Meet the MSE-SSC Program Directors: Andreas Haeberlen and Michael Hicks

As engineering evolves, so does the University of Pennsylvania. 

Penn Engineering’s new Master of Science in Engineering in Software Systems & Cybersecurity (MSE-SSC) degree program was built for those who want to gain the confidence and technical depth to become highly skilled system security engineers. Students will learn to design, build and secure complex modern software systems while developing the future-ready judgement needed to protect critical infrastructure. Offered both online and on-campus, this program will equip engineers around the globe with a unique and robust skillset, meeting the demands of a modern world that relies on secure technology.

The Leadership Building What’s Next

We’re pleased to have two accomplished professors at the helm of this new venture: MSE-SSC Program Directors Andreas Haeberlen and Michael Hicks. 

Andreas Haeberlen

Andreas Haeberlen is a professor in the Department of Computer and Information Science at the University of Pennsylvania, where he is also co-director of the Networked & Social Systems Engineering (NETS) program and a member of the Distributed Systems Lab (DSL).

An accomplished educator, Haeberlen began teaching at Penn in 2010 and has been the recipient of the Ford Motor Company Award for Faculty Advising and the Lindback Award for Distinguished Teaching. His research interests include networking, security, privacy, and large-scale distributed systems that span multiple administrative domains. 

Michael Hicks 

Michael Hicks is the Cecilia Fitler Moore Professor in the Department of Computer and Information Science at the University of Pennsylvania. He is the Director of Penn’s Schlein Center for Cybersecurity and he is also an Amazon Scholar and an Association for Computing Machinery (ACM) Fellow. 

Hicks’ professional experience includes twenty years of teaching at the University of Maryland in the Computer Science Department and UMIACS, as well as a recent position as Principal Scientist at Amazon Web Services. His research focuses on improving software availability, reliability, and security through programming languages and software engineering techniques. 

Build Complex Systems—with Security Engineered in from Day One

We sat down with Professor Haeberlen and Professor Hicks to learn more about what makes the MSE-SSC program unique and how graduates will be well-positioned for success. 

Question: What is the overall vision for this program? 

Professor Hicks: This program will help students become confident, capable, and thoughtful system security engineers with a robust depth of knowledge who can make an impact in the industry. 

Professor Haeberlen: To add on to that, this is a structured and rigorous program that will give students all the different tools they need for various aspects of systems engineering and security careers.

Question: What is unique about how this program combines both software systems and security?

Professor Hicks: The program intentionally combines deep systems-building expertise with strong security knowledge—a rare combination and a core strength. Graduates gain the skills to become both high-quality systems engineers and effective security engineers. To be effective in these roles, you have to have knowledge in both areas. 

Question: Why are system security engineers and other related careers in high demand? 

Professor Haeberlen: Computers are vital to our everyday lives. The systems we use are becoming more and more complex, and they are hugely vulnerable to evolving threats. We need people who understand how these systems work from both a software perspective and a security perspective in order to defend them. There will always be security jobs because it’s a job that’s never done. 

Question: How will AI be integrated into the program?

Professor Hicks: Software development is changing rapidly. Leading tech companies are writing much of their software with AI tools, and AI agents are increasingly part of modern applications. MSE-SSC classes will cover AI-relevant topics and techniques to help our graduates navigate this landscape. Penn has the ASSET Center for Trustworthy AI, where researchers are looking into these challenges with security in mind. The ASSET Center is another opportunity for our graduates to get engaged in research, and students have the opportunity to take AI courses as tech electives, taught by members of Penn’s ASSET Center.

Question: What careers will be available to graduates of the program? 

Professor Haeberlen: Graduates will be well prepared to step directly into roles such as security engineer, software and systems engineer, or cybersecurity architect in industries such as tech, finance, healthcare, telecommunications, defense, or startups. Employers are looking for professionals who are competent on both the software side and the security side who can defend systems from day one. Our graduates will have the skills to do this. 

Question: What is most exciting about this program and what graduates will gain from it? 

Professor Hicks: We’re in a disruptive time, which creates a lot of opportunity. This program provides in-depth knowledge of how systems really work so graduates can immediately take on impactful roles and be active contributors in this new world. It’s an exciting option for those who want a deeper understanding, and for those who want the confidence and expertise that leads to better job prospects and a more fulfilling career. 

Professor Haeberlen: The security community is really exciting to be part of because you have to constantly protect against the adaptive adversaries out there. As “good guys,” we are continually re-creating adaptable defenses to protect the systems that power modern life. 

Secure Your Spot & Prepare to Secure Your Future

Are you ready for a master’s degree that will propel your career into the critical systems and security domains that define our digital future? Prepare to gain the judgement, confidence, and depth of a Penn engineer with the new MSE-SSC degree program. 

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Learn more about Penn Engineering’s new MSE-SSC on-campus degree program HERE, and learn about the online degree program HERE.

Request more information HERE and we’ll keep in touch with the latest MSE-SSC updates.  Start your MSE-SSC application HERE.