Computer & Information Technology, MCIT

The Master of Computer and Information Technology (MCIT) program is a rigorous graduate-level program that gives talented students who have no prior experience in Computer Science an opportunity to embark on a highly successful career in computing and technology, often in coveted interdisciplinary roles or even in purely technical software development positions. The MCIT program stems from a belief that advanced computer science coursework for people with undergraduate degrees in other diverse fields leads to highly successful career paths. Our graduates and their careers today stand as strong proof to this philosophy. Within the realm of academia, pursuing further advanced study in computer science is also an option open to MCIT graduates.  Due to the goals and nature of the MCIT program, it is strictly for applicants with limited or no past experience in computer science. Candidates with an undergraduate major in Computer Science or closely related fields, should consider applying to the Master of Science in Engineering (MSE) program instead.

For more information: http://www.cis.upenn.edu/prospective-students/graduate/mcit.php

For students interested in learning more about MCIT Online, click here.

A total of 10 course units are required for the MCIT degree.1

Required Courses 1
CIT 5910Introduction to Software Development 21
CIT 5920Mathematical Foundations of Computer Science 21
CIT 5930Introduction to Computer Systems 21
CIT 5940Data Structures and Software Design1
CIT 5950Computer Systems Programming1
CIT 5960Algorithms and Computation1
Electives
Select 4 electives 44
Total Course Units10
1

It is expected that full-time MCIT students will take the six required courses during the first two semesters of enrollment and four electives during their second year.

2

Offered in the Fall semester only. They are the prerequisites for CIT 5940 Data Structures and Software Design, CIT 5960 Algorithms and Computation, and CIT 5950 Computer Systems Programming, respectively, which are offered in the Spring semester only.

3

Courses can be waived or replaced only with the permission of the instructor. As of Fall 2016, students must pass a proficiency exam in order to waive a course. All MCIT courses must be completed (or waivers obtained) during the first semester that the course is offered during the student's time in the program. Students may not waive or replace more than two required MCIT courses. Courses that are waived need to be replaced with a suitable alternative.

4

Electives

  • MCIT students must also complete four graduate-level (5000 or higher) electives.
  • At least three must be a CIS course; one may be an approved non-CIS course.
  • The following courses are recommended for all MCIT students:
  • Additional suitable electives include:

  • Click here for all CIS graduate course options.

  • One course from the list of pre-approved non CIS graduate courses, found here, may be used as an elective. Graduate courses offered in other departments may count as an elective with the prior approval of the MCIT program director; in general, such courses must have a strong technical component in order to be approved.

Continuing in the Master of Science in Computer & Information Science (CIS/MSE) Program

MCIT students may apply to continue in the Master of Science in Engineering in Computer & Information (CIS/MSE) program. Students pursuing this dual degree route need to satisfy a minimum GPA requirement, have earned a high grade in at least one CIS elective, and have completed the majority of the MCIT requirements at the time of applying.  In addition to the ten courses required for the MCIT program, students continuing in the CIS/MSE program need to take six additional CIS graduate courses for a total of sixteen credits; satisfactory completion results in the awarding of the MCIT and CIS/ MSE degrees. Click here to access the CIS/MSE degree requirements. Click here to access the MCIT-CIS/MSE dual degree application.

The degree and major requirements displayed are intended as a guide for students entering in the Fall of 2025 and later. Students should consult with their academic program regarding final certifications and requirements for graduation.

Computer & Information Technology, MCIT - Online

The online Master of Computer and Information Technology (MCIT Online) graduate-level program enables students from non-computer science backgrounds to participate in a rigorous program in which they gain a foundation in Computer Science and cultivate ways of thinking as an engineer. MCIT Online allows students from around the world to benefit from the research and teaching expertise of Penn’s world-renowned experts. While studying from the comfort of home, students take part in assignments that engage real-world tools and environments. MCIT Online provides a pathway to embark on a highly successful career in computing and technology, often in coveted interdisciplinary roles or even in purely technical software development positions. The MCIT Online program stems from a belief that advanced computer science coursework for people with undergraduate degrees in other diverse fields leads to highly successful career paths and that the opportunity to pursue those paths should be affordable and accessible. 

For more information: https://online.seas.upenn.edu/degrees/mcit-online/

For students interested in learning more about the MCIT on campus program, click here.

