WEST HAVEN UNIVERSITY

Master of Science in Software Engineering (MSSE)

Master's degree 2 years

Program overview

The MSSE is a graduate program focused on the systematic, disciplined, and quantifiable approach to the development, operation, and maintenance of complex software systems. It goes beyond basic programming to address the entire software lifecycle, from requirements gathering and system design to construction, testing, deployment, and maintenance. The curriculum emphasizes principles of design patterns, software architecture, quality assurance, project management, and agile methodologies to prepare students to build reliable, scalable, and efficient software in a team-based environment.

The MSSE program combines theoretical foundations with practical skills in advanced software design, system architecture, DevOps, quality assurance, and emerging technologies. It prepares graduates for leadership roles in developing scalable, secure, and innovative software systems across industries.

Program highlights

2 years
Duration
0
Credits
0
Certifications
3
Career paths

What makes our program unique

Comprehensive training

Covers advanced programming, architecture, testing, DevOps, and secure software

Concentration flexibility

Cloud Systems, Mobile/Web Development, or AI-driven Software Engineering tracks available

Applied focus

Graduate Capstone ensures students tackle real-world software engineering projects

Learning outcomes

  • Create robust, scalable, and secure software system architectures using established design patterns and principles
  • Apply and manage various software development processes (Agile, Scrum, DevOps) to lead projects from conception to deployment and maintenance
  • Develop and implement comprehensive testing strategies, including unit tests, integration tests, and automated testing, to ensure software quality and reliability
  • Elicit, analyze, and specify software requirements in collaboration with stakeholders to ensure the final product meets user needs
  • Utilize collaborative tools and version control systems (like Git) to work efficiently and productively in a team-based software engineering environment

Program curriculum

Our comprehensive curriculum is structured into different blocks. Each block combines theoretical foundations and practical applications:

Core courses

Code Course title Credits Type
SE 501 Foundations of Software Engineering 3 Core
SE 502 Advanced Programming & Data Structures 3 Core
SE 503 Software Architecture & Design Patterns 3 Core
SE 504 Software Testing & Quality Assurance 3 Core
SE 505 Software Engineering Ethics & Professional Practice 3 Core
Credits required: 15

Advanced core

Code Course title Credits Type
SE 511 Agile Project Management & DevOps 3 Core
SE 512 Secure Software Development 3 Core
SE 513 Graduate Capstone Project in Software Engineering 3 Core
Credits required: 9

Concentration tracks

Choose one: 12 credits

Code Course title Credits Type
SE 620 Cloud Computing & Virtualization 3 Elective
SE 621 Distributed Systems & Microservices 3 Elective
SE 622 Containerization & Orchestration (Docker/Kubernetes) 3 Elective
SE 623 Scalable Web Services 3 Elective
SE 630 Advanced Web Application Development 3 Elective
SE 631 Mobile Application Development (iOS/Android) 3 Elective
SE 632 Human-Computer Interaction & UX Design 3 Elective
SE 633 Full-Stack Development & Deployment 3 Elective
SE 640 Machine Learning for Software Engineers 3 Elective
SE 641 AI-Powered Software Testing 3 Elective
SE 642 Natural Language Processing for Software Systems 3 Elective
SE 643 Intelligent Automation & Software Agents 3 Elective
Credits required: 12

Program summary

Component Credits
Core courses 15
Advanced core 9
Concentration tracks 12
Total credits: 0

Career opportunities

Graduates of this program have pursued various rewarding career paths:

Senior Software Engineer

Avg. Salary: $130,000 - $160,000

Take a lead role in designing, developing, and implementing complex software components and systems; mentor junior developers

Software Architect

Avg. Salary: $150,000 - $180,000+

Make high-level design choices and dictate technical standards, including software coding standards, tools, and platforms for the entire organization

DevOps Engineer

Avg. Salary: $125,000 - $155,000

Bridge the gap between development and operations by automating and streamlining software integration, testing, deployment, and infrastructure management

Admission requirements

To be considered for admission, applicants must meet the following requirements:

  • Bachelor's degree in Computer Science, Software Engineering, or a closely related field is mandatory due to the technical prerequisites