Software Engineering (SE)

The Master of Science in Software Engineering (MSSE) program at Southern Polytechnic State University has the primary objective of meeting the high demand for a professional degree in Software Engineering within the context of a non-traditional audience (working professionals who can only attend part-time at night or on weekends). Software Engineering has emerged nationally as a specialized area of computer science that emphasizes solving the problems and complex issues associated with developing and maintaining mission-critical software to meet the needs of business and industry. It uses the life-cycle concept from traditional engineering with an emphasis on specification, design, and implementation but calls on the focused application of computer science concepts rather than those of traditional engineering. The position "software engineer" has become a common job title for software developers in business and industry and represents the fastest growing segment of software professionals.

Students accepted for the program must document at least two years of full-time experience with software development and/or maintenance. The typical student is a working professional in metro Atlanta with at least a bachelor’s degree and the other usual credentials expected for acceptance to a graduate program; however, it is not necessary that students have a formal degree or specific previous coursework in software engineering or computer science since a transition path is available.

The requirements are 36 hours of graduate work as designated below. A grade of "B" or better for each course is required. A maximum of 9 hours of work from transition courses, transfer credit, or credit by experience may be counted toward the degree.

Transition Courses: (if needed; at most 6 hours [not including CS 5123 and CS 5223] may be used to meet degree requirements)
 

      Hours
CS  5123  Advanced Programming and Data Structures 3
CS  5153  Database Systems 3
CS  5183  Object-Oriented Programming in C++ 3
CS  5223  Computer Architecture 3
CS  5243  Operating Systems 3
CS  5424  Mathematical Structures for Computer Science 4
 
Required Core Courses (18 hours)      
CS  6023  Research Methods and Presentations 3
CS  6153  Advanced Database Systems 3
SE  6623  Software Engineering I 3
SE  6633  Software Project Management 3
SE  6723  Software Engineering II 3
SE  6883  Formal Methods in Software Engineering 3

 
Required Electives (9 hours; one of the following tracks)
 
a. Information Technology:
[for Software Engineers interested in the design, development, and use of information systems for the managerial and operational needs of formal organizations]
 

SE  6683 Management Information Systems 3
  and two of the following:    
SE  6643  Issues in Information Management  3
SE  6743  Object-Oriented Analysis and Design 3
SE  6763  Software Metrics and Quality Management 3
 
 
b. Human-Computer Interaction:
[for Software Engineers who design and implement graphical user interfaces and practice usability engineering]
 
SE  6343  User Interface Design and Implementation 3
  and two of the following:    
CS  6323  Human Factors 3
CS  6353  Computer Graphics and Multimedia 3
SE  6783  Object-Oriented User Interfaces with  
    Prototyping and Usability Engineering 3
 
 
c. Real-Time and Distributed Systems:
[for Software Engineers who design and implement real-time and distributed systems]
 
SE  6823 Software Engineering of Real-Time Systems 3
  and two of the following:    
CS  6243  Advanced Concepts in Operating Systems 3
CS  6283  Real-Time Systems 3
CS  6453  Simulation and Modeling 3

 
Required Project (3 hours)
 

SE  7703  Software Engineering Project 3
 
Electives: As needed to complete overall hour requirements; any course at the 6000-level not taken to meet a requirement above but approved by the department for the MSSE.