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 #1 Best Technology Job in 2020 by U.S. News & World Report.
*Based on 2024–2025 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.
#4, America’s Top Online Colleges
Newsweek magazine ranked Boston University’s online programs #4 in the nation in its 2023 survey.
“Almost everything I learned during my coursework at BU has been useful at one point or another…A lot of the courses I took gave me the option to develop some sort of web application as a project, which was great exposure that I still refer back to in my current job…my professors and the coursework really did prepare me for the industry and helped me mature as a software developer.”—Diego Lopez, MS in Software Development (MET’20), Software Developer at MIT Lincoln Laboratory
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
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.
15:1 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: US citizens and permanent residents are automatically considered during the application process and nominated based on eligibility. Learn more.
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 credits is required.
Core Courses
(Five courses/20 credits)
MET CS 521 Information Structures with Python
Sprg ‘25
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. ]
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. Prerequisite: MET CS300 and either MET CS520 or MET CS521, or instructor's consent. [ 4 cr. ]
Section
Type
Instructor
Location
Days
Times
A1
IND
Lee
CAS 228
T
6:00 pm – 8:45 pm
O1
IND
Burstein
ARR
12:00 am – 12:00 am
O2
IND
Burstein
ARR
12:00 am – 12:00 am
MET CS 622 Advanced Programming Techniques
Sprg ‘25
HUB
Polymorphism, containers, libraries, method specifications, large-scale code management, use of exceptions, concurrent programming, functional programming, programming tests. Java will be used to illustrate these concepts. Students will implement a project or projects of their own choosing, in Java, since some concepts are expressible only in Java. Prerequisite: MET CS 342 or equivalent knowledge of Java. Or MET CS 521 and MET CS 526. Or instructor's consent. 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. ]
Graduate Prerequisites: (METCS341 or METCS342 and METCS565) or consent of the instructor - Software design principles, the object-oriented paradigm, unified modeling language; creational, structural, and behavioral design patterns; OO analysis and design; implementation of semester project. Laboratory course. Prereq: (MET CS 526 or MET CS 622) and one of the following (MET CS 341, MET CS 342, MET CS 520, or MET CS 521). Or instructor's consent. [ 4 cr. ]
Section
Type
Instructor
Location
Days
Times
A1
IND
Orsini
PSY B51
R
6:00 pm – 8:45 pm
O2
IND
Kalathur
ARR
12:00 am – 12:00 am
Plus one of the following:
MET CS 673 Software Engineering
Sprg ‘25
HUB
Undergraduate Prerequisites: MET CS342 and at least one 500-level computer programming-intensive sc ience course (or instructor's consent). MET CS 564 or MET CS 565 are r ecommended. - Overview of techniques and tools to develop high quality software. Topics include software development life cycle such as Agile and DevOps, requirements analysis, software design, programming techniques, refactoring, testing, as well as software management issues. This course features a semester-long group project where students will design and develop a real world software system in groups using Agile methodology and various SE tools, including UML tools, project management tools, programming frameworks, unit and system testing tools , integration tools and version control tools.
Prereq: This is a capstone course to be taken after at least two programming intensive courses toward the end of a program of study. Familiarity with OO design concepts and proficiency in at least one high-level programming language is required. Or, Instructor's consent. Familiarity with web or mobile application development preferred. 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 ‘25
Undergraduate Prerequisites: Basic programming knowledge or instructor's consent. - 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. Prerequisite: Basic programming knowledge or instructor's consent. [ 4 cr. ]
Section
Type
Instructor
Location
Days
Times
A1
IND
Guadagno
SHA 202
W
6:00 pm – 8:45 pm
A2
IND
Guadagno
SHA 210
R
6:00 pm – 8:45 pm
O1
IND
Williams
ARR
12:00 am – 12:00 am
O2
IND
Braude
ARR
12:00 am – 12:00 am
Electives
(Three courses/12 credits)
When choosing electives, students should make sure that they have all prerequisites required by the selected course or, instructor’s consent. Choose three from the following list:
MET CS 601 Web Application Development
Sprg ‘25
Prerequisites: WAD 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
Sheehan
CAS 208
R
6:00 pm – 8:45 pm
A2
IND
Sheehan
CAS 116
T
6:00 pm – 8:45 pm
MET CS 602 Server-Side Web Development
Sprg ‘25
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 ‘25
Theory and practice of security and quality assurance and testing for each step of the software development cycle. Verification vs. validation. Test case design techniques, test coverage criteria, security development and verification practices, and tools for static and dynamic analysis. Standards. Test-driven development. QA for maintenance and legacy applications. From a project management knowledge perspective, this course covers the methods, tools and techniques associated with the following processes -- Plan Quality, Perform Quality Assurance, and Perform Quality Control. [ 4 cr. ]
Section
Type
Instructor
Location
Days
Times
O1
IND
ELENTUKH
ARR
12:00 am – 12:00 am
MET CS 634 Agile Software Development
Sprg ‘25
