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 - MSE

The MSE is a 16-month-long program consisting of four traditional semesters. Students will take 201 total units. The program begins in the fall and concludes the following year in December. Project work begins in the summer semester.  

MSE Course Plan

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)

*Both the Requirements and Management core requirements can be fulfilled by taking Agile Methods. If a student takes Agile Methods to fill those requirements, they take an additional Software Engineering elective course for a total of 36 units.

Semester 3 - Summer

17-671 Studio I (36)
17-XXX SE Free Elective (12)
XX-XXX General Elective (12)

Semester 4 - Fall

17-672 Studio II (24)
17-XXX SE Free Elective (12)
XX-XXX General Elective (12)

Plan of Study - MSE Applied Study

The MSE Applied Study degree is a 20-month-long program consisting of four traditional semesters plus a required summer internship. Students will take 204 total units, 3 of which are non-tuition bearing. The program begins in the fall and concludes in May of the second year. Project work begins in the second fall semester.  

MSE Applied Study Course Plan

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)

*Both the Requirements and Management core requirements can be fulfilled by taking Agile Methods. If a student takes Agile Methods to fill those requirements, they take an additional Software Engineering elective course for a total of 36 units.

Semester 3 - Summer

17-667 Internship for Software Engineers (no tuition)

Semester 4 - Fall

17-671 Studio I (36)
17-XXX SE Free Elective (12)
XX-XXX General Elective (12)

Semester 5 - Spring

17-672 Studio II (24)
17-XXX SE Free Elective (12)
XX-XXX General Elective (12)

MSE 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.
Outcome 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.