Carnegie Mellon University

We're excited to announce new study options to support your flexible pathway at the INI. 

All students starting an INI degree program in Spring 2021 and beyond will select one of these new study options. Current Fall 2020 MS32 students may choose to opt into one of these study options or remain in their current degree program.

The study options are four new options within each of the four INI degree programs: M.S. in Information Networking, M.S. in Information Security, M.S. in Information Technology-Information Security and M.S. in Mobile and IoT Engineering.

Key Highlights

  • New study options afford students more flexibility to design a graduate experience that best suits their needs and goals
  • Complete your INI degree program in either three or four semesters, depending on your individual preferences 
  • Choose a study option with or without a required internship 

Curriculum Overview


NEW STUDY OPTIONS

BREAKDOWN OF UNITS

MSIN & MSIS

MSIT-IS & MSMITE

Standard
[123 Units]
3 Semesters No Internship
  • Core [72 Units]
  • Electives [48 Units]
  • APD 1 [3 Units]
  • Core [72 Units]
  • Electives [24 Units]
  • Practicum [24 Units]
  • APD 1 [3 Units]
Applied
[129 Units]
3 Semesters Required Internship 
  • Core [72 Units]
  • Electives [48 Units]
  • Internship [3 Units]
  • APD 1 [3 Units]
  • APD 2 [3 Units]
  • Core [72 Units]
  • Electives [24 Units]
  • Practicum [24 Units]
  • Internship [3 Units]
  • APD 1 [3 Units]
  • APD 2 [3 Units]
Advanced Studies*
[159 Units]
4 Semesters

No Internship

 

  • Core [72 Units]
  • Electives [48 Units]
  • Advanced Studies [36 Units] - Research Thesis or Development-Based Project
  • APD 1 [3 Units]
  • Core [72 Units]
  • Electives [24 Units]
  • Practicum [24 Units]
  • Advanced Studies [36 Units] - Research Thesis or Area of Concentration
  • APD 1 [3 Units]
Applied Advanced Studies* [165 Units] 4 Semesters Required Internship 
  • Core [72 Units]
  • Electives [48 Units]
  • Advanced Studies [36 Units] - Research Thesis or Development-Based Project
  • Internship [3 Units]
  • APD 1 [3 Units]
  • APD 2 [3 Units]
  • Core [72 Units]
  • Electives [24 Units]
  • Practicum [24 Units]
  • Advanced Studies [36 Units] - Research Thesis or Area of Concentration
  • Internship [3 Units]
  • APD 1 [3 Units]
  • APD 2 [3 Units]

*Advanced Studies: Students will focus in depth on either a research thesis, development-based project or area of concentration (depending on their degree).

Please note: depending on your study option, you may have additional requirements. See curriculum pages for more details.

Explore the possibilities

Learn more about how you can customize the curriculum with the new study options:

How to Choose the Best Study Option for You

Internship or No Internship?

Value of the Internship Experience
An internship enables students to gain real-world professional experience in an industry or research setting. Throughout your INI experience, you have access to our dedicated career consultant for personalized coaching and support throughout your internship and job search, including resume reviews, mock interviews and workshops.

REVIEW INTERNSHIP STATISTICS FROM PAST YEARS

If you already have work experience or are sponsored by an organization, and are thus not interested in an internship, you could choose either the Standard (three semester) or Advanced (four semester) study option. 

Three Semesters or Four Semesters?

With an additional semester, you will have more time to focus in depth on a research thesis, development-based project or an area of concentration, in addition to your coursework.

Are you:

  • Looking to build your research skills?
  • Enjoy hands-on projects?
  • Excited by the opportunity to take additional coursework?
  • Considering pursuing a PhD?
  • Seeking a career in government or research and development (R&D)?

Then the four-semester Advanced or Applied Advanced study options may be a great choice for you!  

 

What is Advanced Studies?

