The design and implementation of an innovative online program for a master of science degree in Computer Science — Software Engineering specialization

An executive software engineering program-developed to meet regional workforce needs-affords cohorts of students the opportunity to complete their Master´s degree within one calendar year. This innovative program was designed with several objectives. Custom elective tracks were integrated to better meet needs within diverse application areas, such as healthcare, transportation, and the insurance industry. This program was also designed to establish a partner relationship with employers to support students through work release and opportunities for real world capstone project experiences. The program was designed as a cohort model in order to establish a strong sense of community and thus promote increased peer learning within courses because effective peer learning has been established as a best practice for online programs in higher education. Experiences regarding the development and implementation of an innovative, graduate, online program for the Master of Science in Computer Science - Software Engineering specialization are described in this paper.