M.S. in Software Technology

The MS in Software Technology caters to students interested in software engineering and also other contemporary topics of long-term value to the industry. Most early careers in the industry are based on either software development or managerial aspects of software development. This degree places more weight on software development. For those seeking a greater focus on managerial aspects, we offer the M.S. in Information Technology (MS-IT) below.

To achieve depth, students must complete the following:

• 3 courses within one of the following tracks: Networking Technologies, High-Performance Computing, Large-Scale Software Development, or Internet/Web Development.
• 6 courses that do not need to be in any track:  All 400 level Computer Science courses 400+ level CSIS courses (cross listed with the Business School) are allowed.  There are also numerous options for independent study, including a programming project, research, or a service-oriented project.
• 1 required course addressing ethical and social issues in the computing field.

Note that you only need three courses in some track and have six free electives from any 400 level COMP or CSIS course.  Be sure to look at the Courses and Schedules page to find links for what specific courses are offered in any one semester or quarter.

Prerequisites

You can be admitted into the graduate program and then take the prerequisites given below either before or concurrently with your graduate courses. It is also possible to have some or all of these prerequisites waived based on what you've learned since getting your undergrad degree.

• COMP 170: Introduction to Object-Oriented Programming
• COMP 264: Introduction to Computer Systems
• COMP 271: Data Structures

For the MS in Software Technology program, one of the following is also required, due the emphasis on advanced software development:

• COMP 313: Intermediate Object-Oriented Development
• COMP 330: Software Engineering

The above requirements will be waived for anyone with demonstrated equivalent background or professional experience in the computing field. Please view the Programming Prerequisite List to determine if you meet these requirements.

Required Course

• COMP 417: Ethical and Social Issues in Computing

Networking Technologies (NT) Track

• COMP 410: Advanced Operating Systems
• COMP 412: Open Source Computing
• COMP 443: Computer Networks
• COMP 446: Telecommunications
• COMP 448: Network Security
• COMP 449: Wireless Systems and Security

High-Performance Computing (HPC) Track

• COMP 410: Advanced Operating Systems
• COMP 412: Open Source Computing
• COMP 437: Concurrent Programming
• COMP 439: Distributed Systems
• COMP 460: Design and Analysis of Algorithms
• COMP 462: Advanced Computer Architecture
• COMP 464: High-Performance Computing

Large-Scale Software Development (LSSD) Track

• COMP 412: Open Source Computing
• COMP 422: Software Design for Wireless and Mobile Devices
• COMP 424: Client-Side Web Design
• COMP 433: Web/Network Services Programming
• COMP 434: Enterprise Software Development
• COMP 442: Server-Side Software Development
• COMP 453: Database Programming
• COMP 473: Object-Oriented Programming
• COMP 474: Software Engineering
• COMP 475: System Standards and Requirements

Internet and Web Technologies (WT) Track

• COMP 424: Client-Side Web Design
• COMP 433: Network Services Programming
• COMP 436: Markup Languages
• COMP 441: Human-Computer Interface Design
• COMP 442: Server-Side Software Development
• COMP 473: Object-Oriented Programming