Are You Ready to Lead a Software Development Team to Success?
Available online and on campus, the Master of Science in Software Development (MSSD) at Boston University’s Metropolitan College (MET) prepares you with the essential skillset to succeed in one of the fastest-growing professions: software developer—ranked the #2 Best Technology Job in 2025 by U.S. News & World Report.
*Based on 2025–2026 Boston University tuition and fees. Merit scholarship may reduce cost.
Advance Your Career with a Master’s in Software Development
As one of the only software development master’s degree programs in the United States, the MS in Software Development at BU MET is ideal for those who enjoy programming and seek to create software in an interactive process that involves multiple stakeholders. The program is open to students of all backgrounds—all you need is a bachelor’s degree in any field.
The MSSD curriculum will provide you with a thorough understanding of the latest requirements and needs for software across diverse industries, and ensure that you are ready to deliver secure, reliable software products—as part of an agile software team or leading it.
What Is My Career Outlook as a Graduate of This Program?
955,188
Total number of US Jobs
103,590
Annual job openings
+2.4%
Annual job openings
25%
Projected ten-year growth in jobs
(faster than average)
$106.7K
Median annual salary
Common job titles include:
Software Engineer
Systems Engineer
Data Engineer
Software Developer
Solutions Architect
Employers seek expertise in:
Python
Software engineering
Java
SQL
Software development
Source: Lightcast, U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics
“I found that I was really drawn to the software development field on an intellectual level, and I started the program because I wanted to learn more. I also felt that my career would benefit from obtaining a degree in software development, and I hoped to transition from working as a systems administrator to a software developer—which I was able to do.” Read more.
Nikki Tebaldi (MET’21) Cloud Adoption Engineer, NASA Jet Propulsion Laboratory MS, Software Development
Why BU’s Software Development is Ranked in the Top 10
Active Learning Environment: BU MET’s Software Development courses ensure you get the attention you need, while introducing case studies and real-world projects that ensure you gain in-depth, practical experience with the latest technologies.
Engaged Faculty: In BU MET’s Software Development master’s program, you benefit from working closely with highly qualified faculty and industry leaders who are involved in research projects in areas such as novel internet architectures, smartphone applications, information assurance, biomedical informatics, and many other areas.
Extensive Network: Study software development alongside fellow professionals from all backgrounds, learn from faculty who have valuable IT contacts across several sectors, and benefit from an alumni community with strong professional connections.
STEM Designated: Eligible graduates on student visas have access to an Optional Practical Training (OPT) of 12 months and an extension for up to 24 additional months.
24:1 Average Class Ratio: Enjoy an exceptional student-to-instructor ratio, ensuring close interaction with faculty and access to support.
Flexible Options: Study at the pace that works for you, evenings on campus or fully online. Courses begin fall, spring, and summer; online courses have two starts per term.
Track Record: Learn from the best—BU MET’s Department of Computer Science was established in 1979 and is the longest-running computer science department BU. Over its four decades, the department has played an important role in the emergence of IT at the University and throughout the region.
Merit Scholarships: All graduate students are automatically considered for merit scholarships during the application process and nominated based on eligibility. Learn more.
Rankings & Accreditations
#10, Best Online Master's in Computer Information Technology ProgramsMET’s online master’s degrees in computer information technology are ranked #10 in the nation by U.S. News & World Report for 2025.
Master the Tools to Excel in Software Development
Offered through BU MET’s Department of Computer Science, the Master of Science in Software Development (MSSD) curriculum prepares graduates to take on evolving career paths in the field, dramatically improve coding capabilities while also developing a foundation for those who want to move into the management of agile development teams.
Led by faculty with abundant industry experience, the MSSD is informed by real-world case studies and projects that meet the ubiquitous, and growing, need for new software. Through hands-on, project-based experience, students will finish the master’s program with an advanced portfolio of software projects.
Graduates can progress into a variety of career paths in fields such as:
Healthcare—analyzing patient data as well as managing and scheduling resources in hospitals
Business and finance—analyzing trends through mathematical analysis for big data reduction and creating more efficient systems
Information security—developing systems that are properly tested to reduce vulnerabilities
Defense—developing command and control systems
Graduate with Expertise
Metropolitan College’s Software Development master’s degree will equip you with:
Advanced knowledge of computer language theory, software design, as well as databases, networks, or security.
Proficiency in algorithms, operating systems, computer language usage, software development, and the management of data, networks, or security.
Competence sufficient to investigate continually emerging new software technologies, applications, and approaches.
