Program Overview

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Professional Master’s in Network Engineering (MSNE) Degree Requirements

The Professional Master’s in Network Engineering (MSNE) degree is a coursework-only professional master’s program designed to prepare students to become members of the next generation of leaders in Internet, Cloud, and Intranet networking. The program is offered by the Department of Computer Science in the College of Engineering and Applied Science.

Overview

Network Engineering teaches students how to develop, build, and maintain network solutions tailored to the diverse needs of their organization within the private or public sectors. The program is divided into two years, with the first year focusing on network engineering fundamentals and network programming and automation. The second year delves into advanced networking engineering courses, such as service provider networks, data center networks, and next-generation networks.

Degree Requirements

To graduate, students must complete 30 graduate credit hours in the following categories:

• Fundamentals: 6 credit hours
• Core: 6 credit hours
• Advanced Electives: 9 credit hours
• Electives: 9 credit hours

Fundamentals Requirement

The Fundamentals category provides students with the background they need to succeed in the degree. Courses in this category cover the fundamental concepts of how the internet operates, how to develop network systems, and how to administer machines (both physical and virtual) that deploy them.

• Students are required to take two courses (6 credit hours) from the Fundamentals category.
• Students may be recommended to take three courses (9 credit hours) based on their background.
• Fundamentals courses do not count towards any Computer Science degrees (PhD, MS-CS, or MS-CPS).

Fundamentals Course Options

• CSCI 5010: Fundamentals of Data Communication: Combines conceptual knowledge about data communications and core Internet technologies with hands-on labs that reinforce the conceptual knowledge.
• CSCI 5020: Fundamentals of Network Programming: Provides an immersion into the foundational theories of network programming and software development for emerging technologies.
• CSCI 5030: Fundamentals of System Administration and Virtualization: Introduces the basic use and administration of Unix and Linux systems.

Core Requirement

The Core category lays the foundation for exploring network engineering topics in depth. All aspects of network engineering, from the management of network systems to the policies that govern traffic on the internet, are covered.

• MSNE students are required to take two courses (6 credit hours) from the Core category.
• Core courses may not be offered every term.

Core Course Options

• CSCI 5113: Linux System Administration: Introduces Linux system administration and related topics.
• CSCI 5160: Introduction to Enterprise Networks: Explores practical usage and conceptual underpinnings of link state and distance vector routing protocols.
• CSCI 5170: IP Routing Protocols and Policies: Explores practical usage and conceptual underpinnings of link state and distance vector routing protocols.
• CSCI 5180: Network Management and Automation: Teaches both technical and soft skills, incorporating best practices and key theories behind them.
• CSCI 5200: Introduction to Wireless Systems: Overviews the distinctive characteristics of the wireless communications medium.
• CSCI 5220: Wireless Local Area Networks: Emphasizes the IEEE P802.11 family of WLAN standards.
• CSCI 5230: Wireless Systems Lab: Examines the core concepts of wireless architecture, design, and implementation.

Advanced Electives Requirement

The Advanced Electives category goes in-depth on various network engineering topics.

• MSNE students are required to take three courses (9 credit hours) of Advanced Electives to graduate.
• When selecting Advanced Electives courses, students should be aware that certain courses have prerequisite requirements.

Advanced Electives Course Options

• CSCI 5190: Voice Over IP: Voice Network Design and Implementation: Provides an in-depth immersion into the foundational theories and technologies of Voice Over IP (VoIP).
• CSCI 5260: Datacenter Networks: Covers design and configuration principles required to build highly scalable and highly redundant network solutions used by data centers.
• CSCI 5270: IP Network Design: Focusing on the systematic process of network design, this course explains the process of gathering network requirements, data flow analysis, and the selection of network architectures.
• CSCI 5280: Software-Defined Networking: Provides an in-depth immersion into the foundational theories and technologies of Software-Defined Networking (SDN), Network Functions Virtualization (NFV), and emerging technologies for computer networks.
• CSCI 5360: Internet Service Provider Networks: Presents advanced networking design and implementation techniques through experiments with network measurement equipment, switches, routers, and management interfaces.
• CSCI 5380: Network Virtualization and Orchestration: Provides an advanced, in-depth immersion into the theories and technologies of Software-Defined Networking (SDN), Network Functions Virtualization (NFV), network virtualization/orchestration, and emerging technologies for computer networks.
• CSCI 5620: Advanced Wireless Lab: Provides a comprehensive, hands-on set of laboratory exercises for the teaching and demonstration of key technical skills required to understand, build, test, and analyze both analog and digital wireless communications concepts.
• CSCI 5630: Wireless and Cellular Systems: Studies technologies and architectures employed in modern cellular wireless systems.
• CSCI 5840: Advanced Network Automation: Combining lectures, lab experiments, and demonstrations, students in this course will develop advanced skills and knowledge in network automation technologies, services, and tools.
• CSCI 5XXX: Cloud Technologies / CSCI 7000 - Special Topics in Cloud Technologies: Cloud computing has been a revolutionary step forward in terms of how IT is delivered and consumed.

