Admissions: Master of Science in Software Management
Advance your career in the heart of Silicon Valley.
The Master of Science in Software Management (MSSM) degree equips both aspiring and seasoned software professionals with the technical and management skills to advance their careers or launch their own software products.
Students develop a mix of engineering, management, and leadership skills to succeed wherever software innovation is needed, from startups to international corporations.
Part-Time Applications are always open, with rolling admission cycles
Current Admission Cycle: Deadline for Spring 2025
Program |
Start Term |
Applications Open |
Deadline |
M.S. Software Management - Part-Time |
Spring 2025
|
Now | December 1, 2024 |
Summer 2025
Application Deadline: April 15, 2025
Fall 2025
Application Deadline: July 15, 2025
Full-Time Applications for Fall 2025 will open in October 2024
Program |
Start Term |
Applications Open |
Deadline |
Fall 2025
|
October 1, 2024
|
January 20, 2025
|
Am I a Good Fit for the Software Management program?
Applicants must demonstrate professional or academic experience in software development.
They are passionate about software innovation and/or entrepreneurship, want to collaborate regularly in teams, and learn best in a hands-on environment.
Additionally, highly-qualified candidates will have the following academic and professional experience:
Academic Experience
The ideal candidate will hold a minimum cumulative GPA of 3.0 or equivalent from an accredited institution (Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology, Inc., Higher Learning Commission or U.S. Dept. of Education).
Work Experience
We recommend certain program formats based on an applicant's level of industry experience:
- Part-time applicants should have five or more years of work experience.
- Full-time applicants with four or more years of work experience should consider applying to our 12-month MSSM program. Applicants with less experience or who are seeking to pivot careers should consider applying to our 16-month program, which features a summer internship.
Technical Skill Prerequisites
Are you ready to recalibrate your career to a future in technology product innovation but don’t have a degree in Computer Science? Don’t count yourself out just yet. Although most of our students have a computer science-related undergraduate degree, there is no one path to the MSSM. You are well on your way if you excelled in your engineering or science undergraduate degree or an equivalent program where you developed your logical reasoning capacity.
Those with undergraduate degrees outside of computer science, software engineering, or information technology, or simply questioning if their technical skills meet the prerequisites of the MSSM, should review the following LinkedIn Learning resources:
- Career Skills in Software Development
- Python Essential Training
- Artificial Intelligence Foundations: Thinking Machines
- Improve Your Thinking
- Communication Training
If these skills are familiar to you, great! Consider applying for the MSSM program.
If these are new concepts to you, it is highly recommended that you view and complete the LinkedIn Learning resources to enhance your application.
Katherine Wang
(MSSM '24)
Katherine has a bachelor’s degree in Computer Science and Data Science from the University of California, Berkeley. She is passionate about developing technology for good, promoting sustainable B2B ecosystems, and creating an equal and engaging UX experience. She has recently held internship positions as a Product Manager and a Software Engineer.
Jiali Xu
(MSSM '24)
Jiali has a bachelor’s degree in Computer Science Engineering from New York University. She is passionate about developing AI for healthcare, business analytics, and making changes. She recently had an internship at Acadia and worked on AI R&D.
Celine Wang
(MSSM '24)
Celine has a bachelor’s degree in Computer Science from Harvey Mudd College. She is passionate about managing software projects, using AI to improve human life responsibly, and product development. She recently held a contract position as a Project Manager & Engineer as well as an internship position as a Software Engineer.
Chris Peng
(MSSM Part Time '24)
Chris has a bachelor’s degree in Software Engineering from San Jose State University. He has over 4 years of work experience as a Software Engineer at several companies in the San Francisco Bay area.
Yaras Shaikh
(MSSM Part Time '25)
Yaras has a bachelor’s degree in Engineering from The University of Mumbai. He is passionate about creating a fantastic product, exploring applications/benefits of AI, and environmental sustainability. He has most recently worked at Apple as a Product Manager.
Aarathi Nair
(MSSM '24)
Aarathi has a bachelor’s degree in Engineering and Computer Science Engineering from Visvesvaraya Technological University. She is passionate about innovation, technology, and social and large scale impact. She recently worked at Scripbox as an Associate Product Manager.
Jonathan Yap
(MSSM '24)
Jonathan has a bachelor’s degree in Information Systems from the National University of Singapore. He is passionate about making an impact in someone's life, achieving new heights, and learning from mistakes. He has most recently worked at Inland Revenue Authority of Singapore as a Senior Infocomm Specialist.
Tuition & Financial Aid
Tuition Rates: 2024-2025
Program |
Tuition |
MSSM Full-Time (12 months) | $86,154 |
MSSM Full-Time (16 months) |
$88,547* 3 Academic Terms: $82,050 Summer 2025 Term: $2,393 |
MSSM Part-Time | $598 per unit |
*Estimated tuition for the Fall 2025 semester. The official rate for the 2025-2026 academic year will be released in Spring 2025.
For more information, visit CMU's Student Financial Services' website.