Certificate-to-Degree Pathway
BU MET graduate certificate programs can serve as building blocks to a master’s degree. The graduate certificates in Information Technology, IT Project Management, Software Engineering, and Web Application Development each share specific courses with the master’s in Software Development program, giving you the option to take one or two certificates on your path to a master’s degree.Students currently enrolled in a graduate certificate who are interested in transitioning into a master’s degree should contact their academic advisor to declare their interest in this pathway. A new master’s degree application is not required. Connect with a graduate admissions advisor at csadmissions@bu.edu to learn more about this option.
Master’s in Software Development Curriculum
A total of 32 units is required.
Core Courses
(Five courses/20 units)
MET CS 521 Information Structures with Python
Sprg ‘26
HUB
This course covers the concepts of the object-oriented approach to software design and development using Python. It includes a detailed discussion of programming concepts starting with the fundamentals of data types, control structures methods, classes, arrays and strings, and proceeding to advanced topics such as inheritance and polymorphism, creating user interfaces, exceptions and streams. Upon completion of this course students will be able to apply software engineering principles to design and implement Python applications that can be used in with analytics and big data. Effective Fall 2021, this course fulfills a single unit in each of the following BU Hub areas: Quantitative Reasoning II, Creativity/Innovation, Critical Thinking. Prerequisite: Programming experience in any language. Or Instructor's consent. [ 4 cr. ]
Prerequisites: MET CS300 and either MET CS520 or MET CS521, or consent of instructor. This course covers and relates fundamental components of programs. Students use various data structures to solve computational problems, and implement data structures using a high-level programming language. Algorithms are created, decomposed, and expressed as pseudocode. The running time of various algorithms and their computational complexity are analyzed. [ 4 cr. ]
Section
Type
Instructor
Location
Days
Times
O1
IND
Braude
ARR
12:00 am – 12:00 am
O2
IND
Zhang
ARR
12:00 am – 12:00 am
MET CS 622 Advanced Programming Techniques
Sprg ‘26
HUB
Prerequisites: (MET CS 342 or equivalent knowledge of Java) or (MET CS 521 and MET CS 526) or consent of instructor. Polymorphism, containers, libraries, method specifications, large-scale code management, use of exceptions, concurrent programming, functional programming, programming tests. Java is used to illustrate these concepts. Students implement a project or projects of their own choosing, in Java, since some concepts are expressible only in Java. Effective Fall 2020, this course fulfills a single unit in each of the following BU Hub areas: Quantitative Reasoning II, Creativity/Innovation, Critical Thinking. [ 4 cr. ]
Prerequisites: METCS342 and METCS565 or consent of instructor - Software design principles, the object-oriented paradigm, unified modeling language; creational, structural, and behavioral design patterns; OO analysis and design; software architectures and frameworks; code refactoring. Laboratory course. [ 4 cr. ]
Section
Type
Instructor
Location
Days
Times
A1
IND
Orsini
FLR 123
R
6:00 pm – 8:45 pm
O2
IND
Kalathur
ARR
12:00 am – 12:00 am
And one course from the following:
MET CS 673 Software Engineering
Sprg ‘26
HUB
Prerequisites: At least two programming-intensive courses. Or consent of instructor. Familiarity with OO design concepts and proficiency in at least one high-level programming language is required. Familiarity with web or mobile application development preferred. A comprehensive overview of the entire software development lifecycle, emphasizing modern software architectures, methodologies, practices, and tools. Key topics include agile principles and methodologies such as Scrum and XP, DevOps concepts and practices, CI/CD pipeline, modern software architectures including microservices, REST, and MVC, design patterns, refactoring, software testing, secure software development, and software project management. This course features a semester-long group project where students will design, develop, build, and deploy a real-world software system, applying Agile methodology, DevOps pipeline, and various software tools. This course is better taken as a capstone course towards the end of your program study. Effective Fall 2020, this course fulfills a single unit in each of the following BU Hub areas: Digital/Multimedia Expression, Oral and/or Signed Communication, Teamwork/Collaboration. [ 4 cr. ]
MET CS 682 Information Systems Analysis and Design
Sprg ‘26
Prerequisites: Basic programming knowledge or consent of instructor. - Object-oriented methods of information systems analysis and design for organizations with data- processing needs. System feasibility; requirements analysis; database utilization; Unified Modeling Language; software system architecture, design, and implementation, management; project control; and systems-level testing. [ 4 cr. ]
Section
Type
