Motivated MCIT Online students
… particularly those passionate about Cybersecurity, have the opportunity to pursue a dual degree by enrolling in the Master of Science in Engineering in Software Systems & Cybersecurity Online.
Online Master of Computer & Information Technology
and Online MSE in Software Systems & Cybersecurity
and Online MSE in Software Systems & Cybersecurity
MCIT Online alumni that meet the eligibility criteria will graduate from their Penn Engineering graduate program and matriculate as a MSE-SSC Online student, transferring four (4) course units of electives from their graduate degree program and taking six (6) additional MSE-SSC Online course units resulting in two graduate degrees from Penn Engineering for a total of sixteen (16) course units.
Eligibility
High-achieving MCIT Online students who have graduated within the last 5 years are welcome to apply for the dual degree. Current students may apply during their final semester before graduation. Eligible students must have a minimum cumulative GPA of 3.5 and be in good standing with the University at the time of application.
More information coming soon about sample plan of study, application open dates, and application requirements.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I apply for the Dual Degree in the semester I am completing my final course requirement?
Yes, current students may begin an application in the last term of their program and must graduate before becoming a Dual Degree student.
How do I know which courses to take if I am a dual-degree student?
Please reach out to your Academic Advisor for assistance.
How long will the second degree portion of the dual degree typically take to complete?
Once Dual Degree students matriculate into the dual degree program, they must complete the degree within three years. If needed, they may take a leave of absence (LOA) during that time for a maximum of two Fall/Spring semesters.
Can I apply to the Dual Degree program if I graduated from my Penn Engineering program over 5 years ago?
To determine eligibility, work backward from the semester that you would like to start the Dual Degree. The date of your graduation must be five years (or fewer) from that semester. Students who have graduated over 5 years from the semester they planned to begin the Dual Degree are ineligible to apply. This is because Penn Engineering CUs expire after 5 years and can no longer be transferred into the Dual Degree. In order to participate in the Dual Degree program, students must have 4 transferrable CUs that count towards their dual degree (see sample plan above). If you are a student without transferable CUs or only have expired CUs, we would like to encourage you to apply directly to one of our degree programs.
If I do not complete an Online Graduate Certificate, can I apply to the Dual Degree program?
Yes. However, please review all Dual Degree policies for degree completion and double counting courses on the Dual Degree webpage. At least six course units must be taken towards your dual degree. Only four course units from your prior Penn Engineering graduate programs (degree or certificate) may transfer in.
Can I complete an Online Graduate Certificate after I graduate from my Penn Engineering degree and then apply to a Dual Degree program?
Yes. However, students can never triple-count a course and only a maximum of four course units can be brought into the Dual Degree. With this, you would still be completing six course units for the Dual Degree.
Can I complete more than one Dual Degree?
No, this is not possible. This is because no course may be triple counted, i.e., counted for more than two credentials.
To learn more, please see the MSE-SSC Online Admissions and Program Information FAQs for more frequently asked questions.