2026-2027 Undergraduate & Graduate Catalog [In Progress]
Master of Science in Software Engineering
- https://www.gvsu.edu/computing/software-engineering-ms-116
- https://www.gvsu.edu/academics/software-engineering-ms.htm
Degree Overview
The program consists of 11 three-credit courses (33 credit hours), consisting of core courses, an area of specialization (track), electives, and a capstone option - an internship, project, or thesis. Classes are offered fully online, in a hybrid format, or in-person in the late afternoon or evening in downtown Grand Rapids.
Curriculum
- Core
- Tracks
- Electives
- Capstone
Note: If students have already completed 12 credit hours of 4xx/5xx dual-listed courses, they must not take additional 4xx/5xx dual-listed courses to fulfill the elective course requirement. An asterisk (*) designates classes that are dual-listed courses.
International Partnership students: please review your school's agreement and communicate with your Graduate Program Director (GPD) about transferring in courses to GVSU, if applicable.
Core Courses
Required:
- SE 511 - Introduction to Software Engineering (3 credits)
- SE 512 - Requirements Specification (3 credits)
Choose 2 of the following:
- *SE 513 - Software Testing (3 credits)
- *SE 522 - Software Architecture and Design (3 credits)
- *SE 530 - Software Construction and Delivery (3 credits)
- *SE 537 - Software Quality Assurance (3 credits)
Tracks
Students must complete one of the following tracks, taking 4 courses total:
Artificial Intelligence and Software Development
Choose 2 or 3 of the following:
- AI 501 - Introduction to Artificial Intelligence (3 credits)
- CIS 671 - Information Visualization (3 credits)
- CIS 678 - Machine Learning (3 credits)
Choose 1 or 2 of the following (4 courses total):
- *AI 502 - Generative Artificial Intelligence (3 credits)
- *AI 511 - AI Ethics and Bias (3 credits)
- *AI 531 - Natural Language Processing (3 credits)
- *AI 541 - Edge AI (3 credits)
- *AI 545 - Machine Learning Operations (3 credits)
- *AI 551 - Reinforcement Learning (3 credits)
- *SE 536 - Data Analytics in Software Engineering (3 credits)
- *SE 537 - Software Quality Assurance (3 credits)
Data Driven Software Development
Choose 4 of the following:
- CIS 554 - Computer Networking (3 credits)
- CIS 635 - Knowledge Discovery and Data Mining (3 credits)
- CIS 655 - Cloud Applications Development (3 credits)
- CIS 660 - Data Engineering (3 credits)
- CIS 671 - Information Visualization (3 credits)
- CIS 678 - Machine Learning (3 credits)
- *SE 536 - Data Analytics in Software Engineering (3 credits)
Full-Stack Development
Choose 4 of the following:
- CIS 641 - Systems Analysis and Design (3 credits)
- CIS 655 - Cloud Applications Development (3 credits)
- CIS 657 - Mobile Application Development (3 credits)
- CIS 658 - Web Architectures (3 credits)
- *SE 531 - Software Virtualization (3 credits)
- *SE 537 - Software Quality Assurance (3 credits)
IoT and Cloud Computing
Required:
Choose 2 of the following:
- *AI 541 - Edge AI (3 credits)
- *SE 531 - Software Virtualization (3 credits)
- *SE 536 - Data Analytics in Software Engineering (3 credits)
Software Security and Assurance
Choose 2 or 3 of the following:
- CYB 615 - Cybersecurity Risk Management (3 credits)
- CYB 616 - Cybersecurity Fundamentals (3 credits)
- CYB 619 - Artificial Intelligence and Data Analytics for Cybersecurity (3 credits)
Choose 1 or 2 courses from the following list:
- *CIS 518 - Secure Software Engineering (3 credits)
- *CYB 520 - Trustworthy AI (3 credits)
- *SE 537 - Software Quality Assurance (3 credits)
Elective Courses
Students must complete at least three elective credits. Three additional elective credits will be required if the project option is chosen to meet the capstone requirement instead of the thesis option.
Capstone
Students must complete either a 3-credit project course, or a 3-credit thesis course taken twice.
OR
An internship option must be discussed with the Graduate Program Director.
Study Plan
Before starting the program, students must have a study plan approved by the Graduate Program Director (GPD). Students are responsible for keeping the plan of study current before the beginning of each semester and getting the GPDs approval for any changes to the plan.