Instructor
Location
Days
Times
A1
IND
Guadagno
CAS 324
W
6:00 pm – 8:45 pm
O2
IND
Braude
ARR
12:00 am – 12:00 am
General Electives
(Three courses/12 units)
When choosing electives, students should make sure that they have all prerequisites required by the selected course or, instructor’s consent. Choose three courses from the following:
MET CS 577 Data Science with Python
Sprg ‘26
Prerequisite: (MET CS 521) or equivalent or instructor's consent. Students will learn major Python tools and techniques for data analysis. There are weekly assignments and mini projects on topics covered in class. These assignments will help build necessary statistical, visualization and other data science skills for effective use of data science in a variety of applications including finance, text processing, time series analysis and recommendation systems. In addition, students will choose a topic for a final project and present it on the last day of class. [ 4 cr. ]
Section
Type
Instructor
Location
Days
Times
A1
IND
Pinsky
W
6:00 pm – 8:45 pm
A2
IND
Pinsky
T
6:00 pm – 8:45 pm
O2
IND
Mohan
ARR
12:00 am – 12:00 am
MET CS 601 Frontend Web Development
Sprg ‘26
Prerequisite: MET WD 100 - Learn essential front-end development skills, starting with foundational JavaScript techniques, such as DOM manipulation and event handling, and advancing to interactive web technologies like HTML's Drag and Drop, Canvas, and SVG. You will be exposed to asynchronous operations, including AJAX, the Fetch API, and Web Workers, and learn to craft responsive designs using Flexbox, CSS Grid, and advanced CSS selectors. A comprehensive exploration of TypeScript and its main feature, static typing, and capabilities will also be covered. The course concludes with a comprehensive dive into ReactJS, covering its core architectural concepts, component-based structure, and state management techniques. [ 4 cr. ]
Section
Type
Instructor
Location
Days
Times
A1
IND
Davoodi
CAS 315
T
6:00 pm – 8:45 pm
MET CS 602 Server-Side Web Development
Sprg ‘26
Prerequisite: MET CS 601 Or instructor's consent. - The Server-Side Web Development course concentrates primarily on building full stack applications using the state of the art tools and frameworks. The course is divided into various modules covering in depth the following topics: NodeJS, Express, React, MongoDB, Mongoose ODM, Sequelize ORM, REST and GraphQL APIs, and application security. Along with the fundamentals underlying these technologies, several applications will be showcased as case studies. Students work with these technologies starting with simple applications and then examining real world complex applications. At the end of this course, students would have mastered developing the full stack applications using the MERN stack and related technologies. [ 4 cr. ]
Section
Type
Instructor
Location
Days
Times
O1
IND
Kalathur
ARR
12:00 am – 12:00 am
MET CS 633 Software Quality, Testing, and Security Management
Sprg ‘26
Examine software development and software engineering from a project and program management perspective, with a focus on leading agile and distributed teams. You will engage in a term project featuring peer-reviewed milestones and a working prototype. Topics include AI-driven quality assurance (QA), team leadership, and effective collaboration in distributed settings. Additional topics covered in the course include information systems security, ethics, and professional responsibility. No programming background required. [ 4 cr. ]
Section
Type
Instructor
Location
Days
Times
O1
IND
ELENTUKH
ARR
12:00 am – 12:00 am
MET CS 634 Agile Software Development with Intelligent Systems
Sprg ‘26
This course provides a comprehensive overview of the principles, processes, and practices of agile software development. Students learn how to initiate, plan, and execute software projects using a variety of agile methodologies. The course covers multiple frameworks—including Scrum, Extreme Programming (XP), the Scaled Agile Framework (SAFe), and Lean—and incorporates agile games and simulations to reinforce key concepts. Students gain practical experience with agile tools and techniques across the software development lifecycle, from ideation to deployment. Emphasis is placed on building and leading agile teams, defining roles and responsibilities, fostering effective communication, managing change, and applying Lean principles to maximize value and reduce waste. AI-Powered business analysis is also a core focus, with students learning how to identify stakeholder needs, define and manage requirements, and ensure that solutions deliver business value in agile contexts. [ 4 cr. ]
Section
Type
Instructor
Location
Days
Times
O2
IND
Heda
ARR
12:00 am – 12:00 am
MET CS 664 Artificial Intelligence
Sprg ‘26
Prerequisites: MET CS 248 and MET CS 342. - Study of the ideas and techniques that enable computers to behave intelligently. Search, constraint propagations, and reasoning. Knowledge representation, natural language, learning, question answering, inference, visual perception, and/or problem solving. Laboratory course. [ 4 cr. ]
Section
Type
Instructor
Location
Days
Times
A1
IND
Kalathur
EPC 208
M
6:00 pm – 8:45 pm
O1
IND
Mansur
ARR
12:00 am – 12:00 am
