Program: Software Engineering, MS - East Carolina University

Mar 30, 2025

2024-2025 Graduate Catalog

Program Coordinator/Graduate Program Director: Nic Herndon (C-108 Science and Technology Building; 252-328-9696; herndonn19@ecu.edu)

The Software Engineering, MS is designed to provide students with practical knowledge, skills, and professional practices needed to succeed and excel in a rapidly changing software engineering industry. The program also prepares students to pursue further graduate work leading to a PhD degree.

I. Admission Requirements

Applicants to this program are required to follow the admissions requirements and process as stated in the admission and readmission section of the graduate catalog and the graduate admissions website. A minimum cumulative undergraduate GPA of 3.0 is required for regular admission. Those who do not meet the requirement may be admitted by exception. Decisions will be made on a case-by-case basis. Nonnative speakers must submit an acceptable score on one of the language tests approved by the Graduate School or have evidence of at least 1 year of college/university study in the United States.

Students whose bachelor’s degrees are in engineering, mathematics, statistics, physics, chemistry, or similar analytic and quantitative disciplines may be required to complete additional courses before being admitted to the degree, such as discrete mathematics, data structures, as recommended by the graduate program director.

II. Degree Requirements

A minimum cumulative GPA of 3.0 must be submitted for all graduate courses. No more than 6 s.h. of course work evaluated as C may be counted toward the degree.

The degree requires a minimum of 30 s.h. as follows:

A. Core - 9 s.h.

B. Options - 21 s.h.

Choose one of the following options:

1. Thesis (6 s.h. of SENG 7000) and Electives (15 s.h.)

A thesis is required for this option. Students summarize their research in the form of a formal written document and deliver an oral presentation. Thesis research is typically conducted over two semesters. Six (6 s.h.) count toward the minimum degree requirement.

Fifteen s.h. from 6000-level software engineering (SENG) courses and 6000-level computer science (CSCI) courses are required for this option. The semester hours from the CSCI courses must not exceed nine (9).

To select electives, go to the list of CSCI and SENG electives in part III.

SENG 7000 - Thesis

2. Project (3 s.h. of SENG 6290) and Electives (18 s.h.)

A research project with a written report is required for this option. The project option involves collecting research literature on a topic of interest, critically examining it, and summarizing the research in the form of a formal technical report. This option may also involve developing software systems or proof of concept systems. Students must deliver an oral presentation of their findings. Students select topics for their projects in consultation with research advisors prior to the beginning of the last semester of study. The project is typically completed during the last semester of study.

Eighteen (18) semester hours from 6000-level software engineering (SENG) courses and 6000-level computer science (CSCI) courses are required for this option. The semester hours from the CSCI courses must not exceed nine (9).

To select electives, go to the list of CSCI and SENG courses in part III.

SENG 6290 - Software Engineering Project

3. Coursework (21 s.h. of electives only)

Twenty-one (21) s.h. from 6000-level software engineering (SENG) courses and 6000-level computer science (CSCI) courses. The semester hours from the CSCI courses must not exceed nine (9).

The coursework option requires an e-Portfolio comprehensive examination. Please contact the graduate studies director for more information.

To select electives, go to the list of CSCI and SENG courses in part III.

III. Electives List

Electives should be carefully selected after consultation with the graduate program director.

IV. Comprehensive Assessment Requirement

All ECU graduate programs require students to successfully complete a comprehensive requirement. This program requires the following:

Thesis option (thesis with oral presentation)
Project option (research project with written report)
Coursework option (e-Portfolio)

V. Plan of Study Form Requirement

Students are required to complete a Plan of Study Form in consultation with the graduate program director before they begin their graduate study. This is usually done during the week before the first day of classes of first semester.