Nov 26, 2024  
2019-2020 Graduate Catalog 
    
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2019-2020 Graduate Catalog [ARCHIVED CATALOG]

Software Engineering, MSSWE

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Software Engineering represents the fastest growing segment of software professionals, men and women who solve problems and issues in the development of mission-critical software to meet the needs of business and industry.  The MS in Software Engineering (MSSWE) at Kennesaw State University prepares students for careers in this field by exposing them to real-time strategies and procedures that will give them a competitive edge in the market.  All courses in the program are available both face-to-face and online, and students can decide which delivery mode is best for them for a particular course.

The MSSWE assumes that students have a significant background in computing.  It both deepens and broadens their knowledge of computing, and prepares them for positions of more responsibility in the computing industry, as well as for further postgraduate studies.  Students interested in the MSSWE will typically have a first degree in computing.  For those students who are interested in the program but do not have the required prerequisite knowledge, we offer the Graduate Certificate in SWE Foundations.

If any of the following foundation courses in computing has not been taken in another program, these must be completed at the earliest . Other students may satisfy foundation courses by passing an exam during a designated time prior to the first semester of enrollment or by taking these courses.

Admission Requirements 

  • Meet all KSU Graduate College Admission Requirements.
  • Resume/Vita required.
  • Statement of purpose.
  • Two letters of recommendation.
  • Undergraduate degree from an accredited university.
  • Minimum undergraduate degree GPA 2.75. Lower GPA is considered on a case-by-case basis.

Foundation Courses

(taken prior to admissions if the student does not have a bachelors degree in computing):

  1. CS 5000      Foundations of Programming  
  2. SWE 5123   Advanced Programming and Data Structures
  3. CS 5020       Computer Architectures and Operating Systems
  4. CS 5060       Databases: Design and Applications 
  5. CS 5070       Mathematical Structures for Computer Science

Program of Study

Core Courses (18 Credit Hours)

Note:

Students who enter the program from the foundation certificate and students who did not take an introductory course in software engineering in their undergraduate degree program should take SWE 6623. SWE 6733 is highly recommended for all other students.

Select one of the following program options (18 Credit Hours)

A. Capstone Option

  • 15 Credit Hours of 6000-level Software Engineering, Computer Science, Information Technology, or System Engineering courses (at least 3 courses must be from SWE or the approved list of CS courses and at most 2 from either CS, IT, or SE)

B. Thesis Option

  • (6 Credit Hours over two semesters)

  • Choose 12 Credit Hours of 6000-Level SWE, CS, IT, or SE courses (at least 2 courses must be from SWE or from the approved list of CS courses)

Elective SWE Courses

Depending on whether students take the capstone or the thesis option, they are required to complete 5 or 4 elective courses, respectively.  In addition to the software electives listed below, students can take any 6000 level courses in Computer Science or Information Technology, or any 7000 level courses in Computer Science or approved courses in Systems Engineering, which are listed below.  Students who took SWE 6733 as core cannot use it also as elective.

Approved SYE Courses:

Program Total (36 Credit Hours)

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