MS Software Engineering (Data Science) at Arizona State University

Programme overview

The Master of Science program in software engineering with a concentration in data science equips you with advanced knowledge and skills in designing and developing intelligent, data-driven software systems. This specialized concentration integrates data science techniques with software engineering principles, enabling you to build robust, scalable applications that incorporate machine learning and data analytics.

What you will study

30 credit hours and a thesis, or 30 credit hours including the required capstone course (SER 517) Required Core (9 credit hours) SER 501 Advanced Data Structures and Algorithms (3) SER 502 Emerging Languages and Programming Paradigms (3) SER 515 Foundations of Software Engineering (3) Concentration (9 credit hours) SER 541 Data Science for Software Engineers (3) Students select one of the following courses: CSE 511 Data Processing at Scale (3) CSE 512 Distributed Database Systems (3) CSE 543 Information Assurance and Security (3) CSE 578 Data Visualization (3) DSE 501 Statistics for Data Analysts (3) SER 531 Semantic Web Engineering (3) SER 533 Database-centric Enterprise Applications Development (3) Students select one of the following courses: CSE 569 Fundamentals of Statistical Learning and Pattern Recognition (3) CSE 572 Data Mining (3) CSE 575 Statistical Machine Learning (3) IEE 520 Statistical Learning for Data Mining (3) IEE 578 Regression Analysis (3) Restricted Electives (6 credit hours) CSE 545 Software Security (3) CSE 546 Cloud Computing (3) CSE 563 Software Requirements and Specifications (3) CSE 564 Software Design (3) CSE 565 Software Verification, Validation and Testing (3) CSE 566 Software Project, Process and Quality Management (3) SER 516 Software Agility (3) SER 574 Advanced Software Design (3) Electives (0 or 3 credit hours) Culminating Experience (3 or 6 credit hours) SER 517 Software Factory Capstone (3) SER 599 Thesis (6) Additional Curriculum Information Concentration coursework and restricted electives should be selected in consultation with the program advisor.

Career pathways

Graduates have a wide range of career opportunities across industries that leverage intelligent, data-driven software solutions. Graduates can find roles in technology firms, financial services, health care, retail, autonomous systems, cybersecurity and more. Career examples: AI software developer, big data software engineer, business intelligence engineer, cloud and DevOps engineer, data-driven software architect, data engineer, full-stack data science developer, machine learning engineer.

Official programme page

Application information

Entry requirements

Applicants must fulfill the requirements of both the Graduate College and the Ira A. Fulton Schools of Engineering. Applicants are eligible to apply to the program if they have earned a bachelor's or master's degree in computing science engineering, data science engineering, industrial engineering, software engineering or a related field from a regionally accredited institution. Applicants must have a minimum cumulative GPA of 3.00 (scale is 4.00 = ''A'') in the last 60 hours of their first bachelor's degree program or a minimum cumulative GPA of 3.00 (scale is 4.00 = ''A'') in an applicable master's degree program.

Domestic applicants: USD 13,327 a year (2026-27). Arizona resident tuition. Tuition only for the graduate on-campus (Tempe/Downtown Phoenix/Polytechnic/West Valley) rate band in the ASU tuition estimator, 2026-27: Fall 2026 plus Spring 2027 term tuition summed (full-time flat rate; part-time credit loads Source

International applicants: USD 24,780 a year (2026-27). International tuition. Tuition only for the graduate on-campus (Tempe/Downtown Phoenix/Polytechnic/West Valley) rate band in the ASU tuition estimator, 2026-27: Fall 2026 plus Spring 2027 term tuition summed (full-time flat rate; part-time credit loads ar Source

Entry terms: Fall, Spring and Summer; the terms available for each programme are listed in Degree Search.

Graduate application deadlines are set by each programme office and listed in Degree Search; the application opens almost a year before the start term. The nonrefundable application fee is $75 for U.S. citizens, permanent residents, DACA and international online students outside the U.S., and $120 for international students on a nonimmigrant visa studying in the U.S. Apply with ASU's graduate application (Law applicants use the law college's site); GRE/GMAT requirements vary by programme.

Apply through the official page: https://admission.asu.edu/apply/graduate/admission

Explore more study programmes

STEM