Program Overview

Introduction to the Master of Science in Software Management Program

The Master of Science in Software Management (MSSM) program at Carnegie Mellon University is designed to provide working professionals with the skills and knowledge needed to succeed in the field of software management. The program is offered in a part-time format, allowing students to balance their education with their career and personal commitments.

Program Details

The part-time MSSM program is designed to be flexible, with classes scheduled in the evenings or during lunch hours, depending on the semester. Students can choose to attend classes on campus or remotely via Zoom. The program can be completed in as little as two years, but students have up to seven years to finish their degree.

Curriculum

The MSSM program requires students to complete a total of 144 units. The curriculum is divided into required courses and electives, with students taking a combination of both to fulfill their degree requirements. Required courses are offered in the evenings in two-hour time blocks, while electives may be taken at the student's discretion.

Required Courses

The required courses for the MSSM program include:

• Foundations of Software Management (12 units)
• Product Management (6 units)
• Software Engineering Management (6 units)
• Process & Project Management (12 units)
• Metrics for Technology Products & Services (6 units)
• Integrated Thinking for Innovation (6 units)
• Problem Discovery & Definition (6 units)
• Product & Business Models (6 units)
• Solution Strategy & Marketing (6 units)
• The Business of Software (6 units)
• Leadership & Teams (6 units)

Electives

Elective courses are offered in a variety of topics, including:

• Legal Issues in New Venture Creation
• AI Applications
• Human-Computer Interaction & User-Experience
• Organizational Behavior for High-Tech Knowledge Industry
• Agile Marketing
• Information Security for PM
• Architecture Principles for PM
• Intro to Cloud Computing
• Intro to IoT
• Next Gen CIO
• Innovation & Entrepreneurship
• Start-Up Creation in Practice
• Integrated Innovation for Large Scale Problems
• Software Management Practicum
• Architecture & Programming Principles
• User-Research for Product Development Innovation
• Dynamic Teams
• Venture Governance
• Introduction to Machine Learning

Admission Cycles

The MSSM program has rolling admission cycles, with applications accepted for the following start terms:

• Spring 2026: Applications open July 16, 2025, and close December 1, 2025
• Summer 2026: Applications open December 2, 2025, and close April 15, 2026
• Fall 2026: Applications open April 16, 2026, and close July 15, 2026

Program Structure

The part-time MSSM program is structured to allow students to complete their degree in a flexible and convenient manner. Students can take classes on campus or remotely, and can choose from a variety of electives to tailor their education to their interests and career goals. The program is designed to provide students with the skills and knowledge needed to succeed in the field of software management, and to help them advance their careers and achieve their professional goals.