Program overview

The master of science in software engineering is designed to attract software professionals with a formal undergraduate background in software engineering, computer science, or computer engineering and at least one year of professional experience. The program’s core content ensures that graduates will possess both breadth and depth of knowledge in software engineering. Specialization tracks in software quality and design provide the student with the opportunity to match their graduate education with their professional goals.

The MS in software engineering is available to professionals without a formal baccalaureate degree in computing, but who may otherwise have sufficient experience developing software professionally, and those who have earned an undergraduate computing degree and have at least one year of software development experience.

Curriculum

The program comprises 52 credit hours, anchored by a three-quarter (12 credit hour) practicum, where students work with peers and faculty on a long-term, moderately complex software development project. Initially students will serve in basic support and development roles, but as they progress through the practicum and accompanying course work, they will be assigned correspondingly greater responsibilities. The program combines fundamental and theoretical concepts taught in courses, with their application in a constrained but realistic setting.

Electives

Track electives: Students choose one of the following track electives: Software Quality Engineering (4011-760) or Software Architectures and Product Lines (4011-770).

Technical electives: Students choose three graduate-level courses from any of the following programs: computer science, software engineering, computer engineering, or business.

Software engineering, MS degree, typical course sequence (quarters)

Admission requirements

To be considered for admission to the MS program in software engineering, candidates must fulfill the following requirements:

• Hold a baccalaureate degree from an accredited institution,
• Have a cumulative grade point average of 3.0 or higher (Prospective students from institutions that do not use the GPA scale are expected to demonstrate an equivalent level of academic accomplishment. Formal academic background in software engineering, computer science, or computer engineering is a plus.),
• Submit official transcripts (in English) of all previously completed undergraduate and graduate course work,
• Submit a professional essay (1-4 pages) describing current job (if applicable), relevant experience, and career plans,
• Submit a current resume (including descriptions of significant software projects in which the candidate participated), 
• Submit two letters of recommendation, and
• Complete a graduate application.
• International applicants, whose native language is not English, must submit scores from the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL). Minimum scores of 570 (paper-based) or 88 (Internet-based) are required.
• International applicants must provide Graduate Record Exam (GRE) scores. Domestic students are encouraged to provide GRE scores.

Prospective students without a bachelor’s degree in software engineering, computer science, or computer engineering are expected to submit evidence of professional experience developing software. For these individuals, a minimum of three years of professional experience is required.

Additional information

Bridge courses

Based on the evaluation of academic and relevant experience, the graduate program director may require some applicants to successfully complete bridge courses to fill in any gaps in their background. Successful completion of bridge courses is necessary for registration in graduate-level courses.