Program Overview
Graduate Education
The Paul G. Allen School of Computer Science & Engineering offers a Professional Master's Program designed for working professionals. This program is tailored to meet the needs of individuals seeking to advance their knowledge and skills in computer science while continuing their careers.
Professional Master's Program
The Professional Master's Program is a part-time, evening program that leads to a Master's Degree. It is designed with the schedule and needs of working software professionals in mind, offering flexibility and a broad range of courses and colloquia. The program typically requires 40 credit hours of courses and colloquia and takes an average of 2 ½-3 years to complete.
Program Overview
The Professional Master's Program is designed to provide working professionals with the opportunity to acquire critical skills to move into positions and projects of greater responsibility and impact. The program offers a range of courses and colloquia that enable computing professionals to advance their knowledge in core and emerging areas of computing.
Admissions
Students in the Professional Master's Program are among the best and brightest in the Seattle area's technology industry, chosen for their software development knowledge and achievements. The program has three application cycles annually, with no GRE requirement.
Courses & Colloquia
The program offers a broad range of graduate computer science classes with no prerequisites. Students have access to myriad topical colloquia, seminars, and distinguished lectures to keep current on cutting-edge research and applied computing topics.
Student Handbook
The student handbook covers the essentials that busy Professional Master's Program students need to know to navigate the program, including registration timelines and course websites.
Advising & Program Contact
Professional Master's Program Advising is the primary point of contact for prospective and continuing students, guiding them on their journey from pre-application through graduation.
Single Course Enrollment
Local software professionals not enrolled in the Professional Master's Program may take courses to expand their knowledge or to prepare to apply to a graduate program later on.
Professional Master's Fast Facts
- Flexible part-time program with evening classes that meet just one night per week and colloquia that can be attended or viewed online.
- Affordable program that is reimbursable by many local employers.
- Broad range of graduate computer science classes with no prerequisites.
- Welcoming and supportive environment for international students, women, and other groups historically underrepresented or under-served in STEM and computing.
- Access to extensive UW computer science libraries.
- Can substitute up to two non-Professional Master's Program courses with graduate-level transfer credit or coursework from elsewhere at UW.
- 3 application cycles annually with no GRE requirement.
- No summer classes.
Student Body Profile
- Average professional experience: 5.5 years
- Average undergraduate GPA: 3.5
- Percent of students who are non-US citizens: 30%
- Popular undergraduate majors: Computer Science, Computer Engineering, Electrical Engineering, Math, or closely-related fields
- Most-represented employers among student body (out of nearly 50 local companies represented in the program): Microsoft, Amazon, Google, Boeing, Apple
- Typical job titles: Software Engineer (I, II, Senior, et cetera), Software Development Engineer, Computer Engineer, Software Developer
Research Areas
The Paul G. Allen School of Computer Science & Engineering is involved in various research areas, including:
- Artificial Intelligence
- Computing + Biology
- Human-Centered Computing
- Interaction with the Physical World
- Software & Hardware Systems
- Theory & Models of Computation
These research areas provide students with a wide range of opportunities to engage in cutting-edge research and applied computing topics, enhancing their knowledge and skills in computer science.