Master of Information Technology Strategy (MITS)
The digital world moves fast. You need to be faster.
The Master of Information Technology Strategy is a cooperative endeavor administered by the Carnegie Mellon Institute for Strategy & Technology and in partnership with the College of Engineering and the School of Computer Science. This program creates leaders in the IT strategy space by allowing you to tailor your degree to an area of interest and teaching you how the puzzle pieces fit together -- both of which make you valuable to employers. The average starting salary for MITS graduates is nearly $120,000.
The program's two tracks provide flexibility, but their brevity -- the longer of the two takes sixteen months to complete -- is well-suited for those who want to quickly advance their professional career. Both tracks involve a required Capstone Project, in which teams of four to six students partner with a company, research center, or organization to help them solve a strategic problem.
The program offers four areas of specialization: Data Analytics, Information Security, Technology Strategy & Governance, and Software and Networked Systems. No matter what you choose, you'll receive a blend of the other three, meaning you will leave Carnegie Mellon with a well-rounded skillset that makes you an attractive target on the job market. MITS is a STEM-designated degree according to the US Department of Homeland Security, meaning international students may apply for a longer period of Optional Practical Training.
Graduates go on to careers as data scientists, software engineers, military cyber operations officers, artificial intelligence and machine learning engineers, and business technology analysts for companies such as Oracle, Microsoft, Barclays, Deloitte, Apple, Google, DoorDash, and Visa.
Multidisciplinary Education
The MITS program provides a multidisciplinary education that prepares students to define and conceptualize:
- the emerging environment of threats caused by cyber operations
- opportunities for enhanced information analysis and exploitation
- development and management of innovative information technology systems
- technological governance strategies
- innovative efficiencies for technical solution implementation
- decision-making challenges associated with the above
Admissions
MITS Admission Requirements:
Strong candidates for the MITS program must demonstrate academic excellence and preparedness for the rigors of the program. Applicants are expected to have taken at least one introductory course in machine learning and analysis of data. Minimum qualifications are evaluated through previously completed coursework, demonstrated ability from completed projects, or equivalent work experience in the following areas:
Programming skills
An ideal candidate can demonstrate proficiency in programming in at least one of the following languages: Python, C, C++, or Java.
Algorithmic and Data Structure Skills
An ideal candidate can demonstrate a deep understanding of algorithms and data structures in order to design, implement, analyze, and optimize procedures and methods used to process and organize data.
Analytical SKILLS
An ideal candidate can demonstrate analytical ability, including topics such as probability, statistics, research methods, and economics.
COLLABORATION SKILLS
An ideal candidate can work effectively with others in leadership, cooperative, or subordinate roles.
MITS Application Materials
Annual Application Deadline: Complete and submit the application form by January 15 (Open application and select Dietrich College of Humanities and Social Sciences. Then select 2025 CMIST Applications)
Application Fee: $75. Please contact Mark Gardner if you would like to request a need-based application fee waiver.
Resume/Curriculum Vitae: Required
Statement of Purpose (500-1000 words): State your purpose in undertaking graduate study in information technology strategy. Include your academic objectives, research interests, and career goals. Also discuss your related qualifications, including collegiate, professional, and community activities, and any other substantial accomplishments not already mentioned on the application, or résumé/curriculum vita.
Academic Transcripts
- We require a minimum 3.0 GPA represented in your undergraduate work. Please explain any gaps in your study, course fails, or retakes in the optional essay.
- International Transcripts: If your undergraduate degree is from an institution that is located outside of the United States, you must use an academic credential verification service to obtain a course-by-course report. The academic credential verification service can then send this course-by-course report directly to CMIST electronically.
- Please do not mail/email your transcript to CMIST. We will only accept transcripts that we receive directly from an academic credential verification service. We will accept evaluations from any NACES member. We recommend using SpanTran or WES as we have previously coordinated with them. Please select to send your evaluations to the Carnegie Mellon Institute for Strategy & Technology or direct electronic delivery to: CMIST-admissions@andrew.cmu.edu.
- Please note: Course-by-course reports must include a U.S. equivalent GPA on a 4.0 scale.
Letters of Recommendation: You are required to have two recommendation forms submitted on your behalf. Recommendations should be provided by employers, supervisors, professors, or others who are able to comment on your professional and educational goals and potential. At least one of your recommenders should be a professor who can attest to your academic abilities. The other should know you in a professional setting (full-time employment, internship, part-time employment, non-academic extracurricular activity, etc.). You may opt to have up to three (3) recommendations submitted in support of your application. Please let your recommenders know in advance that they may upload an electronic document or scanned copy of a paper-based recommendation using the online system rather than using the provided text box response fields, but that they must upload their recommendation via the online system.
