Purdue launches 100% online master’s in software engineering

WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. — Purdue University is offering a new, 100% online Master of Science degree in software engineering designed for professionals who want to enhance their knowledge of how to identify, formulate and solve complex software engineering problems.

Purdue’s online software engineering master’s degree also is designed to develop expertise in areas such as artificial intelligence, data science, machine learning, controls, cybersecurity, embedded software, robotics and systems software. Students can choose courses from multiple focus areas to tailor the degree to their interests and career needs.

In addition, the Purdue master’s program emphasizes working as a member of a team to solve software engineering problems and effectively communicate decisions about software design and development, with consideration for global, cultural, social, environmental and economic factors as well as public health, safety and welfare.

“There are relatively few universities that offer master’s degrees in software engineering,” said James Davis, an assistant professor of electrical and computer engineering who has been involved in developing the program. “I think this is a problem for our society, because software governs more and more of our everyday interactions. Purdue’s master’s in software engineering helps fill this need, and it combines two of Purdue’s strengths: excellence and scale.”

The online software engineering master’s degree is an interdisciplinary program from Purdue’s highly ranked College of Engineering and Department of Computer Science, offering students access to a large catalog of courses.

“Together, Purdue electrical and computer engineering and computer science have enormous depth and strength in various aspects of software engineering,” said Mithuna Thottethodi, professor and interim associate head of teaching and learning in Purdue’s Elmore Family School of Electrical and Computer Engineering. “Our program leverages that and is designed to offer students who are seeking a career in the software industry a strong foothold. Online delivery broadens access to our program to a wide audience for whom in-person attendance is not practical.”

Online courses are taught by the same internationally known faculty as on Purdue’s flagship campus and with the same level of quality and rigor.

“Purdue’s promise with our online degree programs is that students are getting the exact same degree and, as much as possible, the same experience, as residential students — the same assessments, the same projects, the same professors,” said Milind Kulkarni, professor and Michael and Katherine Birck Head of Electrical and Computer Engineering. “Students will have the opportunity to be on virtual project teams with fellow students from around the world.”

A bachelor’s degree in computer science or computer engineering is good preparation for succeeding in the master’s program. Individuals with related undergraduate degrees and appropriate work experience, such as software development for themselves or others, may be admitted pending review. 

Students also should have a working knowledge of relevant topics such as algorithms, compilers, data structures, microprocessors, operating systems, programming languages, calculus, linear algebra, discrete mathematics, and probability and statistics.

Purdue established the first computer science department at an American university in 1962, and its undergraduate and graduate programs have been ranked among the top 20 nationally. Purdue’s online engineering graduate programs are ranked No. 3 by U.S. News & World Report.

Engineering and computer science are integral to Purdue Computes, a campuswide initiative aimed at placing Purdue on the leading edge in advancing computing, physical artificial intelligence, semiconductors, and quantum science and engineering at scale.

Known for its emphasis on practical programs with proven value, Purdue has been rated among the top 10 Most Innovative Schools for six years running by U.S. News & World Report and is the No. 8 public university in the U.S. according to QS World University Rankings.

“Online education is an area where Purdue is fully committed to innovation and excellence at scale, and it shows as we continue to launch online offerings for professionals in high-impact fields such as software engineering and artificial intelligence,” said Dimitrios Peroulis, Purdue’s senior vice president for partnerships and online.

For more information about Purdue’s 100% online master’s in software engineering, visit the program website.

About Purdue University

Purdue University is a public research institution demonstrating excellence at scale. Ranked among top 10 public universities and with two colleges in the top four in the United States, Purdue discovers and disseminates knowledge with a quality and at a scale second to none. More than 105,000 students study at Purdue across modalities and locations, including nearly 50,000 in person on the West Lafayette campus. Committed to affordability and accessibility, Purdue’s main campus has frozen tuition 13 years in a row. See how Purdue never stops in the persistent pursuit of the next giant leap — including its first comprehensive urban campus in Indianapolis, the Mitch Daniels School of Business, Purdue Computes and the One Health initiative — at https://www.purdue.edu/president/strategic-initiatives.