Penn’s MCIT Online Degree Program: A Gateway to Computer Science for Non-CS Majors
Please note that recordings of past webinars may contain outdated information. Please see our admissions pages to find the most up-to-date information for application requirements, current tuition, fees, and deadlines.
On February 5, 2025, Penn Engineering Online hosted an informative webinar featuring Dr. Thomas Farmer, Program Director for the online Master of Computer and Information Technology (MCIT Online) degree program. Dr. Farmer, who also serves as a Senior Lecturer for one of the program’s core courses, brings extensive experience from both industry and academia to his MCIT Online leadership, including his work at AT&T Labs and research at the US Army Research Lab before joining Penn in 2012.
The webinar offered prospective students an in-depth look at the MCIT Online program, which stands as a pioneering graduate-level degree specifically designed for individuals without computer science backgrounds who are looking to transition into tech careers or enhance their current professions with computer science expertise. Dr. Farmer, drawing on his own journey from software development to computer engineering, shared valuable insights about the program’s structure, curriculum, and career outcomes.
A Unique Approach to Computer Science Education
What sets Penn Engineering’s MCIT Online program apart is its foundational mission: providing a comprehensive computer science education at the graduate level without requiring prior computer science education. The program builds on four key pillars:
❶ Students learn from the same world-renowned faculty who teach in Penn’s on-campus programs, ensuring consistent educational quality across all platforms.
❷ The program offers flexibility through asynchronous coursework, allowing students to manage their academic pursuits alongside professional and personal commitments.
❸ Students can alternate between full-time and part-time schedules as needed, only required to be enrolled in at least one course during the fall and spring semesters.
❹ The program boasts a robust online community that connects students, faculty, and staff from countries around the world in meaningful ways.
Curriculum: Building Strong Foundations
The MCIT Online degree program consists of 10 courses: six required core courses that provide essential computer science foundations, followed by four electives that allow students to specialize in areas such as artificial intelligence, software development, or computer security.
During the webinar, Dr. Farmer provided an illuminating glimpse into one of these core courses, which he teaches: CIT 5930: Introduction to Computer Systems.
The course exemplifies the program’s approach to building knowledge from the ground up, starting with fundamental concepts like transistors and progressing to complex topics in computer architecture and programming. “We begin at the lowest level with transistors, then work our way up to building a CPU, and finally connect it all to high-level programming,” Dr. Farmer explained. “Students complete the course with a deep understanding of how software and hardware interact.”
Learning Experience and Support
The program’s online learning environment has been carefully crafted to accommodate the needs of working professionals. Lecture content is broken into manageable 10-minute segments that learners can access on-demand, allowing students to fit learning into their busy schedules. While courses maintain weekly deadlines to keep students on track, the asynchronous format provides flexibility in when and how students engage with the material.
Support for students is comprehensive, with approximately one teaching assistant for every ten students. This high level of support extends beyond just academic assistance. MCIT Online students have access to:
✸ Regular faculty office hours
✸ Academic coaching
✸ Digital conversation platforms (active discussion forums and a vibrant Slack community)
✸ The MCIT Online Student Association (MOSA)
✸ Geographic-based student-organized study groups
✸ Optional in-person networking, events and collaboration opportunities
Career Outcomes and Future Pathways
The MCIT Online degree program serves as an effective launching pad for those seeking to enter the tech industry, enhance their current careers with refined technical expertise, or prepare for doctoral studies in computer science. MCIT Online graduates have successfully transitioned into various tech roles as software engineers, systems engineers, software developers, intelligence engineers, and more.
For students interested in specialized areas, the program offers pathways to dual degrees with Penn Engineering’s online Artificial Intelligence (AI) or Data Science (DS) master’s degree programs. Students maintaining a 3.5 GPA can apply during their final MCIT Online semester and, if accepted, transfer four MCIT courses toward their second degree. Students hoping to complete a dual degree should communicate this with their academic advisor as early as possible to ensure the correct courses are taken.
Admissions and Applications
Applicants from all professional backgrounds and undergraduate degrees are welcomed, but proof of quantitative ability is essential. As Associate Director of Admissions Jacquie Panto noted, “Our student body includes teachers, musicians, and professionals from various fields, all united by their interest in computer science and technology.”
For those interested in applying, the program offers two application deadlines per admission cycle (early and regular). Application requirements include a resume, personal statement, all unofficial college transcripts, and two letters of recommendation. GRE scores are optional. English language proficiency tests are required for international students whose primary language is not English. Each component of the application is important as the application is viewed holistically.
Building a Tech Future
The MCIT Online degree program represents Penn Engineering’s commitment to making high-quality computer science education accessible to professionals from a wide range of backgrounds. Whether students aim to transition into tech careers, enhance their current roles with technical expertise, or prepare for advanced studies, this program provides the flexibility, support, and comprehensive education needed to achieve these goals. You can review the 2024 Outcomes Report to learn more about the roles that MCIT Online graduates have secured.
As Dr. Farmer emphasized during the webinar, “Whether you want to make a complete career switch, formalize your self-taught programming knowledge, or enhance your existing career with computer science skills — MCIT Online is designed to help you succeed.”
Key Questions from the Webinar
How much time should I expect to dedicate to coursework each week?
Students should plan to dedicate approximately 15-18 hours per week per course. The program is designed with working professionals in mind, with lectures broken into manageable 10-minute segments that can be viewed at your convenience. While the workload is substantial, the asynchronous format allows you to structure your study time around your other personal and professional commitments.
How does the MCIT Online degree compare to a traditional Computer Science degree?
The MCIT Online degree provides comparable computer science fundamentals to a traditional CS degree, but is structured specifically for those without formal CS background. While the name includes “IT,” the curriculum is focused on computer science principles rather than IT infrastructure. The degree is well-recognized by employers, and graduates successfully compete for the same software engineering and development positions as traditional CS degree holders.
What kind of quantitative background is required for admission?
The program requires a minimum demonstrated ability in algebra at the college level. While calculus is common among applicants, the admissions committee looks at all quantitative coursework in your academic history, including physics, chemistry, and other science courses that demonstrate mathematical reasoning ability. Recent coursework is viewed more favorably than courses taken many years ago.
How flexible is the program for working professionals?
The program offers significant flexibility to accommodate working professionals, including the ability to:
- Modify your schedule between full-time (3 courses) or part-time (1-2 courses) each semester
- Complete the program in as little as 16 months or take up to 5 years to graduate
- Take summers off or use them to accelerate your course progress
- Access all course content asynchronously from anywhere in the world
Can I be overqualified for the program?
MCIT Online is intended for students with little or no recent CS experience. If you would be able to test out of more than three of our core courses, you are probably overqualified. Self-taught programming experience, boot camps, professional certifications, and work experience in tech roles do not disqualify you. In fact, many successful MCIT students come to the program with some informal or self-taught exposure to programming, but they are seeking the formal learning structure and comprehensive computer science foundation that the MCIT degree can provide.
Next Steps
For more information about the MCIT Online degree program, visit the MCIT Online admissions page.
Visit the Penn Engineering Online YouTube channel to watch past webinar recordings and hear from the Admissions Team, alumni, and current students.
