Admissions

Admission Requirements

MSSE is a graduate program designed for everyone who is interested in gaining a deeper understanding and practice in software engineering. 

All candidates must meet specific criteria to be considered for admission:

  • Applicants must have some professional work experience in software development, especially if a student has not completed a Computer Science (or related major) undergraduate degree. The work experience can be related to an internship.
  • B.S. or B.A. degree in computer science or related field (mathematics, electrical engineering). Students with degrees in fields not closely related to computer science may qualify with substantial relevant work experience.
  • Preferred undergraduate GPA of 3.0. Lower GPAs will be considered with substantial relevant work experience.
  • Admitted applicants are responsible for proving or obtaining health insurance and covering applicable international student fees assessed by the University.
  • Early application is strongly encouraged.


Applicants should provide the following materials:

  • Two (2) letters of recommendation. One letter should be from someone at your company in your management line or who is familiar with your work experience and performance. The second may be from a current or former professor or another professional colleague. Those writing your recommendation letters will submit the letters through the Graduate School Application. Letters should not be sent directly to the program.
  • A personal statement that outlines your experience in the field, your career goals, and discusses why you are interested in pursuing the MSSE degree at the University of Minnesota
  • All official transcripts
  • A current resume
  • International students:
    • Proof of English language proficiency (Refer to the Graduate School for more information). ). A higher than minimum score is highly encouraged. This is to ensure that program admits have the best student experience, as much of the MSSE coursework is collaborative and project-related. If you do not have a higher ELP score than the minimum suggested, you are still welcome to apply, however, we may ask to schedule an interview with you prior to making an application decision.
    •  An appropriate legal status that allows full-time graduate study in the US - this program is intended for SE professionals able to attend weekly classes in the Twin Cities campus.