Master of Science degree in Software Engineering (MS in SE)

[Degree awarded: Master of Science (MS); Major: Software Engineering]

[14 courses]  

Scientific, technical and sophisticated commercial systems developers require education in what has come to be called "software engineering," which encompasses the utilization of sophisticated development tools. This domain focuses on technique-oriented computer science, computational systems software development, and applied research. It emphasizes the quantitative and scientific characteristics in software development. Hardware/software issues, embedded control in hardware, and large software/hardware systems development are all part of this emphasis.

This program would be of interest to persons in computer science, computational science, systems software development, knowledge-based systems, database development, distributed database development, telecommunications, networking, multimedia software development, and neural networks. Students completing this degree almost always will be working in organizations where the MS is the recognized degree, and where most of their colleagues will also hold an MS degree in engineering or a scientific discipline.

Our classes are offered evenings (Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, or Thursday) and Saturdays for the convenience of scheduled working professionals. Classes meet on our Saint Paul, MN campus and in Rochester, MN.

Entrance Requirements:

1. A bachelor's degree (or international equivalent) in any discipline from an accredited educational institution with an overall grade-point-average (GPA) of at least 2.7. (Applicants with a GPA less than 2.7 will be considered for provisional admission with their professional experience factored into the decision.)
2. And satisfy at least one of the following:
   • two years of technical or systems software development experience, or
   • the bachelor's degree was in computer science, computer engineering, electrical engineering, software engineering, or a scientific or technological area with programming in at least two higher-level languages, or
   • completion of the Certificate in Information Systems

Required items to be submitted with application:
(International students: please see International Student Admission Procedures.)

$30 Application fee
1. Completed GPS application form
2. Official transcript(s) from ALL universities/colleges attended bearing an institutional seal and sent directly to the Graduate Programs in Software (GPS) office by the issuing institution (even if the course work appears as transfer work on another school transcript).
3. Admission essay giving your reasons for wanting to enter this program. Essays can be one to two pages.
4. Detailed resume which includes all work experience, job description, and programming languages used.
5. A list of computing-related courses not appearing on transcripts.

Note: The GRE or GMAT is not required for the GPS programs.

Degree Requirements

To complete the requirements for the Master of Science in software engineering (MS) students must successfully complete 14 courses (42 graduate semester credits) and maintain a GPA of 2.7.

Required Courses

SEIS 601 Foundations of Software Development (waived for appropriate prior programming experience)
SEIS 605  Technical Communication
SEIS 610  Software Engineering
SEIS 630  Database Management Systems and Design
SEIS 635  Object-Oriented Application Analysis and Design
SEIS 625  Software Project Management
SEIS 626  Software Quality Assurance/Quality Control
SEIS 640  Operating Systems Design
SEIS 645  Computer and Network Communications

• 5 Electives (6 if SEIS 601 is waived) from the course list. A maximum of two graduate-level courses may be non-technical. Technical courses are marked with a  
  in the GPS course catalog.
  
• A student may select a related set of courses in an area that provides the student with an in-depth knowledge of that area. Please see "Concentrations" page for more information.
  
• For information on transfer courses, please see Transfer Courses.
  
• A student may take up to 4 courses (12 semester credits) of graduate non-SEIS courses (including transfer courses) as a part of the MS program. All such courses must be approved as "technical" by the GPS Director.

Suggested course sequence with SEIS601 waived:

Semester 1: SEIS 605 and SEIS 610
Semester 2: SEIS 630 and SEIS 625
Semester 3: SEIS 635 and SEIS 626
Semester 4: SEIS 640 and SEIS 645
Semester 5: 2 Electives
Semester 6: 2 Electives
Semester 7: 2 Electives 

Suggested course sequence with SEIS601 required: 

Semester 1: SEIS 605 and SEIS 601
Semester 2: SEIS 610 and SEIS 630
Semester 3: SEIS 635 and SEIS 625
Semester 4: SEIS 626 and SEIS 640
Semester 5: SEIS 645 and Elective
Semester 6: 2 Electives
Semester 7: 2 Electives