Program Description

MSE Vision Statement
The Carnegie Mellon Software Engineering Masters Program continues to be recognized as the premier professional program in producing software engineering industry leaders and agents of change by teaching the practical application of innovative theories in a mentored studio environment.

Degree Requirements
All students pursuing an MSE degree at Carnegie Mellon must complete a course of study that is approximately 30% core courses, 40% Software Development Studio and 30% electives.

The Core Courses
The core curriculum lays the foundation for learning and practicing the discipline of software engineering. The core is centered around four intellectual themes:
  • Engineering design and system architecture:
    software architecture, design trade-offs, tools and environments, exploiting domain knowledge.
  • Technical management and evolution of large, long-lived software:
    design for re-use, risk analysis, configuration management, product validation.
  • Mathematical modeling, abstraction, and reasoning:
    formal methods, software system analysis, testing, reasoning about system design.
  • Human resource management:
    project planning, risk assessment, cost estimation, process improvements.
As a set of courses, the core constitutes approximately 30% of the MSE curriculum. These are usually taken early in the program as preparation for the Studio and in-depth electives. The courses are: Studio
The Software Development Studio represents approximately 40% of the total time spent in the MSE and extends over the four semesters of the program. The Studio provides an opportunity for you to apply the knowledge and skills gained in other courses as you synthesize a solution to a significant, realistic, and practical problem. You will work in teams, with a faculty member as coach, to analyze a problem, plan a software development project, and implement a solution. After delivering a result, you evaluate the efficacy of your solution as used by customers. The work in the Studio is typically done for an outside customer.

The Studio teams work closely with faculty mentors during all phases of the project and periodically make presentations about the technical work and process issues. These presentations are attended by customers, MSE faculty, other students, and experts from the SCS, SEI, and industry. You are encouraged to gain knowledge about how you solve software problems through this application of reflective practice, in which you not only do the work, but analyze how it was done.

To achieve the goals of the Studio and to operate within time constraints, we use the following criteria for choosing projects:
  • The problem is within the context of a larger development effort so that you interact with other software developers.
  • The software is intended for use by people outside the development group.
  • You have the opportunity to demonstrate individual achievement. Thus, you have unique roles in the project as it progresses (project leader, configuration manager, chief architect, etc.). These roles and the general organization of the team are chosen by the students.
  • The project presents a significant technical challenge.
  • You have an opportunity to apply knowledge and skills gained in courses.
  • The majority of the content of the core is applied at some point in the Studio.
Recent Studio projects include the movement software for a robot that services the space shuttle tiles, a tool for integrating architectural information, software to help surgeons more accurately plan and place the socket portion of hip implant replacement surgery, and software to aid in the training of airline pilots. Past customers include Boeing, NASA, McDonnell-Douglas, Shadyside Hospital, USAirways, Charles Schwab, and the SEI.

Electives
Electives constitute approximately 30% of the MSE curriculum. Elective courses provide you with the opportunity to tailor the program to your individual interests and background. Early in the program, students meet with advisors to select appropriate electives that are consistent with your career goals.

An elective is defined as one 9- to 12-unit full-semester course or two 6-unit half-semester (mini) courses.

In order to fulfill the MSE elective requirement, students must complete the equivalent of four 9- to 12-unit full-semester courses.

Electives may be chosen from any scientific/technical department of the university.
© 2003 Carnegie Mellon
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