Advanced and Applied Advanced Studies Programs

In these four-semester study options, students are able to pursue one of the following, depending on their degree program:

  • Master's Thesis: Delve deeply into a problem and create a novel solution for a research-based project, providing the opportunity to gain significant knowledge and skills in a particular area. (All programs)
  • Development-Based Project: Increase your knowledge and skills by defining an important problem and demonstrating successful possible industry solutions. (MSIN/MSIS only)
  • Area of Concentration: Specialize your skills and gain in-depth knowledge by pursuing a set of courses in a specific area. (MSIT-IS/MSMITE only)

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) 

Fall 2020 MS32 students may opt into one of the four new study options or remain in their current 122-unit, three-semester degree program.

MS31 INI students (who began in Fall 2019 or Spring 2020) will remain in their existing four-semester degree program. 

Students who will begin their INI degree program in Spring 2021 and beyond may select a new study option. 

At this time, we are encouraging all students to express their interest. Then, upon university approval, we will confirm your decision. If you have any questions, contact ini-academic@andrew.cmu.edu. 

No changes will be made in SIO until after university approval and the start of the Spring 2021 semester. For international students, this means there will be no changes to your current I-20 and, if a new I-20 is needed based on your study option selection, we will support you through that process. 

The INI recommends choosing a study option with a required internship to your bolster work experience, skills and connections. If you already have work experience in the U.S. or are in a sponsored program that does not require an internship or working in the U.S., you may choose a study option without an internship. 

Flexibility has always been a key component of an INI degree. With expanded study options, students will have greater opportunity to customize their graduate experience to match their interests and career goals. These updates align our degree programs with peer programs in the College of Engineering.

The ability to study at both the Pittsburgh and Silicon Valley campuses is the heart of our bicoastal programs. For this reason, regardless of your degree program length and where you are studying, all bicoastal students will have the opportunity to study at both campuses.

The timing of the bicoastal cadence (which semesters you will be in Pittsburgh and in Silicon Valley) has been carefully determined for each cohort based on start term and whether you began in person or remotely. To view your location timeline, visit the bicoastal program webpage and select your start term from the dropdown menu.

Regardless of which study option you choose, as an INI student you'll have access to invaluable resources to support your search for internships (if applicable) and full-time opportunities. Based on our analysis of student outcomes, we are confident your career opportunities are the same regardless of which semester you graduate. 

Employers are seeking both full-time and internship candidates during each semester as CMU has numerous master's programs that graduate hundreds of students in both December and May.

Throughout your INI experience, you have access to our dedicated career consultant for one-on-one guidance as you begin your career journey. They can provide personalized coaching and support throughout your internship and job search, including resume reviews, mock interviews, and workshops.

Additionally, Carnegie Mellon welcomes over 300 employers each year and hosts numerous career fairs in both the fall and spring semesters. Each semester offers large, multi-day career fairs as well as smaller more niche industry fairs. 

 

Yes! You can complete the 48 units of the CyFIR Track through an appropriate combination of degree-specific courses and program electives.

If you are interested in the CyFIR track, you should discuss course sequencing with your faculty advisor before registering for classes.

Considerations for International Students 

If you select a new study option that requires a revised I-20, we will notify you and support you through the process of requesting a new I-20 after the Spring 2021 semester begins.

No action is required at this time.

If you wish to use CPT, you should be in a study option with a required internship. CPT has a curricular requirement, meaning it has to be done as a part of your program of study.

You will not need to secure work authorization, but you must follow the INI’s internship approval process as outlined here: https://www.cmu.edu/ini/student-services/enrollment/internship.html 

All INI degree programs are STEM, including the new study options (upon university approval). Students who work after graduation can qualify for the STEM extension under OPT.

Please visit the OIE website frequently for updates, news and additional FAQs for international students: https://www.cmu.edu/oie/news-and-events/index.html.

For Fall 2021 Applicants 

Our admissions criteria has not changed. You can review our Guide to Applying here: https://www.cmu.edu/ini/admissions/guidetoapply.html.