2
Years (average)
30
Credit Hours

Degree

  • Master of Science https://www.stmarytx.edu/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/software-engineering.jpg

Format

  • Online

Department

Contact

Online Master’s in Software Engineering at St. Mary’s

The Master of Science in Software Engineering, which is offered exclusively online, prepares individuals to successfully design, develop, implement, integrate and maintain software and software-related products. Students gain the knowledge and skills necessary to develop and manage large-scale software systems with a primary focus on quality, reliability and maintainability. It emphasizes organizational structures, development processes, analysis and modeling techniques, design methodologies, documentation standards and quality controls. 

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Program of Study

This is a 30-credit-hour program that allows students to choose a thesis or non-thesis project option. The thesis option consists of 24 credit hours of course work and 6 credit hours of thesis direction. Non-thesis students must complete 27 credit hours of course work and three credit hours of the capstone master project. 

A 12-credit-hour Software Engineering Certificate Program is also available to students who would like to increase their knowledge and skills in the field of software engineering in a short time frame. 

  • Degree Plans

    The Master of Science in Software Engineering is a 30-credit hour program. Students can elect to choose from a capstone project, thesis, and all course options. Students can take up to 6 credits from other major areas with adviser permission.

    St. Mary’s also offers a Combined Degree Program option for this program, allowing students to earn a Bachelor of Science and a Master of Science in Software Engineering in as little as five years.

  • Courses

    This program emphasizes skills in managing development processes, organizational structures, analysis and modeling techniques, design methodologies, documentation standards, and quality controls.

    Course highlights include:

    • Maintenance, Evolution and Reengineering
    • Software Project Planning and Management
    • Software Quality Assurance
    • Software Security
    • User Interface Design
    Course Catalog

  • Combined Degree Program

    St. Mary’s University offers Combined Bachelor’s and Master’s Degree Programs that allow undergraduate students to begin graduate studies as early as junior year. Students can earn both a Bachelor’s and Master’s degree in Software Engineering in as little as five years.

    Eligible undergraduate programs include Computer Science, Computer Information Systems, Electrical Engineering, Computer Engineering, Software Engineering, Industrial Engineering, Engineering Management, Mechanical Engineering and Engineering Science.

18-24
Months Completion
+26.47%
Expected change in employment demand over the next 10 years
$126,397
Median annual earnings for Software Engineers

What can I do with a Master’s in Software Engineering?

Graduates have employment opportunities with companies that develop, manage and maintain software systems. They are employed by a variety of public and private institutions that design, evolve and re-engineer complex software systems.

Employers of software engineers include:

  • Financial institutions
  • Engineering firms
  • The avionics and automotive industries
  • Health care providers
  • Government institutions
  • Pharmaceutical companies
  • Insurance providers
  • Electronics companies
  • Any company that designs systems that require computer programs

The most common careers that our students enter into include full-stack developer, game developer, mobile developer, software security or cybersecurity engineers. 

Where our Alumni Have Worked

Ian Wells is earning his master's of Software Engineering.

When I finish my graduate program, I hope to help high school and college students in developing their career paths, just like how the professors at St. Mary’s had a profound impact on how I developed as a person and a professional.” 

Ian Wells (B.S. ’22)
Master of Science in Software Engineering student

How do I get into the Master’s in Software Engineering Program?

Admission Requirements

  • Applicants must have a Bachelor of Science degree in Software Engineering, Computer Science, Computer Engineering or a closely related discipline. Applicants who earned a bachelor’s degree from other disciplines may be admitted with the provision that they take the prerequisite courses listed below. The Graduate Program Director will evaluate these cases on an individual basis.
  • Prerequisites: EG 1213 C Programming for Engineering, EG 1316 Object‐Oriented Programming and Design using C++
  • Have a minimum Grade Point Average (GPA) of 3.00 (A = 4.00) for their bachelor’s degree.
  • We do not require GRE scores from the applicants.
  • International students must submit TOEFL, IELTS, or Duolingo scores. Students who do not meet minimum language proficiency requirements may apply to the St. Mary’s Intensive English Program (IEP) and be considered for admission upon successful completion of the IEP. See below for the score requirements for each test.
  • Submit a completed application form, a resume, a written statement of purpose indicating the applicant’s interests and objectives, two letters of recommendation concerning the applicant’s potential for succeeding in the graduate program, and official transcripts of all college level work.

Applicants who fail to meet any of the above requirements may be admitted on a conditional status. The Graduate Program Director will evaluate these cases on an individual basis.

International Students

  • International students must submit the TOEFL scores and show a minimum of 80 in the Internet-based test or 213 in the computer-based test or 550 in the paper-based test.
  • As an alternative to the TOEFL, International Student can take the IELTS test and show a minimum score of 6.5 or better. A score of 6.0 is acceptable with the provision that the student takes EN6301 during the first semester at St. Mary’s University. No student will be admitted with score lower than 6.0 in the IELTS test.
  • The third option for an international student is a Duolingo English test score of 115 or above.

Financial Aid for Graduate Students

St. Mary’s offers various scholarships, grants and assistantships to graduate students. Military, their dependents and Department of Defense employees may be eligible for a tuition discount.

Please contact the Office of Financial Assistance at 210-436-3141 or finaid@stmarytx.edu for additional information or visit www.stmarytx.edu/financial-aid.

Graduate Research Assistantships

Our graduate programs offer exciting opportunities for students to advance their academic and professional careers. We are pleased to provide research assistantships to qualified candidates.

Research Assistantships

Research assistantships are available to eligible graduate students. These positions offer:

  • Hands-on research experience in your field of study
  • Tuition waiver for the duration of the assistantship
  • Monthly stipend to support living expenses

Eligibility and Selection

Candidates for research assistantships are evaluated based on:

  • Application materials
  • GRE scores
  • English proficiency scores

We encourage all qualified applicants to apply. Selection is competitive and based on academic merit and research potential.

For more information about our graduate programs and assistantship opportunities, please get in touch with the program director.

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