Carnegie Mellon University
Software and Societal Systems Department  ›  Master of Software Engineering Program  ›  For Applicants  ›  Master of Software Engineering  ›  Plan of Study

Plan of Study

The MSE is a 16-20 month long program consisting of four traditional semesters and an optional summer internship. Students will take 201 (without internship) or 204 (with internship) total units. The program begins in the fall and concludes the following year in December or May, depending on whether a student electics tohave an internship experience. Project work begins in either the summer or fall  session, again, depending on the internship selection.  

Sample Course of Study with Internship - Beginning Fall 2027

Semester 1 - Fall

17-603 Communications for Software Leaders I (6)
17-650 Fundamentals of AI for SE (9)
17-651 Software Specifications (12)
17-622 Agile Methods (12) OR
17-619 Product Management Essentials, mini-1 (6) AND
17-626 Requirements for Information Systems, mini-2 (6) OR
17-627 Requirements for Embedded Systems, mini-2 (6)
17-654 Software Quality Engineering (12)

Semester 2 - Spring

17-604 Communications for Software Leaders II (6)
17-653 Software Engineering Management (12)* OR
17-XXX SE Elective (12)
17-633 Advanced Architecture Design OR
17-655 Architecture and Design (12)
XX-XXX General Elective (12)

Semester 3 - Summer

17-676 Software Engineering Internship (3 non-tuition bearing)

Semester 4 - Fall

17-671 Studio I (24)
17-XXX SE Free Elective (12)
XX-XXX General Elective (12)

Semester 5 - Spring

17-672 Studio II (36)
17-XXX SE Free Elective (12)
XX-XXX General Elective (12)

Sample Course of Study without Internship - Beginning Fall 2027

Semester 1 - Fall

17-603 Communications for Software Leaders I (6)
17-650 Fundamentals of AI for SE (9)
17-651 Software Specifications (12)
17-622 Agile Methods (12) OR
17-619 Product Management Essentials, mini-1 (6) AND
17-626 Requirements for Information Systems, mini-2 (6) OR
17-627 Requirements for Embedded Systems, mini-2 (6)
17-654 Software Quality Engineering (12)

Semester 2 - Spring

17-604 Communications for Software Leaders II (6)
17-653 Software Engineering Management (12)* OR
17-XXX SE Elective (12)
17-633 Advanced Architecture Design OR
17-655 Architecture and Design (12)
XX-XXX General Elective (12)

Semester 3 - Summer

17-671 Studio I (24)
17-XXX SE Free Elective (12)
XX-XXX General Elective (12)

Semester 4 - Fall

17-672 Studio II (36)
17-XXX SE Free Elective (12)
XX-XXX General Elective (12)

MSE for Professionals Learning Outcomes

Outcome 1: Select and tailor appropriate methods for organizing and executing a full life-cycle project including scoping, domain specification, business requirements, requirements analysis, system architecture and design with tradeoffs, implementation, testing and quality assurance, deployment and operations, and documentation development in a principled and deliberate manner.
Outcome 2: Apply formal modeling, analysis techniques, and engineering tools to support software requirements, design, construction, validation, and operations to ensure quality in the software systems produced.
Outxcome 3: Manage a complex software engineering project including gathering, analyzing, and prioritizing requirements from a real-world industrial customer, effectively leveraging both human and AI resources.
Outcome 4: Demonstrate leadership skills in managing a software development team including expectation management, project planning and tracking setting technical direction, communication with customers and project technical leads, and problem solving/remediation.
Outcome 5: Communicate effectively with technical and non-technical audiences and peers through active listening and clear, organized speaking and writing.
Outcome 6: Be able to maturely respond and adapt to large shifts in the software industry, such as the currently ongoing incorporation of AI into software engineering practice. Students will be expected to evaluate and assess the trade-offs associated with new technologies, practices, and research for adoption into their professional practices.