Program Overview
Software Engineering (MS) Online
The MS in Software Engineering provides students with marketable skills in methodologies, techniques, and tools of software engineering. The program encompasses the entire life-cycle of software development including requirements, analysis, design, construction, testing, and project management. Emphasis is placed on current and emerging technologies for engineering large and complex distributed software systems.
Concentrations
- Artificial Intelligence in Software Engineering Concentration: This concentration equips students with vital skills in AI applications, blending practical learning with in-depth knowledge of AI in software engineering.
- Real-Time Software and Game Systems Concentration: This concentration addresses the principles and foundations of the complex field of real-time interactive software and game systems.
- Software Development and Architecture Concentration: This concentration merges the core elements of software architecture and development to provide a comprehensive learning experience.
Program Requirements
Quarter Hours
- Introductory Courses: 0-24
- Degree Requirements: 48
- Total hours required: 48-72
Learning Outcomes
Students will be able to:
- Correctly create a model of the structure and behavior of a software system.
- Design and implement, in a programming language, an executable solution to a given problem using common software principles and best practices.
- Apply appropriate software testing techniques and evaluate the quality of a software product at module, integration, and system granularity levels.
- Select and adapt suitable elements from among conventional and evolving software development life-cycle processes and apply the resulting process to a software project.
- Collaborate in teams to develop a significantly sized software system from conceptualization to completion.
- Communicate effectively design and development decisions through written and graphical demonstration.
Degree Requirements
Course Requirements
No Introductory Course may be substituted for any other course at any level. Introductory, Foundation, Advanced, and Elective course selections are determined by the concentration chosen.
Introductory Courses
Introductory courses may be waived for any of the following conditions:
- The student has the appropriate course work to satisfy an Introductory Course.
- The student has appropriate and verified professional experience to satisfy an Introductory Course.
- If an exam is available, the student passes a Graduate Assessment Examination (GAE) in the Introductory Course area.
Degree Requirements
Students in this degree program must meet the following requirements:
- Complete a minimum of 48 graduate credit hours in addition to any required introductory courses of the designated degree program.
- Complete all graduate courses and requirements listed in the designated degree program.
- Earn a grade of C- or better in all courses of the designated degree program.
- Maintain a cumulative GPA of 2.5 or higher.
- Students pursuing a second (or more) graduate degree may not double count or retake any course that applied toward the completion of a prior graduate degree.
- If a required course in the second degree was already completed and applied toward a previous degree, the student must meet with a faculty advisor to discuss a new course to be completed and substituted in the new degree.
- This rule also applies to cross-listed courses, which are considered to be the same course but offered under different subjects.
- Students pursuing a second master's degree must complete a minimum of 48 graduate credit hours beyond their first designated degree program in addition to any required introductory courses in their second designated degree program.
- Students with a GPA of 3.9 or higher will graduate with distinction.
Concentrations, Tracks, and Specializations
Concentrations, tracks, and specializations provide focus to the degree. In addition to any degree requirements, students are required to choose one of the following:
- Artificial Intelligence in Software Engineering Concentration
- Real-Time Software and Game Systems Concentration
- Software Development and Architecture Concentration
Artificial Intelligence in Software Engineering Concentration
Course Requirements
Introductory Courses
- CSC 400: Discrete Structures for Computer Science (4)
- CSC 401: Introduction to Programming (4)
- CSC 402: Data Structures I (4)
- CSC 403: Data Structures II (4)
- IT 403: Statistics and Data Analysis (4)
Foundation Courses
- CSC 421: Applied Algorithms and Structures (4)
- DSC 441: Fundamentals of Data Science (4)
- CSC 480: Artificial Intelligence I (4)
- SE 433: Software Testing and Quality Assurance (4)
- SE 441: Continuous Delivery and DevOps (4)
- SE 450: Object-Oriented Software Development (4)
- SE 456: Architecture of Real-Time Systems (4)
- SE 475: Managing Globally Distributed Software Development (4)
Advanced Courses
- DSC 478: Programming Machine Learning Applications (4)
- SE 488: AI-Driven Software Development (4)
- SE 489: Machine Learning Engineering for Production (MLOPS) (4)
Major Elective Courses
Twelve (12) credit hours of Major Elective Courses are required. SE courses in the 421-699 range and courses from the list below qualify as Major Elective Courses.
Real-Time Software and Game Systems Concentration
Course Requirements
Introductory Courses
- CSC 400: Discrete Structures for Computer Science (4)
- CSC 401: Introduction to Programming (4)
- CSC 402: Data Structures I (4)
- CSC 403: Data Structures II (4)
- CSC 406: Systems I (4)
- CSC 407: Systems II (4)
Foundation Courses
- CSC 461: Optimized C++ (4)
- SE 456: Architecture of Real-Time Systems (4)
- CSC 486: Real-Time Networking (4)
- SE 485: Real-Time Software Development I (4)
- SE 585: Real-Time Software Development II (4)
Major Elective Courses
Students must take a total of twenty-four (24) credit hours of Major Elective Courses. To ensure proficiency in one area, sixteen (16) credit hours of Major Elective Courses must be taken from either the Game Focus or Software Focus areas below.
Software Development and Architecture Concentration
Course Requirements
Introductory Courses
- CSC 400: Discrete Structures for Computer Science (4)
- CSC 401: Introduction to Programming (4)
- CSC 402: Data Structures I (4)
- CSC 403: Data Structures II (4)
Foundation Courses
- SE 433: Software Testing and Quality Assurance (4)
- SE 441: Continuous Delivery and DevOps (4)
- SE 450: Object-Oriented Software Development (4)
- SE 456: Architecture of Real-Time Systems (4)
- SE 475: Managing Globally Distributed Software Development (4)
Advanced Courses
- SE 452: Object-Oriented Enterprise Computing (4)
- SE 457: Service-Oriented Architecture (4)
- SE 459: Agile Software Development (4)
- SE 480: Software Architecture I (4)
Major Elective Courses
16 Credit Hours of Major Elective Courses are required. SE courses in the 421-699 range and courses from the list below qualify as Major Elective Courses.
Capstone Course
- SE 491: Software Engineering Studio (4)
Software Engineering Research
Select one of the following:
- SE 695 & SE 696: Master's Research and Master's Project
- SE 695 & SE 698: Master's Research and Master's Thesis
The Master's Project or Thesis must represent an original contribution to the area, and may include system development, empirical studies, or theoretical work. The scope and the details of the research project will be determined by the research supervisor, and must be approved by the student's academic advisor.