View a complete list of courses, program-specific and degree-level requirements, recommended sequence, and more.
This program requires a total of 36 credits.
This course must be taken within the first 6 credits of study (if required). The UCSP 615 requirement may be waived if you previously earned a graduate degree from a regionally accredited institution. For more information, contact your academic advisor.
This is our recommended course sequence to progress through this program. This sequence incorporates course prerequisites and program requirements but does not list course alternatives that may be available. We recommend you take a maximum of 6 credits per term. You cannot take a prerequisite with its subsequent course during the same session. Your plan will be unique and dependent on multiple factors, including the number of credits you transfer to this program.
Contact an advisor if you have any questions about this plan, course alternatives, or your course load limit.
In addition to the specific requirements for this program, we also have general requirements for all our master’s degree programs.
If you completed your bachelor’s degree in management information systems at UMGC, an accelerated pathway between UMGC's graduate and undergraduate degree programs in that field may allow you to reduce your total coursework for this program.
This information is for students who enroll in the 2025–2026 academic year. For prior year requirements for this program or to review UMGC's complete program requirements for a specific academic year, visit our program catalog archive.
Employers want leaders who are ready to contribute to service-oriented, team-based environments. This software engineering program is designed to prepare you to take on leadership roles in the implementation of software architecture projects. Our courses will teach you critical skills in software project management, computer science, advanced systems, modern technologies, and more.
Our top-notch faculty update the curriculum regularly with a focus on helping students achieve these learning goals:
Pursue Highly Valued STEM Skills
This program has received a special designation as a Professional Science Master’s Degree program through the Council of Graduate Schools.
"Professional Science Master’s (PSMs) are designed for students seeking a STEM graduate degree who understand the need for developing workplace skills valued by top employers. The PSM is a perfect fit for professionals because it allows you to pursue advanced training and excel in science or math without a PhD, while simultaneously developing highly-valued business skills."
Source: Professional Science Masters Website
The software engineering program is designed to help you lead a successful software development team and provide value to organizations in the implementation of large-scale software-intensive projects. At UMGC, you can network and learn from professionals who currently work in the field. Our graduates may enter roles such as senior software engineer, software developer, software quality assurance engineer, and systems development leader.
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Throughout the software engineering program curriculum, your instructors will assign coursework that is designed to help you sharpen real-world skills and gain valuable experience. In past courses, students have been able to complete the following projects:
Gain insight from our experienced faculty and delve deeper into topics ranging from online learning to leadership.
Get answers to questions that current and prospective students are asking about program admission, credibility, cost, and more.
A master's degree in IT with a concentration in software engineering is a graduate degree program that focuses on giving you the skills and knowledge you need to lead a successful software development team. At UMGC, this program covers software design and implementation, relational databases, usability engineering, user interface implementation, and more.
At UMGC, we want you to be happy with the investment you make in your education, and we work hard to keep our programs affordable. When you choose to pursue your master's in IT with a concentration in software engineering at UMGC, you can rest assured that the quality of our curriculum is backed by our status as an accredited state university and a member institution of the University System of Maryland. Deciding whether an online master's degree in IT with a concentration in software engineering is worth it for you ultimately depends on your individual needs and goals. If you're not sure whether this is the right program for you or need help figuring out how to fit the program into your life, don't hesitate to reach out to us—our advisors and success coaches are happy to help.
UMGC's online master's degree in IT with a concentration in software engineering is a 36-credit program with courses offered year-round. If you successfully complete six credits each fall, spring, and summer, you can expect to graduate in as little as two years.
UMGC is committed to keeping our tuition and fees as affordable as possible. The master's degree in IT with a concentration in software engineering follows the standard graduate program tuition rates, which appear at the top of this webpage. We also offer scholarships for qualified students, an interest-free monthly payment plan, and no-cost digital materials in place of most textbooks to help make your education more affordable.
The software engineering concentration is designed for students with a degree and/or professional experience in software development and programming languages. Strong writing skills are also encouraged.
We recommend software engineering students participate in the following student organization:
The Computing Club provides a dynamic environment where members can work collaboratively, share innovative ideas, enhance their career-readiness, and gain marketable experience in their respective fields. It is available to graduate or undergraduate students, alumni, faculty, and staff members. Students and alumni can join the Computing Club group on CareerQuest.
