Software engineering 
Apply by
Fall: July 21
Spring: November 16
Class begins
Fall: August 19
Spring: January 13
Degree Awarded
Master of Science
in Software Engineering
Enhance Your Skills. Energize Your Career.
WSU’s software engineering master’s program, offered 100% online, is specifically designed for workplace advancement. Ensuring your skills will be in high demand, course requirements were created with input from an industry advisory board that includes representatives from pioneering companies including Microsoft, Hewlett-Packard, Boeing, Amazon, Ivycorp, and EMC Isilon.
What You’ll Learn
Employment in software engineering is growing rapidly. As a graduate of WSU’s master’s degree in software engineering, you will be well prepared to apply your knowledge and skills to implement high-quality software, provide innovative solutions, and take leadership roles in industry and government. Graduates can choose to pursue a career as software developer, software engineer, requirements engineer, quality assurance engineer, project manager, and many others.
The program’s cutting-edge curriculum will teach you advanced skills in software design, development, validation, maintenance, management, and security. You’ll be able to identify problems and implement solutions, to document procedures and to exemplify professional standards. You’ll gain an in-depth mastery of one or more subdomains of software engineering through this non-thesis master’s degree. Along with core courses in software requirements and design, the degree includes advanced training in management, leadership, and ethics, skills in high demand from employers.
WSU Software Engineering Program Strengths
- Employment in software engineering is growing rapidly. For example, software development engineer jobs in Washington State alone grew by 87% in 2012-2013. This, and similar jobs, typically offer six-figure salaries are expected to continue to be in high demand through 2020.
- The program’s online courses are designed and taught by faculty members at WSU’s world-renowned School of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science. Those faculty members include experts in computer science, data science, software maintenance and evolution, software testing, and security.
Get Started
To apply for the program, you’ll need a BS degree in computer science or a related field or have had industry experience as a computer scientist or software engineer. For complete admissions information and to apply, visit the WSU Graduate School website.
Applications are currently being accepted.
For more information about the program, please contact Sakire Arslan Ay at sakire.arslanay@wsu.edu or 509-335-4089, or visit the WSU Online Masters in Software Engineering website.
Program of Study—30 semester credits
Core courses
9 credits
- Cpt S 515: Advanced Algorithms
- Cpt S 484: Software Requirements
- Cpt S 487: Software Design and Architecture
Advanced courses
15 credits
- Cpt S 581: Software Maintenance
- Cpt S 582: Software Testing
- Cpt S 583: Software Quality
- E M 522: Leadership, Supervision and Management
- E M 564: Project Management
Elective courses
6 credits
- Cpt S 580: Advanced Databases
- Cpt S 527: Computer Security OR
any other 500-level course in Software Engineering, Computer Science, Computer Engineering, or Math
Sample Study Plans
Flexible Schedule
The online master’s degree in software engineering can be completed in under two years with a full-time course load. Working professionals may prefer to attend part-time for maximum flexibility.
Full-time Study Plan
30 credit hours
First Year
First Semester
| Course | Credits |
|---|---|
| Cpt S 484: Software Requirements | 3 |
| Cpt S 515: Advanced Algorithms | 3 |
| E M 522: Leadership, Supervision and Management | 3 |
| *Software Engineering Option Course | 3 |
| Total credit hours | 12 |
Second Semester
| Course | Credits |
|---|---|
| *Software Engineering Option Course | 3 |
| Cpt S 487: Software Design and Architecture | 3 |
| Cpt S 581: Software Maintenance | 3 |
| E M 564: Project Management | 3 |
| Total credit hours | 12 |
Second Year
First Semester
| Course | Credits |
|---|---|
| Cpt S 583: Software Quality | 3 |
| Cpt S 582: Software Testing | 3 |
| **Capstone Experience | 0 |
| Total credit hours | 6 |
*Software Engineering Option Course can be any 5xx level course in Software Engineering, Computer Science, Computer Engineering, or Math. The courses that are not offered online through the proposed degree can be taken locally and transferred into the program upon approval by the Graduate Studies Committee.
**Students are required to satisfy the Capstone Requirement: The requirement for the Capstone Experience are that students must pass the following courses with a grade of B or higher in each:
Part-time Study Plan
30 credit hours
First Year
First semester
| Course | Credits |
|---|---|
| Cpt S 484: Software Requirements | 3 |
| Cpt S 515: Advanced Algorithms | 3 |
| Total credit hours | 6 |
Second semester
| Course | Credits |
|---|---|
| Cpt S 487: Software Design and Architecture | 3 |
| E M 564: Project Management | 3 |
| Total credit hours | 6 |
Second Year
First semester
| Course | Credits |
|---|---|
| E M 522: Leadership, Supervision and Management | 3 |
| *Software Engineering Option Course | 3 |
| Total credit hours | 6 |
Second semester
| Course | Credits |
|---|---|
| Cpt S 581: Software Maintenance | 3 |
| *Software Engineering Option Course | 3 |
| Total credit hours | 6 |
Third Year
First semester
| Course | Credits |
|---|---|
| Cpt S 583: Software Quality | 3 |
| Cpt S 582: Software Testing | 3 |
| **Capstone Experience | 0 |
| Total credit hours | 6 |
*Software Engineering Option Course can be any 5xx level course in Software Engineering, Computer Science, Computer Engineering, or Math. The courses that are not offered online through the proposed degree can be taken locally and transferred into the program upon approval by the Graduate Studies Committee.
**Students are required to satisfy the Capstone Requirement: The requirement for the Capstone Experience are that students must pass the following courses with a grade of B or higher in each.