14.5%

PROJECTED GROWTH

Bureau of Labor Statistics

WORK WITH

WORLD-CLASS

PURDUE FACULTY

30

NUMBER OF CREDITS REQUIRED

Program Overview

Purdue University's online and residential Master of Science in Software Engineering will mold the next generation of software professionals to help meet society’s need for skilled software engineers and entrepreneurs. Students will study under Purdue's renowned faculty in software engineering, computing systems, and cybersecurity, and can further customize their experience toward specific topics.

Highlights

  • Gain in-demand skills: Our world-class faculty in both the Elmore Family School of Electrical and Computer Engineering and the Department of Computer Science will help you develop innovative approaches to address complex software engineering problems and to understand their real-world context. Data shows that job opportunities for software engineers will continue to grow across the US and internationally.
  • Flexible curriculum: Gain knowledge in your selected area(s) of interest, including embedded software; systems software; cybersecurity; robotics and controls; and machine learning and data science. You choose the courses you take to meet the curriculum requirements.
  • Available both on-campus and fully online: This degree program is available both full-time and part-time on-campus at our Indianapolis location and fully online with the same courses, same faculty, and same degree.
  • Suitable for applicants with various backgrounds: A bachelor’s degree in computer science or computer engineering provides appropriate preparation. Applicants with related undergraduate degrees and appropriate work experience may be admitted if their credentials collectively indicate an ability to succeed in the coursework. See our self-assessment for specific information on needed prior knowledge and skills.
  • Purdue reputation: Purdue is one of just a few institutions in the US that offer a Master’s Degree in Software Engineering. Gain a unique credential backed by Purdue’s long history of excellence in engineering.
  • Excellent support services: Throughout your program, a dedicated faculty advisor and a team of professionals will help you plan your degree and support your envisioned career path.

Curriculum

This degree requires 30 credit hours total with at least 18 hours of electrical and computer engineering and computer science course work, including 2 ECE core courses, and 3 credit hours of graduate math coursework.

Students can select one of these focus areas or build a plan of study to incorporate multiple areas:

  • Cybersecurity
  • Embedded Software, Robotics, and Controls
  • Machine Learning and Data Science
  • Systems Software

Full Curriculum Sample Plans of Study

Admissions Requirements

Criteria for Admissions

Knowledge Background:

  • Students should have a working knowledge of relevant topics, such as algorithms, data structures, microprocessors, operating systems, programming languages, compilers, calculus, linear algebra, discrete mathematics, and probability and statistics

Undergraduate Degree:

  • BS or equivalent, preferred in Computer Engineering or Computer Science

Test Scores:

  • GRE scores are accepted but not required.

See our self-assessment here.

Application Requirements

The following documents are required to complete an application:

  • Transcripts from all universities attended
  • 3 letters of recommendation
  • An academic statement of purpose
  • A personal history statement
  • A professional resume
  • TOEFL or IELTS scores (international students only)

Full admissions requirements can be found here.

Application Deadlines

For online students:

  • Spring
    • Priority Deadline: November 15
    • Final Deadline: December 15
  • Fall
    • July 15

For on-campus students:

  • Spring
    • September 1
  • Fall
    • Priority Deadline: December 1
    • Final Deadline: April 1

Tuition*

For online students:

  • $950 per credit hour

For on-campus students:

Domestic students and permanent residents may qualify for the following types of financial aid:

*The cost of attending Purdue varies depending on where you choose to live, enrollment in a specific program or college, food and travel expenses, and other variables. The Office of the Bursar website shows estimated costs for the current aid year for students by semester and academic year. These amounts are used in determining a student’s estimated eligibility for financial aid. You can also use our tuition calculator to estimate tuition costs.

AI Is Creating More Opportunities for Software Engineers

The field of software engineering has undergone significant changes in the last ten years — influenced by the rise in artificial intelligence (AI) and other automation technologies. Though AI is changing the software development landscape, it doesn’t mean opportunities are stagnating. In fact, technologies like AI are likely to create more opportunities in software engineering. The Bureau of Labor Statistics predicts that software engineering will grow 15% over the next decade, much faster than average for all other fields. This growth will be fueled, in part, by technologies like AI.

READ MORE

Interested in earning your Master's in Software Engineering?

Request more information via one of the links below.

It’s your first step toward becoming a Purdue Boilermaker, joining a community of innovators, leaders and changemakers committed to making giant leaps that shape industries, advance ideas and move the world forward.