 Curriculum

Required Courses 1
CIT 5910Introduction to Software Development1
CIT 5920Mathematical Foundations of Computer Science1
CIT 5930Introduction to Computer Systems1
CIT 5940Data Structures and Software Design1
CIT 5950Computer Systems Programming1
CIT 5960Algorithms and Computation1
Elective Courses 14
Students must complete 4 Elective CUs from the list below
CIS 5150
Fundamentals of Linear Algebra and Optimization
CIS 5210
Artificial Intelligence
CIS 5300
Natural Language Processing
CIS 5450
Big Data Analytics
CIS 5470
Software Analysis
CIS 5490
Wireless Communications for Mobile Networks and Internet of Things
CIS 5500
Database and Information Systems
CIS 5510
Computer and Network Security
CIS 5530
Networked Systems
CIS 5550
Internet and Web Systems
CIS 5690
GPU Computing for Machine Learning Systems
CIS 5810
Computer Vision & Computational Photography
DATS 5750
Cloud Technologies Practicum
ESE 5410
Machine Learning for Data Science
ESE 5420
Statistics for Data Science
ESE 5460
Principles of Deep Learning
EAS 5160
Mathematical Foundations for Machine Learning I: Probability
EAS 5240
Technology Ethics and the Legal Landscape
EAS 5740
How to Use Data
EAS 5850
Imaging Informatics
EAS 5860
Medical Image Analysis
EAS 5830
Blockchains
or CIT 5820
 Blockchains and Cryptography
HCIN 6022
Digital Health 2
Total Course Units10
A total of 10 course units are required for the MCIT degree.
1

Click here for MCIT Online course descriptions.

2

HCIN 6022 should only be taken as an elective if students plan to apply for the Graduate Certificate in Health Care and Technology from the Perelman School of Medicine. All SEAS students entering the Graduate Certificate in Health Care and Technology must take this course as part of their degree studies. SEAS students taking this course for credit in an engineering degree must complete a final project focused on an area of computer science.

 

The degree and major requirements displayed are intended as a guide for students entering in the Fall of 2025 and later. Students should consult with their academic program regarding final certifications and requirements for graduation.

Computer & Information Technology, MCIT (online) and Learning Analytics and Artificial Intelligence, MSEd Dual Degree 

Dual Degree Requirements
Computer and Information Technology Requirements
CIT 5910Introduction to Software Development1
CIT 5920Mathematical Foundations of Computer Science1
CIT 5930Introduction to Computer Systems1
CIT 5940Data Structures and Software Design1
CIT 5950Computer Systems Programming1
CIT 5960Algorithms and Computation1
Two Electives 12
Learning Analytics and Artificial Intelligence Requirements
EDUC 6191Core Methods in Educational Data Mining1
EDUC 6116Master's Foundations of Teaching and Learning1
EDUC 6190Feature Engineering1
EDUC 6195Capstone Seminar: Learning Analytics1
EDUC 5918Large Language Model Seminar1
EDUC 6XXX - Deep Learning and Transformer Models1
Two EDUC Electives 22
Other Requirements
Masters Capstone Project, supported by EDUC 6195
Total Course Units16
1

Electives cannot be taken from EDUC courses. Students may select other online courses within Engineering. 

For MCIT Online students pursuing the dual degree, they may choose to substitute up to 2 of the following courses from the MCIT Online curriculum to satisfy up to 2 CUs toward the Learning Analytics and AI degree:

  • CIS 5450: Big Data Analytics

  • CIS 5210: Artificial Intelligence

  • CIS 5300: Natural Language Processing

2

Electives are taken from other online EDUC courses offered by the Learning Analytics and Artificial Intelligence program. 

For Learning Analytics and AI students pursuing the dual degree, they may choose to substitute up to two of the following courses from the Learning Analytics and AI curriculum to satisfy up to 2 CUs toward the MCIT Online degree:

  • EDUC 6123 Big Data, Education, and Society

  • EDUC 6185: Databases and Data Management*

  • EDUC 5183: Adaptive Learning Systems

  • EDUC 5144: Dashboard for Discovery and Learning Applications

​*Elective that cannot be taken by dual degree students without them having to take an additional required course.