Full-time Application Components for Silicon Valley Programs

We appreciate your interest in our full-time Master of Science in Software Engineering (MS SE) program. 

Applicants to the full-time program are assessed on both a quantitative and qualitative basis. Please review the list of the application components for more information on applying to the Carnegie Mellon Silicon Valley MS SE full-time program.  International students are strongly encouraged to apply early to allow time for visa processing and other logistics.  If you have any additional questions, please contact the admissions office at (650) 335-2810 or email admissions@sv.cmu.edu.

(For bicoastal program applications, please visit the INI website, E&TIM website or ECE website.)

Admission Requirements

Although most students admitted to the MS SE program hold undergraduate degrees in computer science, engineering, mathematics, cognitive science or physics, applicants who hold an undergraduate degree in an area other than those mentioned above from an accredited institution, and clearly demonstrate the ability to perform graduate-level work in software engineering are also considered. Excellence and promise will balance a lack of formal preparation. Programming experience is essential, but applicants who have allowed a zeal for programming to interfere with other aspects of education are not usually considered qualified.

To enter the MS SE program you must have:

• An undergraduate degree in Computer Science, or a minor in Computer Science, or an undergraduate degree in an area other than CS from an accredited institution (from ABET [Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology, Inc.] or Middle States Accreditation) with equivalent preparation, including:

  • Knowledge, at least at the level of an undergraduate course, of algorithms and data structures and programming languages
  • Basic knowledge of object-oriented design
  • Skills in programming-in-the-small, as well as competence in using an object-oriented language such as Java
  • Practical knowledge of programming methods and computer organization.
• A summer internship is highly recommended; the internship might be completed the summer prior to beginning the MS SE program
• A completed online application
• Official academic transcripts
• Two letters of recommendation
• Official scores from Graduate Record Examination (GRE) general test are required.  Your scores should be sent to the Carnegie Mellon Silicon Valley.
• TOEFL - All applicants whose native language (mother tongue) is not English MUST provide TOEFL scores from tests taken within the last 1-2 years.  Scores should be added to the online application and originals sent directly to Carnegie Mellon Silicon Valley (ETS code 5759). We require a minimum iBT score of 92 (with no sub-score below 23) to be considered for admission.
  • minimum Reading = 23
  • minimum Listening = 23
  • minimum Speaking = 23
  • minimum Writing = 23
• Interview (TOEFL score must be received prior to scheduling)
• Coding Diagnostic (MS Software Engineering only): The coding diagnostic should be completed using the object-oriented language of your choice, including:
  • C++
  • Java
  • Ruby on Rails
  • PhP
  • C
  • C Sharp
  • Python
  You will be asked to walk through your application during your interview.  During this part of the interview, the focus of the interviewer will be on your ability to explain, step-by-step, your process in creating the code. Although you may use an object-oriented language other than the ones listed above, you will be evaluated in a programming language chosen from the above list.

• Application fee (USD $100)

Any materials not submitted online should be sent directly to us at:

Carnegie Mellon Silicon Valley
ATTN: Admissions
NASA Research Park
Building 23 (MS 23-11)
P.O. Box 1
Moffett Field, CA 94035-0001