Carnegie Mellon University

Curriculum and Courses

College of Engineering  ›  Information Networking Institute  ›  Academics  ›  Curriculum and Course Lists

Through flexible, interdisciplinary curricula and study options, INI students can customize their program experience to fit their career aspirations.

All INI degree programs allow you to: 

  • Gain foundational knowledge through core courses in Systems, Networking, and Business and Policy, along with degree-specific core courses. 
  • Expand and personalize your education with electives from departments and colleges across the university, such as INI, Electrical & Computer Engineering (ECE), School of Computer Science (SCS), Engineering & Public Policy (EPP), Entertainment Technology Center (ETC) or Integrated Innovation Institute (III), and/or approved courses in the Heinz College or Tepper School.
Elective examples: Cloud Computing, Machine Learning, Ethical Penetration Testing
  • Select a study option that best suits your needs and goals: Join us for our 3-semester Standard or Applied study options OR select the 4-semester Advanced or Applied Advanced study options. Advanced students will focus in depth on either a research thesis, development-based project or area of concentration. Applied students will be required to secure and complete a relevant internship.

Course Search and Descriptions

Visit the Schedule of Classes (SOC) to see course, title, meeting time, classroom and instructor information for a given semester.

Specialized Pathways

Degree Programs

Explore the curriculum* for each of the INI's degree programs

*The curricula below are organized by program cohort, which is determined by the academic year (AY) in which students start their INI program. For example, prospective students starting in AY 2023-2024 will be in the MS35 cohort and will follow the MS35 curriculum for their program. 

M.S. in Information Networking (MSIN)


M.S. in Information Security (MSIS)



M.S. in Artificial Intelligence Engineering - Information Security (MSAIE-IS)



M.S. in Information Technology-Information Security (MSIT-IS)


M.S. in Mobile & IoT Engineering (MSMITE)


Study Options

Choose from one of two study options within your INI degree 

Standard

  • 3 semesters

Applied

  • 3 semesters

  • Required Internship

Advanced

  • 4 semesters

Applied Advanced

  • 4 semesters

  • Required Internship

Breakdown of degree requirements by study option:

Note that the Applied and Applied Advanced study options are only available to INI students beginning in the Fall 2027 semester and later. For more information, see the Applied page.


Study Option

MSIN & MSIS

MSIT-IS & MSMITE

MSAIE-IS (MS36)

MSAIE-IS (MS37 & MS38)

MSAIE-IS (MS39)
Standard
[123 Units]

3 Semesters
  • Core [75]
  • Electives [48]
  • Core [75 Units]
  • Electives [24]
  • Practicum [24]'
  • Core [96]
  • Electives [24]
  • Core [105]
  • Electives [18]
  • Core [105]
  • Electives [18]

Applied
[126 Units]

3 Semesters
For Fall 2027 starts and later
  • Core [75]
  • Electives [48]
  • Internship [3]
  • Core [75]
  • Electives [24]
  • Practicum [24]
  • Internship [3]
 N/A N/A
  • Core [105]
  • Electives [18]
  • Internship [3]
Advanced*°
[159 Units]

4 Semesters
  • Core [75]
  • Electives [48]
  • Research Thesis or Development-Based Project or Area of Concentration [36]
  • Core [75]
  • Electives [24]
  • Practicum [24]
  • Research Thesis or Area of Concentration [36]
  • Core [96]
  • Electives [24]
  • Research Thesis or Development-Based Project or Area of Concentration [36]
  • Core [105]
  • Electives [18]
  • Research Thesis or Development-Based Project or Area of Concentration [36]
  • Core [105]
  • Electives [18]
  • Research Thesis or Development-Based Project or Area of Concentration [36]

Applied Advanced studies
[162 Units]

4 Semesters
For Fall 2027 starts and later
  • Core [75]
  • Electives [48]
  • Research Thesis or Development-Based Project [36]
  • Internship [3]
  • Core [75]
  • Electives [24]
  • Practicum [24]
  • Research Thesis or Area of Concentration [36]
  • Internship [3]
 N/A N/A
  • Core [105]
  • Electives [18]
  • Research Thesis or Development-Based Project [36]
  • Internship [3]

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

Internship as elective: An internship as an elective is allowed in the Standard or Advanced study options for domestic and pre-completion OPT eligible international students. Please pay attention to this detail if you are interested in an internship to select the right start term and/or study option. If you choose to complete an internship as an elective, you will be required to register for a three-unit internship course as an elective and pay additional tuition.

  • Students who start in Fall: International students in a Standard or Advanced study option may be eligible for pre-completion OPT eligible in their first summer and may add an internship towards elective.
  • Students who start in Spring: International students in a Standard study option are not eligible for pre-completion eligible in their first summer. International students in an Advanced study option may be pre-completion OPT eligible in their second summer and can add an internship towards elective.

Degree-Specific Core & Restricted Electives Course Lists

Please note: Course numbers and titles may change. If you notice such changes, please notify the INI Academic and Student Services Team (ini-academic@andrew.cmu.edu) prior to enrolling in those courses.

MSIN

Download the PDF for a list of MSIN degree-specific core courses.

MSIS 

Download the PDF for a list of MSIS degree-specific core courses.

MSAIE-IS

Download the PDF for a list of MSAIE-IS degree-specific core courses.

MSIT-IS

Download the PDF for a list of the MSIT-IS restricted elective courses.

MSMITE

Download the PDF for a list of the MSMITE restricted elective courses.

OVERLAPPING AND COURSE SEQUENCING LIST

Download the PDF for a list of courses with overlapping content.

Download the PDF course sequence list.

If you are uncertain whether the courses you plan to take for degree requirements contain overlapping material, it is your responsibility to check with your faculty advisor and get clarification prior to enrolling.

Heinz Courses for Electives

Download the PDF for a list of Heinz College courses vetted and approved by INI faculty as accepted for INI program requirements.