As worldwide dependence on software grows, the demand for informed and experienced managers grows. Carnegie Mellon University is responding to this need by introducing the Master of Science in Information Technology, Software Engineering Management (MSIT-SEM) degree. A collaborative effort from Carnegie Mellon's School Heinz School, School of Computer Science, and the Software Engineering Institute (SEI), the new degree program offers a multi-disciplinary view of software engineering that can give managers a unique edge in today's complex marketplace.

The MSIT-SEM degree is a competitive credential that will equip managers for leadership positions within their organizations. The degree couples graduate studies from the School of Computer Science and Heinz School with the professional courses in software process management offered by the SEI, which lead to one or more SEI certificates in Software Engineering Process Management.

"This degree program is different from other MSIT programs because of the integration of SEI-specific courses into the required curriculum," according to Paul Nielson, director and CEO of the SEI.

Students who enroll in the MSIT-SEM degree program complete core and elective courses in computer science, business, and management, as well as professional training from the Software Engineering Institute and a practicum component that provides hands-on learning. The practicum is a key component to this degree program, says Mark Wessel, Dean of Carnegie Mellon's Heinz School. "These projects are for real clients in real organizations. Practicums require the students to apply what they've learned in class—there is no substitute for this experience."

Carnegie Mellon will accept the first class of candidates for the MSIT-SEM degree in 2008. Applicants must hold a bachelor's degree and have at least five years of work experience in a management position or in an information technology/software development position. 

Information Systems Management Program Launches New Web Presence

Andrew Wasser, Associate Dean, Carnegie Mellon, has problems that most academic leaders would covet. Employers want more of his Masters of Information Systems Management (ISM) graduates, so much so that salaries have spiked by 36% in the last two years, and corporations are clamoring for more exposure to ISM students.

As demand grows at the employment end of the funnel, the applicant pool has expanded, as early and mid-career professionals see the need for a broader set of business and technology tools and skills to advance up the management ladder.

The program received a 50% increase in applications since 2005. Average GRE and GMAT scores for students rose from year prior.

So, why in the midst of such plenty would Wasser concern himself with re-launching the Information Systems Management program’s web presence? “We see the web as more than a recruitment tool,” says Wasser. “We hope to educate prospective students and employers about our distinct approach of combining information technology excellence with best business practices.”

“We aim to graduate true business technologists,” adds Wasser. “The market demands multi-faceted problem solvers, and people comfortable moving within and across all aspects of an enterprise.”

Looking at student placement data, something clearly is working. Some 80% of Carnegie Mellon’s information system management graduates receive multiple job offers before graduation. The information system management program’s recruiter roster reads like a who’s who of finance, consulting and technology: Deloitte, Citigroup, PWC, Ernst & Young, Goldman Sachs, IBM Global Services, Google, and Lehman Brothers. Nearly half of information system management graduates accepted positions on the East Coast and Mid-Atlantic region.

Distance Program

One of the fastest growing components of the Carnegie Mellon’s Information Systems Management offering is the Distance Program. Working professionals can obtain a Master of Science in Information Technology (MSIT) a, part-time graduate degree, without having to abandon their current job or relocate.

Carnegie Mellon’s “anytime, anywhere” distance education model delivers access to the same information systems management courses and faculty available on campus using state-of-the-art Web and multimedia DVDs. This delivery mechanism ensures all MSIT students receive the same high-quality education whether they take classes on campus or through our virtual campus.

Information Security Policy and Management

Another growing component is the Masters of Science in Information Security Policy and Management (MSISPM). This degree draws on the information systems management assets of Carnegie Mellon as well as our close ties to Carnegie Mellon’s Software Engineering Institute's CERT Coordination Center®.

Carnegie Mellon is designated as a National Center of Academic Excellence in Information Assurance Education (CAEIAE), CMU meets and exceeds the highest standards of Information Assurance Education.

CIO Institute's Executive Education Senior managers poised to take the lead of technical enterprises can find a capstone experience in Carnegie Mellon's Federal CIO Certificate program. The program, administered in four-day sessions at Carnegie Mellon's Arlington, VA facility, consists of eight courses that can be completed in as little as one year.

For further information on Masters of Information Systems Management Program, Online Masters of Information Technology Program, Part-Time Masters of Information Technology Program, Masters in Information Security & Policy Management, and CIO Executive Education Programs, visit ism.cmu.edu.