English Language Proficiency: Language test scores from TOEFL, IELTS, or DuoLingo are required if your native language is not English. The only exceptions are for students who have worked or studied for five or more years in Australia, Botswana, Canada, Eswatini (formerly Swaziland), Ghana, Ireland, Kenya, Lesotho, Malawi, Namibia, New Zealand, Nigeria, South Africa, Tanzania, Uganda, United Kingdom, United States, and/or Zambia.
Your scores must be submitted directly to Carnegie Mellon University – Carnegie Mellon Institute for Strategy & Technology (TOEFL institution code C583). We verify all exam scores electronically after reported to us by the testing service. Please do not have paper test scores sent to us by mail. If you completed either the TOEFL or IELTS more than two years ago, you MUST take one of the tests again. The testing agency will not verify scores that are more than two years old.
We strongly recommend you include a video essay in your application. An interview may also be requested before final admission decisions can be made.
Written Essay (Optional): If there are any special circumstances you would like the admissions committee to consider, highlight them in the optional essay. Use this essay to include information that you feel is important, but that you are unable to include elsewhere on the application. This would also be the place to address any gaps, fails, course retakes, etc., indicated on your transcript. There is no penalty for leaving this blank.
Video Essay (Optional): You will be given the option in your application to provide a link to a video essay. Video essays are optional but strongly recommended, especially individuals unable to visit campus prior to the application deadline or those who are non-native English speakers. Use the video essay to give us more insight into who you are, your interests, and what you will bring to the program; for example, your interest or experience in a particular concentration, or some courses in the curriculum that you are particularly excited for. Please do not read your statement of purpose. The video and audio must be of you, the applicant (not a proxy).
GRE Test Scores (Optional): Applicants may choose to have their GRE test scores sent to Carnegie Mellon University (institutional code: 2074) to be considered with other required application materials. Providing GRE test scores is completely optional; an applicant who does not provide GRE test scores will receive the same consideration of any other applicant.
Interview: Virtual interviews may be requested by CMIST for applicants in the final round of selection.
Veterans: CMU welcomes applications from veterans and those currently serving in the US Military. The University Registrar's Office provides services to veterans and their dependents who are eligible for Veterans Education Benefits under the Montgomery G.I. Bill, Post-9/11 G.I. Bill.
In addition, CMU participates in the Yellow Ribbon Program for those who are 100% eligible for benefits under the Post-9/11 G.I. Bill. In order to use Veterans Education Benefits, you must be an admitted Carnegie Mellon student (graduate or undergraduate). Veterans Affairs determines the amount of benefits a student can receive; therefore, we cannot estimate benefit amounts. Please contact the VA at 1-888-442-4551 to find out the amount you are eligible to receive.
All information reported on your application is subject to verification. CMIST utilizes several methods to identify plagiarized and falsified content in uploaded documents. Submission of false or plagiarized material as part of the application for admission may result in automatic denial of admission to any degree program.
Curriculum
The MITS program is a full-time, on-campus program. There are two curricular options:
MITS Standard Program (12 months, 126 units total)
MITS Applied Study (16 months, 129 units total)
All Core and Concentration requirements must be completed in the first two semesters of the program. Core courses may be used to fulfill concentration requirements. Due to changing class availability, alternatives to core and concentration area will be considered on a case-by-case basis.
Free electives must be approved and in the MITS genre.
Core Courses (48 units)
Concentrations (24 units)
Elective (12 Units)
Policy Seminar (6 units)
Summer Internship for MITS-Applied Study (3 units)
MITS Curricular Options
Standard
MITS Standard Program (12 months, 126 units total).
All core and concentration courses must be completed by the end of the spring semester. Core courses can be used for concentration course requirements unless otherwise noted.
Fall | Spring | Summer |
Information Security Core Course (12 units) | Software and Networked Systems Core Course (12 units) |
MITS Project (36 units) |
Data Analytics Core Course (12 units) |
Concentration Course (12 units) | |
Technology Strategy & Governance Core Course (12 units) | Concentration Course (12 units) | |
Policy Seminar I (3 units) | Policy Seminar II (3 units) |
Optional Approved elective (6-12 units) |
15-513/11-637 elective or Concentration Course (12 units) | Optional Approved elective (12 units) |
Applied Study
MITS Applied Study (16 months, 129 units total).
