A blue screen filled with computer programming code

Software Engineering

Program Overview
Admissions Requirements
Courses
Tuition & Aid

Interested in taking your software engineering skills to the next level? You’re in the right place. Our program encompasses all the critical aspects of this field — architecture, design planning, testing and management. You will learn these skills from leaders in the field. They will equip you with a strong foundation of current methodologies and emerging technologies. You will apply these findings to real-world problems in your hands-on practicum project. You will develop into an elite professional holding presentation and communication skills within a software development environment. You will soon be a coveted expert in the field.

Program Foundations

The curriculum encompasses all important aspects of software engineering, including architecture, design planning, testing and management.

The ideal student has a passion for software development and embraces the challenges of in-depth software design
Faculty members are leaders in their fields and bring a wealth of real-world experience to the classroom
Night classes, with 30-hour coursework including a six hour practicum project, are all delivered in as little as 18 months
A rich, face-to-face experience, allowing students to learn from, support and network with faculty and peers

Concentrations

Capstone Projects

Admissions Requirements

Eligible students should meet one of the following requirements:

Hold an advanced degree (master’s or doctorate) in a relevant area
Hold a bachelor’s degree in a relevant area of study, with five years of related work experience
Hold a bachelor’s degree in a relevant area of study and submit GRE scores with application

If you meet one of the above requirements, you may begin the admissions process. Each applicant must complete the following:

Application with a $50 nonrefundable fee
Official transcripts (Must have an undergraduate degree with at least a 3.0 or better for full admission)
GRE test scores
Two references: one professional and one academic
Personal statement: The College of Computing and Technology wants to know (1) your personal and career goals and (2) how the graduate program will contribute to the achievement of your goals via the personal statement form.
On-campus interview

Courses

Software Engineering, M.S.

Core Courses (18 hours):

MSSE 5023 Perspectives on Software Engineering: Requirements Engineering and Modeling
MSSE 5043 Software Architecture and Design
MSSE 5123 Database Modeling and Design
MSSE 5203 Software Quality Assurance and Testing
MSSE 5423 Software Project Planning and Management
MSSE 6113 Software Engineering Practicum

Concentration Courses (12 hours):

Data Science:

MSDS 5013 - Principles of Data Science
MSDS 5043 - Principles of Statistical Analysis and Decision Modeling
MSDS 5163 - Data Mining and Analysis
MSDS 5053 - Research Methods

Information Technology Management:

MITM 5003 - Introduction to Information Technology Management
MITM 5013 - Telecommunications Network Management
MITM 5023 - Data and Knowledge Management
MITM 5203 - IT Project Management

Information Security:

ISEC 5223 - Business Continuity and Disaster Recovery Planning
ISEC 5113 - Introduction to Information Security
ISEC 5193 - Systems & Application Security and Planning
ISEC 5123 - Risk Assessment & Mitigation Planning

Software Engineering, Certificate

Required Courses:

MSSE 5023 - Perspectives on Software Engineering: Requirements Engineering and Modeling
MSSE 5033 - Object-Oriented Analysis and Design
MSSE 5043 - Software Architecture and Design
MSSE 5113 - Agile Software Development
MSSE 5123 - Database Modeling and Design
MSSE 5423 - Software Project Planning and Management
MSSE 5203 - Software Quality Assurance and Testing

Tuition & Aid

Tuition and fees for the MSSE program are as follows:

30-hour program / $1,288 per credit hour (all classes are 3 hours)
Course materials and fees included in tuition
Tuition adjustments occur each May

Types of Aid

Assistantships and Scholarships

Student Loans

As a graduate student, you are still able to file the FAFSA—and you should! By filing the FAFSA (Free Application for Federal Student Aid), you may be eligible for a number of student loans.

Federal Stafford Loan

A borrower must be enrolled or accepted for enrollment for at least six semester hours and must be working toward a degree or certificate. Loans must be actively accepted in myLipscomb in order to be applied as an expected payment to the student bill. Stafford Loans will not pay until the student has completed both Entrance Counseling and the Master Promissory Note at studentloans.gov. Loans will not be credited to accounts until 30 days after classes begin or when a student begins the sixth credit hour, whichever comes last.

Graduate PLUS Loan

The Graduate PLUS Loan is available to independent graduate students. Both loans require credit approval by the Department of Education, as well as a FAFSA submission. Apply.

Private Loans

In addition to the federal loans outlined here, you may consider private loans made by banks and other financial institutions. It is recommended that private loans only be considered in instances where funding is needed in addition to any federal loans, as interest rates may be higher. Eligibility for these loans requires a credit check and students are often required to have a cosigner to qualify.

Veteran Aid/Yellow Ribbon Program

Through an agreement with the United States Department of Veteran Affairs, Lipscomb University will guarantee some level of graduate tuition funding, applicable to all Lipscomb University graduate programs, for graduate students who qualify for the Yellow Ribbon Program. Depending on program tuition rates, the graduate tuition funding may or may not cover the total tuition cost of the program.

The Yellow Ribbon Education Enhancement Program (Yellow Ribbon Program) is a provision of the Post- 9/11 Veterans Educational Assistance Act of 2008. This program allows institutions of higher learning in the United States to voluntarily enter into an agreement with VA to fund tuition expenses. View eligibility requirements.

Any questions concerning eligibility or benefits should be directed to the VA school-certifying official located in the lower level of Bennett Campus Center, Suite 140, or visit their website.

Contact Information

Graduate and Adult Admissions

Chuck Kincade
Director of Graduate Enrollment, Computing & Technology

chuck.kincade@lipscomb.edu

Networking

Both our deeply connected faculty and our experiential learning opportunities offer myriad ways for you to form relationships with leaders in the industry. These connections will serve and support you throughout your career.

Nashville

A big city. An even bigger opportunity. We consider Nashville an extension of our classroom, and as a leading city in many industries, that means you’ll gain experience and insight you won’t find anywhere else.

Small Class Sizes

You’ll have opportunities to engage in meaningful discussion, receive one-on-one faculty mentorship and ask difficult questions in our small class sizes. Plus, you’ll feel supported in a tight-knit learning community.

Our Faculty

Bryan Crawley

Associate Professor of Computer Science

Bryan Crawley brings to Lipscomb more than 35 years of experience as a software professional. In addition to serving 29 years as a computer science professor, he has worked as...
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Chris Simmons

Associate Professor

Chris Simmons is an Assistant Professor in the College of Computing and Technology. He obtained his Bachelor's degree from Tennessee State University, followed by a Master's degree in Information Technology...
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Dwayne Towell

Associate Professor of Computer Science

Dwayne Towell received his Ph.D. in Computer Science from Texas Tech University in 2007, and a masters degree in Software Engineering from Texas Tech University in 2004. He has designed,...
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Career Paths

Software Developers

Software developers are the creative minds behind computer programs. Some develop the applications that allow people to do specific tasks on a computer or another device. Others develop the underlying systems that run the devices or that control networks.

Biomedical Engineers

Biomedical engineers combine engineering principles with medical sciences to design and create equipment, devices, computer systems, and software used in healthcare.

Computer Programmers

Computer programmers write and test code that allows computer applications and software programs to function properly. They turn the program designs created by software developers and engineers into instructions that a computer can follow.