Â鶹ԭ´´

Software engineering is the computer science discipline concerned with developing large applications. Software engineering covers not only the technical aspects of building software systems, but also management issues.

The SMU Master’s degree program in software engineering offers a balanced approach to management issues, such as directing programming teams, scheduling and budgeting and technical expertise necessary to succeed in this critically important field. Many of the courses are based upon those proposed by the Software Engineering Institute, specifically founded by the Department of Defense to assist in the development of a sound foundation for this rapidly emerging field. Centering on the problems of working professionals in this field, the SMU program in software engineering serves the needs of both the full- and part-time student.

Degree Requirements

In addition to meeting the Lyle School of Engineering degree requirements for an M.S. degree, candidates are required to satisfy the following: 30 credit hours of coursework consisting of 12 credit hours of core courses and 18 credit hours of electives as follows:

1. Satisfactory completion of the core curriculum encompassing four courses:

CSE 7314 Software Testing and Quality Assurance
CSE 7315 Software Project Planning and Management
CSE 7316 Software Requirements
CSE 7319 Software Architecture and Design

2. Satisfactory completion of three advanced elective courses from the following:

CS 7111 - Intellectual Property and Information Technology
CS 7340 - Service-Oriented Computing
CS 7345 - Advanced Application Programming
CS 7349 - Data and Network Security
CS 8312 - Software Generation and Maintenance
CS 8313 - Object-Oriented Analysis and Design
CS 8314 - Software Metrics and Quality Engineering
CS 8315 - Software Acquisition, Legal, and Economic Issues
CS 8316 - User Interface Design
CS 8317 - Software Reliability and Safety
CS 8340 - Advanced Topics in Software Engineering

Elective Courses

Satisfactory completion of three elective courses from available graduate-level course offerings.

Additional Requirements

In addition to meeting the Lyle School of Engineering degree requirements for an M.S. degree, candidates are required to satisfy the following:

• Either 24 credit hours of coursework and a master’s thesis or 30 credit hours of coursework.
• Twelve credit hours of core courses. Students on campus are required to register for a seminar course (for zero credit hours) for at least one term and secure a grade of Pass.
• Six credit hours of concentration. Thesis students take six credit hours of thesis, instead of concentration.
• Twelve credit hours of electives. All students are allowed to take at most three credit hours of independent study, which will be counted as one elective course.