All core and concentration courses must be completed by the end of the spring semester. Core courses can be used for concentration course requirements unless otherwise noted.
Fall | Spring | Summer | Fall |
Information Security Core Course (12 units) |
Software and Networked Systems Core Course (12 units) |
Required internship (3 units) |
MITS Project (36 units) |
Data Analytics Core Course (12 units) | Concentration Course (12 units) | ||
Technology Strategy & Governance Core Course (12 units) | Concentration Course (12 units) | ||
Policy Seminar I (3 units) | Policy Seminar II (3 units) | Optional Approved Elective (6-12 units) | |
15-513/11-637 elective or Concentration Course (12 units) |
Optional Approved Elective (12 units) |

Study with the experts who are changing the game in their fields
When you take our Dynamic Network Analysis course, you'll be taking it with Dr. Kathleen Carley. Dr. Carley specializes in network science, agent-based modeling, text-mining, and organizational and social theory framework. In her work, she examines how cognitive, social, and institutional factors come together to impact individual, organizational, and societal outcomes. She uses her expertise to address policy issues including counter-terrorism, human and narcotic trafficking, cyber and nuclear threats, organizational resilience and design, natural disaster preparedness, cyber threat in social media, and leadership.
Capstone Project
The MITS Capstone Project provides students with an opportunity to apply concepts learned in the program’s core and concentration area courses. Projects may be sponsored by industry, academia, or government organizations. While projects may vary in domain and concentration area, they provide MITS students the opportunity to learn by doing.
Jump to:
Past Projects
Sponsor Information
Projects should focus on MITS concentration topic areas and provide an opportunity for students to apply program-specific content and/or practices to address some strategic or policy concern, issue, or challenge. Projects may cut across one or more concentration areas. This provides opportunities for students to work in teams with diverse interests and expertise.
Concentration Areas & Project Topic Guides:
DATA ANALYTICS
This concentration focuses on the mastery of techniques such as: machine learning, social network analysis, large-scale data reduction and filtering, and the application of these techniques to the development of strategies to advance the organizational mission.
Data Analytics projects should broadly focus on:
- Collection of data in some organizational context.
- Analysis of data and identification of trends in the data.
- Strategic analysis utilizing data and trends to explore alternative strategies, identify future strategic direction, evaluate the fitness of existing strategies, and so forth.
TECHNOLOGY STRATEGY & GOVERNANCE
This concentration focuses on developing an understanding of the impact of emerging technologies on international and national security, strategic decision-making, governance, and policy development.
Technology Strategy & Governance projects should broadly focus on:
- Analysis of micro/macro socio-political-organizational policies and strategies with the intent to understand the history, current circumstances, and consequences of existing policies and strategies.
- Determine and evaluate the future impact and socio-political-organizational consequences of existing or proposed policies and strategies.
- Proposing alternative policies and strategies and providing an analysis of their socio-political-organizational impact.
INFORMATION SECURITY
This concentration focuses on developing an understanding of cyber-attacks and equipping students to address the threats and consequences of cyber-attacks through sound information security strategies and policies.
Information Security projects should broadly focus on:
- Evaluation of security policies, practices, and technologies.
- Threat analysis of organizational application and data assets.
- Formulation of strategies to address current and emerging threats to data and application security within the organization/enterprise to include: proposing alternative strategies, strategic direction, evaluate the fitness of existing strategies and technology suites, and so forth.
SOFTWARE AND NETWORKED SYSTEMS
This concentration focuses on developing an understanding of systems and software comprising organizational information infrastructure assets to better manage their design, development, and procurement of systems and service, through sound strategies and policies.
Software and Networked Systems projects should broadly focus on:
- Current network systems and software technology trends and the various ecosystems prevalent today.
- Risks and challenges associated with managing, designing, developing, and procuring systems hardware, software, and infrastructures.
- The role systems and software have in the strategies utilized to support and advance an organization’s business goals and/or mission objectives.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Q: What are the benefits of sponsoring a MITS Capstone project?
Q: What does it mean to “sponsor” a project?
Q: What responsibilities come along with sponsoring a MITS capstone project?
Q: What happens to any IP created for the MITS capstone project?
Q: What kind of organizations are eligible to propose a project?
Tuition and Financial Aid
Tuition and fees are updated annually in the spring semester. Please visit the CMU Graduate Tuition website for more details.
Information on graduate financial aid is available through CMU Student Financial Services. Applications are accepted year-round, but the preferred deadline for financial aid applications is February 15th.