Master's Programs

SCS offers a wide range of professional and academic master's programs across its seven departments. Admissions and requirements vary by program and are determined by the program's home department.

Links to all departments and master's programs appear below. Additionally, our Master's Programs Comparison Data includes statistics, facts and other information for each program.

If you're interested in applying, be sure to visit our Graduate Admissions Overview page or read our Frequently Asked Questions.

All Master's Programs by Department

Ray and Stephanie Lane Computational Biology Department

Master of Science in Automated Science: Biological Experimentation

The M.S. in Automated Science program is the first of its kind and provides training for students to play roles in the development of highly automated systems for doing science. It provides training in the principles and hands-on use of robotic laboratory equipment, the fundamental computational biological methods for constructing predictive models in biology and medicine, and the methods of active machine learning and AI for automatically and iteratively choosing experiments to achieve a given goal. The program is designed for a diverse applicant pool and will be especially valuable to students with undergraduate degrees in biology seeking to gain advanced computational skills for jobs in the laboratory automation industry. Opportunities also exist for successful graduates to transition to Ph.D. programs.

Master of Science in Computational Biology

The M.S. in Computational Biology program seeks to train the world's best computational biologists at the master's level. The curriculum provides both breadth and depth of training in computational biology, and is built on a solid foundation of biology, computer science, statistics and machine learning (data sciences). The program is designed for students with backgrounds in quantitative and/or life sciences. Students often participate in summer research internships in life sciences, industry or academic research laboratories. MSCB graduates are prepared for rewarding jobs in industry or to pursue their doctoral degrees at top universities.

Computer Science Department

Fifth Year Master's in Computer Science

The Fifth Year Master's in Computer Science is a direct master's program for students receiving a bachelor of computer science from Carnegie Mellon. The purpose and goal of the program is to encourage our very brightest undergraduates to become involved with research that broadens their often hectic undergraduate experience.

Master of Science in Computer Science

The Master of Science in Computer Science (MSCS) program offers students with a bachelor's degree the opportunity to extend their training with advanced study in computer science. Applicants should possess basic analytic skills and a strong aptitude for mathematics, programming and logical reasoning. A bachelor's degree in computer science is not required, but some scientific, engineering or mathematical background is an important predictor of success.

Human-Computer Interaction Institute

Accelerated Master of Human-Computer Interaction

The Accelerated Master of Human-Computer Interaction program provides CMU undergraduate HCI majors with an opportunity to complete a master's in human-computer interaction in an additional two semesters following graduation. Accepted students join the MHCI capstone in the spring semester of their senior year, graduate in May with their undergraduate degree, and then go right into being a graduate student in the summer while completing their capstone project with MHCI. The fall semester allows them to complete their electives for the master's portion of the program. Students should apply by Nov. 1 of their senior year.

Master of Educational Technology and Applied Learning Science (METALS)

This interdisciplinary program trains students to design, develop and evaluate evidenced-based programs for learning in traditional and nontraditional settings. Graduates will be prepared to take key positions in corporations, universities and schools as designers, developers and evaluators of educational technologies, as well as learning engineers, curriculum developers, learning technology policy-makers and even chief learning officers.

Master of Human-Computer Interaction

The Master of Human-Computer Interaction (MHCI) program is the first in the world dedicated to preparing professionals for careers related to human-computer interaction, user-experience design and user-centered research. The MHCI program integrates service and design thinking into a rigorous HCI curriculum that prepares our students to design and guide the future of human and technology interactions.

Master of Science in Product Management

This 12-month master's program, a joint effort with the university's Tepper School of Business, provides both the technical skills and business acumen students need to be successful in this high-demand area. A required internship and capstone project supply the practical skills students need to return to industry prepared for their new careers.

Language Technologies Institute

Master of Computational Data Science

The Master of Computational Data Science (MCDS) concentrates on applying the scientific method to very large data systems. The degree focuses on scientific experimental design, data collection, data modeling and analysis, problem solving, and human-computer interaction. These problem areas are addressed through a core computer science curriculum consisting of software engineering, machine learning, statistics, large scale distributed systems, storage systems, etc. The degree trains technologists to create new large scale data science systems.

