Graduate Admissions

Computer and Information Science

Overview

The MSE Program in Computer and Information Science, ranked as one of the nation’s top programs, prepares students to be tomorrow’s innovators, leaders, and visionaries in this rapidly-expanding field. Our multi-disciplinary program allows you to pursue your own career interests. The Master of Science in Engineering in Computer and Information Science (MSE) program offers scholars the opportunity for advanced study in the scientific foundations of the rapidly growing field of computer science.

CIS MSE students can pursue many areas within their curriculum – AI and ML, computer systems, computer vision, robotics, databases, graphics, security, programming languages, software engineering, data science, HCI, technology & finance, etc.

MSE students can also develop their own advanced study focus and pursue independent studies or a Masters thesis. For more details on faculty and research areas, see https://highlights.cis.upenn.edu/cis-research-areas/.

Students can also arrange interdisciplinary programs or courses in such areas as CIS and Biomedical Computation, CIS and Natural Language Processing, etc. Graduate studies in the Department of Computer and Information Science offer the possibility for rewarding exploration and research. This is a uniquely exciting place to be.

Department Website

Prerequisites

The MSE in Computer and Information Science is designed for students with an undergraduate degree in Computer Science. Applicants to the MSE program should have strong undergraduate training in mathematics and computer science.

Candidates who do not have an undergraduate major in computer science should consider applying to the Master of Computer and Information Technology (MCIT).

Student Stories

Yifeng Zhu: Voices of Penn Engineering Master’s Alumni

This is the first of a series of articles, written by Penn Engineering alums in their own words, of their Penn experiences and how the University shaped their lives. Our first article is written by Yifeng (Daisy) Zhu, who graduated with a Master of Science in Engineering (M.S.E.)

Kwadwo Asamoah Boateng: Voices of Penn Engineering Master’s Alumni

This is part of our series of articles written by Penn Engineering alumni about their experiences at Penn and how it shaped their lives. This article is written by Kwadwo Asamoah Boateng, who graduated with a M.S.E. degree in Computer and Information Science in 2012.

Sneha Rajana: Voices of Penn Engineering Master’s Alumni

This is part of our series of articles, written by Penn Engineering alums in their own words, of their experiences at Penn and how it shaped their lives. This article is written by Sneha Rajana, who graduated from the M.S.E. Program in Computer and Information Science in 2017.