This course provides students with a comprehensive overview of the principles, processes, and practices of agile software development. Students learn techniques for initiating, planning and executing on software development projects using agile methodologies. Students will obtain practical knowledge of agile development frameworks and be able to distinguish between agile and traditional project management methodologies. Students will learn how to apply agile tools and techniques in the software development lifecycle from project ideation to deployment, including establishing an agile team environment, roles and responsibilities, communication and reporting methods, and embracing change. We also leverage the guidelines outlined by the Project Management Institute for agile project development as a framework in this course. [ 4 cr. ]
Section
Type
Instructor
Location
Days
Times
A1
IND
Heda
CAS 204A
R
6:00 pm – 8:45 pm
MET CS 664 Artificial Intelligence
Sprg ‘25
Graduate Prerequisites: MET CS 248 and MET CS 341 or 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. Prereq: MET CS 341, MET CS 342, MET CS 520 or MET CS 521. Or instructor's consent. [ 4 cr. ]
Section
Type
Instructor
Location
Days
Times
A1
IND
Kalathur
SCI 115
M
6:00 pm – 8:45 pm
MET CS 669 Database Design and Implementation for Business
Sprg ‘25
Undergraduate Prerequisites: Restrictions: Only for MS CIS. This course may not be taken in conjunc tion with MET CS 469 (undergraduate) or MET CS 579. Only one of these courses can be counted towards degree requirements. - Students learn the latest relational and object-relational tools and techniques for persistent data and object modeling and management. Students gain extensive hands- on experience using Oracle or Microsoft SQL Server as they learn the Structured Query Language (SQL) and design and implement databases. Students 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
Russo
CAS 324
M
6:00 pm – 8:45 pm
A2
IND
Maiewski
PSY B51
W
6:00 pm – 8:45 pm
O1
IND
Mansur
ARR
12:00 am – 12:00 am
O2
IND
Mansur
ARR
12:00 am – 12:00 am
MET CS 677 Data Science with Python
Sprg ‘25
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. Prerequisite: MET CS 521 or equivalent. Or, instructor's consent. [ 4 cr. ]
Section
Type
Instructor
Location
Days
Times
A1
IND
Pinsky
CAS 216
W
6:00 pm – 8:45 pm
A2
IND
Pinsky
HAR 316
T
6:00 pm – 8:45 pm
A3
IND
Mohan
CDS 264
R
6:00 pm – 8:45 pm
O2
IND
Chertushkin
ARR
12:00 am – 12:00 am
MET CS 683 Mobile Application Development with Android
Sprg ‘25
Graduate Prerequisites: (METCS342) or instructor's consent. - This course discusses the principles and issues associated with 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), UI design, data storage, asynchronous processing, 2D graphics, and Android security. Students will develop their own apps in Java and/or Kotlin using Android Studio in their semester-long projects. Prior knowledge of Java programming is required. Prerequisite: MET CS 342 OR MET CS 520 OR MET CS 521. Or instructor's consent. [ 4 cr. ]
Section
Type
Instructor
Location
Days
Times
O2
IND
Zhang
ARR
12:00 am – 12:00 am
MET CS 701 Rich Internet Application Development
Sprg ‘25
Undergraduate Prerequisites: MET CS 520 or MET CS 601 and programming experience, or instructor's c onsent - The Rich Internet Application (RIA) Development course concentrates primarily on building rich client web applications in the browser for desktop and mobile devices. The course is divided into various modules covering in depth the following technologies: HTML5, AngularJS, and Ionic framework. 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 the latest and widely used RIA methodologies. Course Prerequisites: METCS520 (Information Structures) and METCS601 (Web Application Development), or instructor's consent. [ 4 cr. ]
Section
Type
Instructor
Location
Days
Times
A1
IND
CAS 306
W
6:00 pm – 8:45 pm
O2
IND
Winderbaum
ARR
12:00 am – 12:00 am
MET CS 763 Secure Software Development
Sprg ‘25
Graduate Prerequisites: MET TC 250 or MET CS 248 or MET OM 501. - Overview of techniques and tools to develop secure software. Focus on the application 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. Prerequisite: At least two 500- level (or above) programming-intensive computer science courses; or instructor's consent. [ 4 cr. ]
Section
Type
Instructor
Location
Days
Times
A1
IND
Zhang
FLR 123
T
6:00 pm – 8:45 pm
MET CS 767 Advanced Machine Learning and Neural Networks
Sprg ‘25
Graduate Prerequisites: MET CS 521; MET CS 622, MET CS 673 or MET CS 682; MET CS 677 strongly recommended; 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, Recurrent Neural Nets, Rule-learning, Adversarial Learning, Bayesian Learning, and Genetic Algorithms. The underpinnings are covered: perceptrons, backpropagation, attention, and transformers. Each student focuses on two of these approaches and creates a term project. [ 4 cr. ]
Section
Type
Instructor
Location
Days
Times
A1
IND
Chertushkin
EPC 206
T
6:00 pm – 8:45 pm
A2
IND
Mohan
EPC 206
T
9:00 am – 11:45 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 credits) in a semester, you are charged the part-time per-credit rate. If you enroll in 3–4 courses (12–16 credits) 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 credits)
4 courses (16 credits)
3 courses (12 credits)
Time to Degree
4 semesters (16 months)
2 semesters (8-12 months)***
3 semesters (12-16 months)***
Tuition*
$550-$975 per credit**
$33,335 per semester
$33,335 per semester
Fees per Semester*
$60
$478
$478
Total Degree Cost*
$28,040
$67,626
$75,486
*Based on 2024–2025 Boston University tuition & fee rates. **Cost per credit is determined by course number (100–599 = $550/credit, 600–999 = $975/credit). ***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.
