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Master of Software engineering

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Ta b l e o f C o n T e n T s

No longer considered the niche field it once was, software engineering has en-tered the mainstream in a big way. From the auto industry to health care, from cell phones to defense, software engineers are changing the way we do business today. As a profession, software engineering is poised to become one of the fastest-growing engineering professions.

As you look to advance your career or explore a new and dynamic field, consider Penn State’s online master’s degree in software engineering.

“Software engineering goes well beyond computer systems; software is an integral part of almost all systems. Automobiles, for example, now have a hundred million lines of computer code running everything from the brakes to the radio. Software engineers need first-class instruction to prepare for the demands of an ever-changing technological world. After offering the master’s degree at the Penn State Great Valley campus for more than 10 years and at the Philadelphia Naval Shipyard since 2008, the online master’s degree now gives us the opportunity to reach working professionals around the globe.”

—Jim Nemes, D.Sc. Lead Faculty Member Master of Software Engineering

Welcome ................................................................. 3

Why Software Engineering? .............................. 4

Why Penn State? ................................................... 5

Achieve Your Career Goals around Your Schedule ...................................................6–7

Frequently Asked Questions .............................. 8

Getting Started ...................................................11

P E N N S T A T E m A S T E r o f S o f T w A r E E N g i N E E r i N g

WelcomeYou are making an important career decision by choosing Penn State’s online master’s degree program in software engineering.

Since 1892, when we founded one of the nation’s first correspondence study programs, Penn State has been a pioneer in distance education. With the launch of the World Campus in 1998, the University reaffirmed its commitment to providing educational opportunities to learners around the world.

Our mission is to deliver Penn State degrees, certificates, and courses in a convenient online format, so that you—the adult student—can balance work, family, and your educational pursuits.

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Why Software engineering?

Software engineers are employed in a variety of industries, including consumer products, telecommunications, biomedical, defense, and intelligence agencies, as well as nonprofits, government, finance, and health care. Consulting opportunities for software engineers are also expanding as technology evolves and becomes an increasingly essential part of everyday life.

As a software engineer, you will work to develop software products and services for industry and government through software analysis, design and architecture, system verification, and data storage and retrieval, all while managing globally

distributed development. You may help build your company’s computer system and data center, maintain them, and plan for their future growth. You may also produce new software that can help businesses or individuals obtain what they want from their computer systems. From design to development, software engineers use their abilities with applications and systems software to create the elements that make engineered systems work.

Software engineers may also perform the following tasks:• analyzeinformationtodetermineandplan

installation of a new system or modification of an existing system

• coordinateinstallationofsoftwaresystems• designanddevelopsoftwaresystems,using

scientific analysis and mathematical models to predict and measure outcomes of a design

• developanddirectsoftwaresystemtestingandvalidation procedures

• directsoftwareprogramminganddevelopment of documentation

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Why Penn State?

P E N N S T A T E m A S T E r o f S o f T w A r E E N g i N E E r i N g

Proven leadership in Online DeliveryThrough years of solid experience, Penn State has been a leader in the use of technology in education. The online master of software engineering (MSE) degree program was developed as a high-quality experience using the very same courses offered in the residence program. Penn State World Campus is Penn State.

Distinguished FacultyThe courses for the online MSE program are designed and taught by full-time Penn State professors whose teaching and research interests combine academic expertise and industry experience.

employer RecognizedPenn State, renowned as a leader in engineering education, awards one of the highest numbers of bachelor’s degrees in engineering in the United States. The online MSE degree program will carry the samePennStatecommitmenttohighqualitythatemployersrecognize.

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Werealizethatthemajorityofourstudentsare working professionals who balance a host of other commitments. That’s one reason why we offer the MSE program entirely online through Penn State World Campus—to give you the convenience and flexibility of fitting your study time into your busy personal and professional schedule.

The online software engineering courses are highly interactive and collaborative, so you can build strong ties with other students and gain perspective from other disciplines and industries. Using a cohort approach, the online MSE program allows you to progress through the program with your fellow students. This approach provides greater integration of course content and fosters a richer student experience.

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achieve Your Career Goals

Required (36 credits)

Year one

semester 1

sWenG 586 Requirements Engineering (3 credits)

sWenG 537 Software System Design (3 credits)

semester 2

sWenG 585 Pattern-Oriented Design (3 credits)

In sC 521 Database Design Concepts (3 credits)

semester 3

sWenG 587 Software Systems Architecture (3 credits)

sWenG 568 Enterprise Integration (3 credits)

CurriculumThe 36-credit MSE degree program consists of 12 courses that you complete in continuous 7-week terms over 2 years. Maximum flexibility is maintained by the program in an effort to meet both the professional needs of individual students and academic quality standards.