Financial Aid Information
As self-funded master's programs, all enrolled students or their employers are responsible for paying full tuition and expenses. For more on tuition and other fees assessed by the university, please visit CMU's HUB website.
We encourage prospective students to independently seek outside scholarships and grants, including through the following resources here at Carnegie Mellon University:
- The Student Financial Services' page on the Graduate Financial Aid Process
- The Office of Graduate and Postdoctoral Affairs page on Financial Assistance
- The College of Engineering's section on Financial Support, which includes details on how to find external funding
- The Fellowships and Scholarships Office's page for International & Non-US Citizens Student Resources, for funding opportunities both at CMU and by other organizations
- The iii DEI Scholarships & Funding document
Please note that because of the professional and practical nature of our programs, CMUiii does not offer teaching or research assistantships.
Your Admissions Toolkit
Ready to apply?
Please carefully review the admissions deadlines and requirements.
Step 1: Create an Online Account
To get started, create an account in our online application system via Carnegie Mellon's College of Engineering. Once you've created your account, the system will email you a PIN. This PIN, along with your password, allows you to save your application over several sessions. You can also log into to monitor the status of your application and view your admissions decision.
In the system, you will be prompted to pay a non-refundable fee of $75 by either credit card or debit card.
Step 2: Upload Your Resume/CV
MSSM degree applications are required to upload their most recent professional resume or curriculum vitae.
Step 3: Upload Letters of Recommendation
Your three references can be professional and/or academic. Each reference will automatically be emailed a link to submit a letter of recommendation directly to our online system.
Step 4: Complete Short Essay Responses
Step 5: Complete Video Essay
The video platform gives our admissions committee the opportunity to learn more about you beyond the written materials you have provided. You must answer one question; the questions are randomized and not something you should prepare for.
Step 6: Upload Unofficial Transcripts
Unofficial transcripts are sufficient to render an admission decision. The average GPA of our accepted applicants is 3.5 on a 4.0 scale. Official transcripts will be requested upon enrollment, which may be submitted in the following ways:
-
Mailing directly to the Integrated Innovation Institute's Pittsburgh address.
-
Sending electronically via an official parchment service (e.g. Parchment.com). When using these services, please send them to admissions-iii@cmu.edu.
-
Via a credential evaluation service - Required for certain transcripts.
Step 7: Add Your TOEFL/IELTS/DuoLingo Score
All international and United States permanent resident applicants must take an English language proficiency exam. This is required as a component in determining academic success in the program and to support visa applications for admitted students studying on an F1 visa. The scores must be received by the application deadline for the semester in which students are applying. An English language proficiency test is not required if the applicant will have graduated from a US university by the time of enrollment or if the applicant is a CMU student or alum. It is also not required for applicants with United Kingdom, Canadian, or Australian citizenship. The following forms of English language proficiency assessments are accepted:
TOEFL – minimum score 95 with no sub-score below a 23
Institution Code: 2074
Department Code: 99 (Other)
IELTS – minimum score of 6.5
We accept electronic IELTS scores only, using the physical address to confirm the right college/department.
Please contact your IELTS testing center and request that your scores be sent to:
Carnegie Mellon University College of Engineering
431 Hamerschlag Drive
ANSYS Hall Suite 250
Pittsburgh, PA 15213
United States
Duolingo English Test – minimum score of 105
Select "CMU – College of Engineering"
Step 8: Upload GRE/GMAT Scores (Optional)
GRE or GMAT: The GRE/GMAT is optional for CMUiii applications. For those who have not taken the GRE, the weight of components considered in the review process will be redistributed among all submitted materials.
In short - YES, the GRE is really optional. If you have taken the GRE, you are encouraged to add strong scores to support your application. The average scores of our accepted applicants for the GRE are Quantitative: 159, Verbal: 155, and Analytical Writing: 3.5. The average score for GMAT is 600.
Please send your scores directly from ETS or GMAT using the following codes:
GRE
Institution Code: 2074
Department Code: 1699 (Engineering – Other)
GMAT
You can only send iii: GMAT scores by mail. Send directly to Integrated Innovation Institute's Pittsburgh address. When sending, use the following code: 69H-J7-56.
How To Check Your Status
To check the status of your online application, please log in to your account on our online application system. You may also email us at admissions-iii@cmu.edu for more information.
Admissions decisions will be posted, and you will be notified by email as soon as the committee concludes its review; typically 4-6 weeks after the close of the application deadline.
Stories from MSSM
Garima Sinha (MSSM '13) shares how the program curriculum taught her to assess and solve wicked problems and manage people, skills she frequently uses in her career as a Product Manager.
Lloyd D'Silva (MSSM '15) shares why being in Silicon Valley was key to his graduate experience and how the curriculum's blend of technical and product skills strengthened his already strong technical background.
Amy Krishnamohan (MSSM '14) shares how the MSSM degree gave her a deep understanding of technology, an integral part of succeeding in the competitive environment of marketing in Silicon Valley.