Master of Science in Artificial Intelligence and Innovation

The Master of Science in Artificial Intelligence and Innovation (MSAII) equips you to identify potential artificial intelligence applications, and develop and deploy AI solutions to large practical problems. Students work in teams to implement AI systems that are responsive to market needs.

Master of Science in Intelligent Information Systems

The Master of Science in Intelligent Information Systems (MIIS) degree focuses on recognizing and extracting meaning from text, spoken language, video, and other forms of unstructured information. It provides deep exposure to content analysis and machine learning.

Master of Science in Language Technologies

The Master of Science in Language Technologies is a research-oriented degree in the areas of speech processing, language processing, information retrieval, machine translation and machine learning. Most MLT students are affiliated with an advisor's research project, in which they gain hands-on experience with advanced research and state-of-the-art software. An optional master's thesis project may also be chosen.

Online Graduate Certificate in Machine Learning and Data Science Foundations

Organizations know how important data is, but they don’t always know what to do with the volume of data they have collected. That’s why CMU designed the online Graduate Certificate in Machine Learning and Data Science Foundations — to teach technically savvy professionals how to leverage AI and machine learning technology to harness the power of large scale data systems. This 12-month, 100% online program will prepare participants for the staggering amount of data generated by today’s rapidly changing world. 

Machine Learning Department

Fifth Year Master's in Machine Learning

The Fifth Year Master's in Machine Learning allows Carnegie Mellon undergraduates to earn an MS degree in one additional year by taking some of the required ML courses as an undergraduate.

Master of Science in Machine Learning

The world's first and top-ranked machine learning program gives students the tools they need to solve real-world problems by using advanced machine learning techniques and developing their own learning algorithms. This program includes three semesters of courses, plus an internship in industry or research with our world-class, interdisciplinary faculty. It strengthens students' skills in computer science and statistics to provide exceptional training for future leaders in the field.

Robotics Institute

Master of Science in Computer Vision

Computer vision is the study of acquiring and interpreting visual imagery. As the technology matures, its applications in industry continue to expand exponentially in areas of great commercial value. The goals of the 16-month (three semesters plus summer) MSCV program are to provide a robust set of courses encompassing current and emerging state-of-the-art computer vision topics that prepare students for careers in this field, and to facilitate hands-on experience through real research and development projects addressing current applications.

Master of Science in Robotics

The robotics master of science program brings together areas of robotics research that would otherwise be spread across different departments or separate universities, preparing students to take a leading role in the research and development of future generations of integrated robotics technologies and systems.

Master's in Robotic Systems Development

The Master's in Robotic Systems Development (MRSD) is an advanced graduate degree with a combined technical/business focus for recent graduates/practicing professionals already engaged in, or wishing to enter, the robotics and automation field as practitioners in the commercial sector.

Software and Societal Systems

Master of Science in Information Technology - Privacy Engineering

The Master of Science in Information Technology - Privacy Engineering (MSIT-PE) is a 12- or 16-month program designed for computer scientists and engineers who wish to pursue careers as privacy engineers or technical privacy managers. Designed in close collaboration with industry and government, this program is intended for students who aspire to play a critical role in building privacy into future products, services and processes.

Master of Software Engineering

This program is designed for software professionals with at least two years of experience who want to learn best practices in managing large, diverse software development projects with a focus on software architecture and software project management. The MSE program emphasizes increased industry engagement in small groups with greater elective flexibility.

Master of Software Engineering - Embedded Systems

For entry-level software developers with less than two years of experience, the MSE-ES program focuses on software design for internet of things (IoT) and cyber-physical systems using microcontrollers with real-time actuators and sensors. The program includes a required summer internship and team project with professional mentors.

Master of Software Engineering - Scalable Systems

Designed for entry-level software developers with less than two years of experience, the MSE-SS program focuses on achieving business objectives through high-velocity, continuous integration for large-scale, data-intensive and intelligent systems. The program includes a required summer internship and team project with professional mentors.

Master of Software Engineering Online

This program is for software professionals with at least two years of experience who want to learn best practices in managing large, diverse software development projects with a focus on software architecture and software project management. The MSE Online program is part-time and culminates in a reflective practice thesis.

Learn More

Our Master's Programs Comparison Data includes statistics, facts and other information for each program.

View our Master's Programs Comparison Data Sheet