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network with ClassmatesYou can share experiences with your peers, as you learn from each other and create a dynamic professional network of colleagues. The course content comprises far more than a textbook on a screen; it is reinforced and enhanced by interaction with your fellow students and the faculty.

the Benefits of Online learning With our online delivery format you can complete your MSE degree without ever having to set foot on campus. You will receive course content and complete the activities using your computer and Web access. The courses have

S o f T w A r E E N g i N E E r i N g

around Your Schedule

Year Two

semester 1

sWenG 826 Applied Human-Computer Interaction (3 credits)

sWenG 588 Program Understanding (3 credits)

semester 2

In sC 561 Web Security and Privacy (3 credits)

sWenG 581 Software Testing (3 credits)

semester 3

sWenG 505 Software Project Management (3 credits)

sWenG 500 Software Engineering Studio (3 credits)

fixed start and end dates, but you decide when to do your course work to meet the assignment deadlines.

apply What You are learning—todayThe MSE degree program is designed to help students with a technical background become leaders in the industry, while providing the convenience and flexibility of earning their degrees online. Your classmates will have undergraduate degrees in computer science, computer engineering, electrical engineer-ing, or information sciences. Many will be experienced professionals from a variety of disciplines and corporations.

Frequently asked Questions

Is this the real Penn state?

Absolutely. Penn State values online education as highly as it does resident instruction. No distinc-tion will be made on your official Penn State transcript or degree that your courses were com-pleted at a distance. The credits you receive are exactly the same as those awarded to on-campus students.

How will I interact with my instructor and other students?

You will be part of a group of students in each course in this program, and we use a variety of means to bring students and instructors together, including asynchronous electronic threaded discussions on the course Web site, synchronous sessions, and e-mail.

What types of student support are available?

As a distance education pioneer, Penn State hasdevelopedanationallyrecognizedsupportsystem for students who are geographically removedfromcampus.Withouramazingteamof academic advisers, technical support experts, customer service representatives, and Penn State instructors, we’ll help you get where you want to go—successfully—through distance education.

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Why is Penn state the best choice for me?

Flexibility and convenience:Penn State knows that adults need flexible and convenient learning options to continue meeting their professional and personal com-mitments.Asjobresponsibilitiesgrowincreas-ingly complex and family schedules become more hectic, online education enables you to study at times and locations that are conve-nient for you.

Reputation:Penn State is universally regarded as one of the finest educational institutions in the United States. Putting a Penn State degree or certifi-cate on your résumé is a great way to prove to current and potential employers that you are a well-educated professional, and to broaden your career options.

Accreditation:Penn State is accredited by the Middle States Association of Colleges and Schools and has an outstanding reputation as a research and teaching university. Our courses are also accepted by most other colleges and universi-ties in fulfillment of their requirements.

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Admissions decisions for the master’s degree program in software engineering are based on a review of your complete application portfolio and the quality of your credentials relative to those of other applicants.

Getting Started

This publication is available in alternative media on request. Penn State is committed to affirmative action, equal opportunity, and the diversity of its workforce. Produced by Outreach Marketing and Communications U.Ed.OUT 10-1305/10-WC-377bkh/bjmCopyright © 2010 The Pennsylvania State University

•applicationform(completedandsubmittedonline)

•TestofEnglishasaForeignLanguage(TOEFL)score,ifapplicable.

•statementofintent

•résumé•recommendationletter•twoofficialtranscriptsfromeach

undergraduate and graduate institution attended

Begin Your application todayA student applying to the software engineering program must include the following in his/her application portfolio:

For More InformationContact Uspennstateonline@psu.edu • www.worldcampus.psu.edu800-252-3592 (toll free within the United States)814-865-5403 (local and international)814-865-3290 Fax

student services Hours (inquiries and registration)8:00 a.m.–9:30 p.m. Monday–Thursday8:00 a.m.–5:00 p.m. FridayClosed Saturday and Sunday

admissions Counseling Hours8:00 a.m.–8:00 p.m. Monday–Thursday8:00 a.m.–5:00 p.m. FridayClosed Saturday and Sunday

Penn State World CampusThe Pennsylvania State University301 Outreach BuildingUniversity Park PA 16802

Official GRE test scores will be considered if submitted, but are not required.

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