanted to understand it more deeply.

Choosing UIC’s MEng Degree to Build Deeper AI Knowledge

Because my undergraduate degree was already in math and computer science, moving into UIC’s Online Master of Engineering program felt like a natural next step. I had learned a little about AI during my bachelor’s program, but at the time, it felt more theoretical. I never imagined it would grow this quickly or have such an immediate impact on the workplace.

The MEng program allowed me to focus directly on AI and machine learning in a structured way. It allowed me to move beyond just experimenting with tools and actually learn how the technology works. Another important reason I pursued the degree was credibility. Right now, a lot of people say they’re AI experts. But having a master’s degree in the field helps demonstrate that you’ve studied the foundations and understand the technology more deeply.

Building Practical AI Skills Through UIC’s Online MEng Program

One of the biggest benefits of the program was learning how AI systems are actually built. I gained experience building AI models, cleaning data, and understanding what clean data even looks like. This is a huge part of making AI work in real business environments.

Many companies say they want AI tools. They want something that sounds innovative or exciting. But many of them aren’t ready for it yet because their data isn’t organized or prepared in a way that supports AI systems. From what I learned in the program, I could help identify those issues early on. Instead of jumping straight into building something flashy, I could help clients understand what needed to happen first. That perspective helped me approach AI projects in a more practical and responsible way.

The Most Valuable Courses for His AI Career

While I enjoyed the technical courses where we built AI models, some of the classes that had the biggest impact were actually the ones focused on broader engineering skills. The MEng 400: Engineering Law course was particularly valuable. It helped me understand the legal and ethical considerations associated with emerging technologies such as AI. In consulting environments, especially when working with public sector organizations, you have to be careful about what kind of data you feed into AI models. This class helped me think more critically about those decisions.

Another course that stood out was MENG 401: Engineering Management. In consulting, you often have to think about how a project moves from the very beginning to full implementation. Through the program, I was able to see how projects develop from start to finish. That experience helped me feel more confident when working with clients or discussing project strategies.

Applying a MEng Degree to Real AI Projects

The program also helped me transition into more AI-focused professional work. When I first started my career, I was doing more general software engineering. Over time, the knowledge I gained through the program helped me transition into roles that focused more directly on AI-accelerated engineering and data systems.

In one client project, our team was asked to build a chatbot trained on the company’s internal data. At first, the request sounded straightforward. But after asking questions about the state of the data and how it was being maintained, we quickly realized the data wasn’t ready for AI.

Before building the chatbot, we had to step back and create a roadmap for cleaning the existing data, establishing processes to maintain data quality, and ensuring the foundation was solid. By the time we moved to implementation, we were working with clean, reliable data.

Because I had studied machine learning formally in the MEng program, I already understood how critical data quality is for AI systems. Instead of jumping straight to the exciting part, I pushed for us to fix the underlying data first. Without that background, we might have built something that looked impressive but produced unreliable results for the client.

Having a MEng degree with a concentration in AI and machine learning makes a difference when you’re working with teams or applying for jobs. When people see that background, it immediately signals that you’ve invested time into learning the subject seriously. Having that educational foundation helps you stand out. It also makes it easier to contribute meaningfully to conversations about how AI should be used in real projects.

Advice for Professionals Considering a MEng Degree

One thing I would tell anyone interested in AI is that the field changes incredibly quickly. When I first started the program, tools like ChatGPT were just beginning to gain attention in the corporate world. We’re already seeing new ideas like AI agent workflows become major topics. You have to stay curious and keep learning, because technology will continue to evolve. Six months from now, the biggest topic in AI might be something completely different. But having that foundational knowledge helps you adapt as the field changes.