Who is the Master's in Software Engineering for?
Drexel’s College of Computing & Informatics' Master of Science in Software Engineering (MSSE) is designed for students who hold a four-year bachelor's degree or master’s degree from a regionally accredited institution in computer science, software engineering, or related STEM degree. The program is appropriate for students interested in technical and managerial software work across a wide range of application domains, with the objective of transforming from being developers to being designers, architects and technical leaders.
Fast Facts
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Hours
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Full-time (FT) or Part-time (PT)
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Time-to-Degree
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2-3 years (FT); 2-4 years (PT)
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Format
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On campus or online
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Term Starts
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Fall, Winter
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Curriculum Design
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Traditional Course-by-Course or Modular Certificate Curriculum. For a full explanation of the modular certificate option, please see the Curriculum section below.
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Hands-on Experience
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Two-term hands-on, experiential capstone project for all students; Graduate co-op is available for on-campus, full-time students.
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Technical experience required?
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Students without a technical background will likely need to complete the Graduate Certificate in Computer Science Foundations.
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GRE required?
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No
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Meets F1 Visa STEM Requirements?
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Yes
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Master's in Software Engineering Program Overview
The Master of Science in Software Engineering (MSSE) degree program is designed to prepare students to become professional software engineers across a wide variety of industries. Drawing on the strengths of Drexel’s programs spanning the College of Computing & Informatics (CCI), the MSSE degree program will provide you with a blend of theory and practice, forming a solid understanding of the fundamentals of software systems as well as a working knowledge of the many languages, methods and systems used in the field. As a graduate of the program you will leave with the skills necessary to better adapt to rapid changes in the software engineering field and to advance to senior managerial and executive positions or become successful entrepreneurs in the field as professional computer software engineers.
Request More Information
Be in touch with us to get answers to all your questions! We can connect you with a Recruitment Specialist, one of our Graduate Dean’s Ambassadors, or a faculty member to help. Contact our graduate recruitment team at cciinfo@drexel.edu and we’ll get back to you soon.
Master's in Software Engineering Curriculum
IMPORTANT NOTE: Drexel operates on the quarter, not semester, system, offering classes during four, 10-week terms throughout the year. (You are not required to take classes every quarter, but full-time students must complete the degree in 3 years.)
Our master’s degrees are 45 credits (15 courses) which is equivalent to 30- to 33-credit degrees at other universities. The benefit of the quarter system is that students receive instruction in more topic areas than through the semester system and have more freedom to personalize their curriculum using electives.
This degree is available through a traditional course-by-course curriculum or a modular certificate curriculum.
Traditional Curriculum
CCI's Master’s Degree in Software Engineering consists of:
- Six required courses
- Nine electives that enable you to specialize and gain in-depth knowledge according to your individual interests and career goals
- A capstone course where you work in an intensive team-based software project, with the goal of applying what you have learned to a real-world, ongoing project.
Full-time, on-campus students who are accepted for fall and winter term admissions can also choose a Graduate Co-op option. Please visit the Steinbright Career Development Center to learn more about cooperative education and its benefits.
Please visit Drexel’s Course Catalog for a full description of each required course and elective for this program. You can also find a sample Plan of Study for the degree.
Modular Certificate Curriculum
This curriculum allows the student to select several certificates in order to 1.) gain a foundation in Software Engineering principles and practice and 2.) focus in-depth on specific skills and knowledge through certificates, customized to your needs and professional goals.
Following the modular certificate option enables you to earn marketable credentials — skills set-based certificates — on your way to completing the master’s degree, and it lets you complete a certificate, step away from the program if you need to, and return to seamlessly pick up where you left off.
There are a variety of possible certificate combinations, and you will work with your advisor and the faculty to determine the best sequence to pursue for your needs and background.
In the modular certificate option, you will select:
- Required core certificate(s)
- One or two Major Electives
- Optionally one Flexible Elective
In addition, you may need to take a small number of additional courses in order to complete the course degree requirements.
The following certificates can be used to create the MS in Software Engineering:
Core
Major Electives
Flexible Electives (optionally choose one)
A capstone project gives you the opportunity to gain practical, real-world industry experience within your area of interest and to use your new knowledge before graduation.
If you are accepted for fall term admissions, you can also choose a Graduate Co-op option. Please visit the Steinbright Career Development Center to learn more about cooperative education and its benefits.
Where Our Software Engineering Graduates Work
- Amazon Web Services
- Vanguard
- Comcast
- Deloitte
- Bristol Myers Squibb
- Amazon
Software Engineering Career Outlook
Software engineering, like all disciplines within the computer and information sciences, has a very healthy employment outlook. Read more about this field and the places you can go with this master’s degree here.
- A completed application for the online format or on-campus format.
- A four-year bachelor's degree from a regionally accredited institution in the United States or an equivalent international institution. Please note: Those without a prior degree in Computer Science, Software Engineering, or Math (plus programming) may have to take additional prerequisites before pursuing advanced computer science courses.
- A GPA of 3.0 or higher, in a completed degree program, bachelor’s degree or above.
- Official final transcripts from ALL Colleges/Universities attended. Please note: For students who have attended an institution outside of the US, it is highly recommended to submit a NACES approved course-by-course transcript evaluation (i.e., WES) for expedited review of your application. This approved evaluation will take the place of the transcript requirement to complete your application.
- Graduate Record Examination (GRE) Scores (must be five years old or less) are not required but recommended for international students and domestic students below a 3.0 GPA.
- One letter of recommendation required, two recommended (academic, professional, or both).
- Essay/Statement of Purpose.
- Current Resume.
- Pre-requisites for all graduate level programs: computer requirements and skills
- Additional requirements for International Students.
Please visit our Graduate Admissions section for application deadlines.
Finances
Tuition
Please visit Drexel’s official Graduate Tuition & Fees webpage. Note that this master’s degree requires 45 quarter credits.
Scholarships
There are a variety of sources of financial aid and scholarships to help you fund your master’s degree — explore them here.
Get in Touch
Our Recruitment Specialists are here to walk you through the sometimes confusing world of financing your graduate education. Get in touch with us now by filling out this form.
Schedule a Visit or Register for an Online Information Session
Learn more about the College of Computing & Informatics experience through an online information session or an in-person visit. Contact our recruitment team to schedule your visit today by contacting us at cciinfo@drexel.edu!