MET CS 669 Database Design and Implementation for Business
Sprg ‘26
Learn the latest relational and object-relational tools and techniques for persistent data and object modeling and management. You will gain extensive hands-on experience using Oracle or Microsoft SQL Server as you learn the Structured Query Language (SQL) and design and implement databases. You will design and implement a database system as a term project. Restrictions: This course may not be taken in conjunction with MET CS 469 (undergraduate) or MET CS 579. Only one of these courses can be counted towards degree requirements. [ 4 cr. ]
Section
Type
Instructor
Location
Days
Times
A1
IND
Diwania
KCB 107
R
6:00 pm – 8:45 pm
O1
IND
Mansur
ARR
12:00 am – 12:00 am
O2
IND
Lee
ARR
12:00 am – 12:00 am
MET CS 683 Mobile Application Development with Android
Sprg ‘26
Prerequisites: MET CS 342 OR MET CS 520 OR MET CS 521. Or consent of instructor. - Learn the principles, techniques, and issues associated with modern mobile application development using Android as the development platform. Topics covered will include Android application components (Activities, Services, Content Providers and Broadcast Receivers), ICC (Inter-component Communication), declarative UI design, data storage, asynchronous processing, Android sensing, 2D graphics, and Android security. You will use Kotlin as the main language for Android development and the latest Jetpack APIs. You will also develop your own app in Kotlin using Android Studio as your semester-long project. [ 4 cr. ]
Section
Type
Instructor
Location
Days
Times
O2
IND
Zhang
ARR
12:00 am – 12:00 am
MET CS 763 Secure Software Development
Sprg ‘26
Prerequisites: MET CS 248 or consent of instructor - Overview of techniques and tools to develop secure software. Focus on the application of security. Topics include secure software development processes, threat modeling, secure requirements and architectures, vulnerability and malware analysis using static code analysis and dynamic analysis tools, vulnerabilities in C/C and Java programs, Crypto and secure APIs, vulnerabilities in web applications and mobile applications, and security testing. Hands-on lab and programming exercises using current tools are provided and required. [ 4 cr. ]
Section
Type
Instructor
Location
Days
Times
A1
IND
Zhang
KCB 102
M
6:00 pm – 8:45 pm
MET CS 767 Advanced Machine Learning and Neural Networks
Sprg ‘26
Prerequisites: MET CS 521 and at least one of MET CS 577, MET CS 622, MET CS 673 or MET CS 682; or consent of instructor. Theories and methods for learning from data. The course covers a variety of approaches, including Supervised and Unsupervised Learning, Regression, k-means, KNN's, Neural Nets and Deep Learning, Transformers, Recurrent Neural Nets, Adversarial Learning, Bayesian Learning, and Genetic Algorithms. The underpinnings are covered: perceptron's, backpropagation, attention, and transformers. Each student creates a term project. [ 4 cr. ]
Section
Type
Instructor
Location
Days
Times
A1
IND
Mohan
CDS 263
R
6:00 pm – 8:45 pm
O2
IND
Alizadeh-Shabdiz
ARR
12:00 am – 12:00 am
Students interested in taking electives outside of the stated requirements should contact the Department of Computer Science for approval.
Our part-time rates are substantially lower than those of the traditional, full-time residential programs yet provide access to the same high-quality BU education.
BU MET programs offer the flexibility of part-time or full-time study, either on campus or online. Tuition, fees, and total program cost are determined by enrollment status. If you enroll in 1–2 courses (4–8 units) in a semester, you are charged the part-time per-unit rate. If you enroll in 3–4 courses (12–16 units) in a semester, you are charged the full-time semester rate.
MS in Software Development (Online and On Campus)
Enrollment Status
Part Time
Full Time
Courses per Semester
2 courses (8 units)
4 courses (16 units)
3 courses (12 units)
Time to Degree
4 semesters (16 months)
2 semesters (8–12 months)***
3 semesters (12–16 months)***
Tuition*
$567–$1,005 per unit**
$34,935 per semester
$34,935 per semester
Fees per Semester*
$75
$501
$501
Total Degree Cost*
$28,956
$70,872
$78,987
*Based on 2025–2026 Boston University tuition and fee rates. **Cost per unit is determined by course number (100–599 = $567/unit, 600–999 = $1,005/unit). ***Summer semester enrollment is not required for international students to maintain F-1 visa status. Enrollment in summer semester coursework will expedite completion of program and reduce total program cost.
International students seeking an F-1 visa for on-campus study must enroll full time and demonstrate availability of funds to cover the Estimated Cost of Graduate Study; those who wish to study online may enroll part-time but are not eligible for a visa. Learn more about International Student Tuition & Fees.
Questions? Please contact us to hear from an Admissions Advisor who can help you determine the best enrollment pathway. For information regarding financial aid, visit BU MET’s Financial Aid page.
Get Started
Please visit the BU MET admissions page for details on how to apply, financial assistance, tuition and fees, requirements for international students, and more.
