As AI replaces coding tasks, software engineering becomes more important than ever. MSE graduates leave our programs armed with the ability to work at a higher level to engineer quality software systems –using the latest AI tools not just for coding, but as components and in every part of the software lifecycle.
Students in all our programs gain in-depth understanding of key software engineering practice areas, including:
- Specification and Reasoning: system behaviors and the logic used to verify them.
- Requirements: identifying, defining and documenting needs.
- Architecture: high-level software framework.
- Quality Assurance: ensuring software meets quality standards throughout the development lifecycle.
- Management: understanding business needs and leading teams to create the best outcomes.
- Communication and leadership Leadership: clearly articulating decisions and, innovating to create value.
Curriculum Overview
The MSE curriculum ensures that students gain a fundamental understanding of software engineering as a profession beyond the individual contributor level. Students engage in rigorous courses that cover the practice areas listed above and can take electives in topics like AI, security, and embedded systems, all within CMU’s #1 top-ranked School of Computer Science.
No matter the program, students complete their degree with a capstone project that fits their needs.
- Master of Software Engineering students complete a year-long Studio project, solving a real-world problem for an industry sponsor.
- Master of Science in Software Engineering students study a problem at their current job and write a technical paper that provides a researched and tangible solution.
- Master of Software Engineering in Scalable Systems students spend a semester in a Practicum project alongside Embedded Systems students, creating a solution for a company sponsor.
- Master of Software Engineering in Embedded Systems students spend a semester in a Practicum project alongside Scalable Systems students, creating a solution for a company sponsor.
By the Numbers
95%
2024 Grads hired within 3 months of graduation
36%
MSE Professional Grads (2021-2024) hired directly into senior software engineering positions
20%
MSE alumni are currently holding high-level positions including VP, Sr Director, Founder etc.
Programs at a Glance
MSE – Scalable Systems
For entry-level developers with less than two years experience, or equivalent internship/project experience.
Duration: 16-months, on-campus, full-time, internship during program required
Median Starting Salary: $128,250
Employed by: Amazon/AWS, Aurora, Dremio, Google, Interactive Brokers, Loom, Meta, Microsoft, Outreach, Roblox, Uber
MSE – Embedded Systems
For entry-level developers with less than two years experience, or equivalent internship/project experience.
Duration: 16-months, on-campus, full-time, internship during program required
Median Starting Salary: $128,250
Employed by: Amazon/AWS, Aurora, Dremio, Google, Interactive Brokers, Loom, Meta, Microsoft, Outreach, Roblox, Uber
MSE for Professionals
For experienced software developers with at least two years of full-time professional experience.
Duration: 16-months, on-campus, full- or part-time, no internship required
Median Starting Salary: $140,000
Employed by: BeaconFire, CMU Robotics, Hivemapper, LinkedIn, Nimble Robotics
MSE Online
For experienced software developers with at least two years of full-time professional experience.
Duration: 24-months, online, part-time, no internship required
This program requires students to write a term paper as a reflective practice.
MBA/MSE Dual Degree
For engineering or science professionals who have at least two years of full-time professional experience.
Duration: 24-36 months, on-campus, full-time, internship during program required
IS-MSE Accelerated Master's Program
For undergraduates majoring in Information Systems in the Dietrich College of Humanities and Social Sciences at Carnegie Mellon. 5th year AMP students may choose either the Scalable Systems or Embedded Systems program.
What makes the MSE programs special?
Take it to the next level and deliver.
The software systems that drive our modern world are not built on clever code alone. Our approach to learning takes you beyond foundations and teaches you how to build massive software systems that are on spec, on budget and on time. By applying lessons learned in requirements gathering, project scoping, estimation, team management, architectural design and assurance, our graduates are perfectly suited to do what few others can: DELIVER.
Join a community, not just a program.
We view MSE as an enduring community. One of the largest, most accomplished and most engaged of any graduate program at the university. For more than three decades, our students, faculty, and staff have formed bonds that last a lifetime. Once you graduate, as a part of our alumni network, you will have an instant connection to hundreds of accomplished, influential software engineering professionals across the globe, all of whom share the MSE experience and understand its impact.
Collaborate with the best.
Our home academic unit, the Software and Societal Systems Department (S3D), was established within the School of Computer Science more 20 years ago for one purpose: transdisciplinary collaboration. That purpose will influence your entire experience in the MSE. You'll work with the best and brightest, not just in software engineering, but across the entire technology spectrum. Throughout your time in S3D, you'll be encouraged to tap into the expertise around you and call upon the guidance of some of the foremost minds in their respective fields, whether it's robotics ornatural language processing. Don's miss the opportunity to take advantage of everyting that Carnegie Mellon University has to offer.
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