Electives Requirement

The Electives category allows students to customize the MS in Network Engineering degree to meet their academic goals.

• The three courses (9 credit hours) associated with the Electives category can include any of the following options:
  • Any of the remaining Core courses listed above
  • Any of the remaining Advanced Electives Courses listed above
  • Any CSCI 5000-level courses with the following restrictions:
    • Exactly three (3) credit hours of the Professional Internship class (CSCI 6930) can count as an Elective course.
    • MSNE students cannot count CSCI 5000, CSCI 5100, CSCI 6000, CSCI 6100, or CSCI 6200 towards their degree requirements.
  • No more than three approved graduate-level courses (9 credit hours) offered at CU Boulder.

Suggested Focus Area Combinations

The following sets of courses represent common focus areas that students can take to target a particular area of network engineering in depth:

• Network Design and Configuration:
  • CSCI 5160: Introduction to Enterprise Networks
  • CSCI 5260: Datacenter Networks
  • CSCI 5360: Internet Service Provider Networks
• Network Programmability and Automation:
  • CSCI 5180: Network Management and Automation
  • CSCI 5280: Software-Defined Networking
  • CSCI 5840: Advanced Network Automation
  • CSCI 5380: Network Virtualization and Orchestration
• Wireless Networking:
  • CSCI 5200: Introduction to Wireless Networks
  • CSCI 5220: Wireless Local Area Networks
  • CSCI 5620: Advanced Wireless Lab
  • CSCI 5630: Wireless and Cellular Systems
• Comprehensive Networking Solutions:
  • CSCI 5160: Introduction to Enterprise Networks
  • CSCI 5170: IP Routing Protocols and Policies
  • CSCI 5190: Voice Over IP: Voice Network Design and Implementation
  • CSCI 5200: Introduction to Wireless Networks
  • CSCI 5270: IP Network Design

Example Plan of Study - Course Sequences

The outline below shows an example course sequence for students enrolled in the Professional Master's in Network Engineering degree. There are a wide variety of course sequences that are possible, and many students elect to take additional credit hours above the 30-credit degree minimum.

• Semester 1 (9 credit hours):
  • CSCI 5010: Fundamentals of Data Communication
  • CSCI 5020: Fundamentals of Network Programming
  • CSCI 5030: Fundamentals of System Administration and Virtualization
• Semester 2 (9 credit hours):
  • CSCI 5160: Introduction to Enterprise Networks
  • CSCI 5170: IP Routing Protocols and Policies
  • CSCI 5180: Network Management and Automation
• Semester 3 (6 credit hours):
  • CSCI 5260: Datacenter Networks
  • CSCI 5280: Software-Defined Networking
• Semester 4 (9 credit hours):
  • CSCI 5270: IP Network Design
  • CSCI 5360: Internet Service Provider Networks
  • CSCI 5380: Network Virtualization and Orchestration

Plan of Study

Students are expected to submit the Plan of Study form by the end of their first semester in consultation with their advisor. Changes to the Plan of Study must be approved by the advisor. Students may resubmit the Plan of Study form as often as they would like.

Transfer of Credit

Please review the Graduate School Rules for Transfer Credits.

Advising

Students in the MSNE program are advised by Daniel Adams. Your advisor serves as the academic advisor for current MSNE students throughout their entire academic program.

Adequate Progress

Please review the Graduate School Rules for Adequate Progress. Graduate students who have completed at least one semester at CU Boulder may request a Leave of Absence if they have extenuating circumstances that prevent them from taking coursework for a certain amount of time.

Grades

Please review the Graduate School Rules for Grades and Quality of work.

Time Limit

All requirements for the MS Network Engineering degree must be completed within four years of the start of course work as a degree-seeking student.

Academic Standards

Minimum Grades & GPA Requirements

• Students must complete a total of 30 credit hours of approved graduate-level course work with a grade of C or better and a cumulative GPA of at least 3.00.
• Any student who fails to maintain a 3.00 grade point average or to make adequate progress toward completing a degree, as assessed by the student’s academic/research advisor, will be subject to suspension or dismissal from the Graduate School upon consultation with the major department.

Incomplete (I) Grades

• An incomplete (I) grade is given only when students, for documented reasons beyond their control, have been unable to complete course requirements in the semester enrolled.
• A substantial amount of work must have been satisfactorily completed before approval of such a grade is given.
• The final grade (earned by completing the course requirements or by retaking the course) does not result in the deletion of the (I) from the transcript.
• A second entry is posted on the transcript to show the final grade for the course.
• At the end of one year, (I) grades for courses that are not completed or repeated are regarded as (F) and are shown as such on the student’s transcript.
• Courses with grades of (I) are not included in the computation of grade point averages until a final letter grade has been awarded in that course.

Graduation Checklist

Check the Graduate School deadlines for details prior to the start of the semester.