Integrated Master's Programs

Carnegie Mellon SCS and ECE students, you may have the option to add a fifth year to a customized undergraduate curriculum leading to Master of Science in Information Networking (MSIN) or Master of Science in Information Security Technology Management (MSISTM).

Starting in Fall 2009, the INI will offer "integrated master's" programs that extend the opportunity for Carnegie Mellon students in the School of Computer Science and Electrical and Computer Engineering to complete a graduate degree (that would typically take 16-20 months) within 12 months after their undergraduate curriculum is complete.

Differences from the Traditional INI Programs

The differences from the traditional MSIN and MSISTM lie within 36 units that the INI waives for the integrated master's programs, based upon you successfully completing identical or equivalent classes as an undergraduate.

For the Integrated MSIN, 24 units of Networking & Systems core courses are waived, based on successful completion of 15-410 Operating System Design and Implementation and 18-756 Packet Switching and Computer Networks at the undergraduate level, and 12 units of restricted elective courses are waived, based on the successful completion of 15-410 Operating System Design and Implementation and 18-342 Fundamentals of Embedded Systems at the undergraduate level. (Note: 18-348 Embedded System Engineering and 18-349 Embedded Real-Time Systems will be accepted as equivalents for 18-342.)

For the Integrated MSISTM, 24 units of Networking & Systems core courses are waived, based on successful completion of 15-410 Operating System Design and Implementation and 15-441 Computer Networks at the undergraduate level (or 18-345 Introduction to Telecommunication Networks, which is the undergraduate equivalent of 14-740 Fundamentals of Telecommunications Networks). Also, 12 units of Security core courses are waived, based on successful completion of 18-730 Introduction to Computer Security at the undergraduate level.

Curriculum Overview

For both integrated master's programs, the graduate course requirements total 123 units, made up of core courses, restricted electives, seminar and curriculum option.

The curriculum option is a choice of thesis, project, supervised practicum, or selected additional courses.

If the curriculum option is a thesis, project or a supervised practicum, the number of course units to be taken is 87, which can be done in two semesters. The thesis, project, or supervised practicum would be done either in the summer immediately preceding the fifth year (Y5), or during the summer immediately following Y5, at the discretion of the student.

Students interested in doing 36 units of extra coursework as a curriculum option would be advised to take an extra 24 units of graduate-level electives prior to Y5.

At least 99 out of the 123 units required for the MSIN and MSISTM must be taken while the student is in graduate standing. These 99 units must include all core courses, the seminar, and the curriculum option.

More Details

Integrated MSIN: Curriculum and Example Course Plans >> Admissions Requirements >> Apply

Integrated MSISTM: Curriculum and Example Course Plans >> Admissions Requirements >> Apply