This 17-unit certificate program will provide engineers with the skills required to face the increasingly complex future in architecting systems, systems of systems, and software-intensive systems. In addition, explicit focus on architecture has shown tremendous potential to improve the current state-of-the-art in software development and alleviate many of its problems.
The program exposes students to the concepts, principles, and state-of-the-art methods in software architectures; introduces principles and approaches for modeling systems using SysML; applies software engineering process models and management approaches for design and architecture of large software systems; and guides the architect through every phase of the conception, implementation, deployment, and finally systems retirement. If students are later admitted to the Master of Science in Computer Science, the courses taken for the certificate may be applied toward that degree.
International Students: This program is not eligible for the OPT STEM extension.
Please Note: Requirements for graduation, course offerings, course availability, track offerings, and any other degree requirements are subject to change. Students should consult with an academic advisor prior to registering for any classes.- A minimum of 17-18 units is required to earn the Graduate Certificate in Software Architecture
- Required Courses: 14 units
- Elective Course: 3-4 units
- A minimum cumulative GPA of 3.0 is required for graduation
Detailed Program Curriculum and RequirementsSchedule of ClassesAPPLICATION DEADLINESSEMESTER | DEADLINE |
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Spring 2021 (Final Deadline) | September 15, 2020 |
Spring 2021 (Scholarship Consideration Deadline) | August 31, 2020 |
Fall 2021 (Final Deadline) | January 15, 2021 |
Fall 2021 (Scholarship Consideration Deadline) | December 15, 2020 |
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Visit our
Application Deadlines page for more information.
APPLICATION REQUIREMENTS- An undergraduate degree in engineering, math or hard science from a regionally-accredited university.
- Satisfactory cumulative undergraduate GPA (grade point average).
- Satisfactory GRE test scores. All scores must be officially reported to the university directly by ETS (optional-see below)
- Substantial background in computing constitutes a minimum requirement.
The following materials are required to be included with your online application:
ADDITIONAL MATERIALS FOR INTERNATIONAL APPLICANTSEnglish Language Proficiency: In addition to application requirements above, international students whose first language is not English are required to take the TOEFL or IELTS. There is no minimum TOEFL or IELTS score required for admission to the Viterbi School. For possible exemption from additional language requirements, you must achieve an Internet Based TOEFL (iBT) score of 90, with no less than 20 on each section or an IELTS score of 6.5, with no less than 6 on each band score. Please review USC Graduate Admission – Proficiency in English.
USC GRADUATE APPLICATION
The following is an overview of the tuition & fees for graduate engineering students. Both on-campus and DEN@Viterbi students pay the same tuition.
TUITION
Academic Year | Per Unit Rate | 3-unit Course | 4-unit Course |
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Fall 2021 - Summer 2022* | $2,199 | $6,597 | $8,796 |
Fall 2020 - Summer 2021* | $2,148 | $6,444 | $8,592 |
* Tuition is the same for on-campus and online students |
STUDENT FEES
Fee Description | Fee Amount | On-Campus | DEN@Viterbi |
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Mandatory Fees (approximate) | Fall 2019: $475 Spring 2020: $420 | | |
Health Insurance | Fall 2019: $730 Spring 2020: $1,311 | | |
Norman Topping Student Aid Fee | $8/semester | | |
ENGR Computing Access Fee (On-Campus students) | $75/semester |
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ENGR Computing Access Fee (DEN@Viterbi students) | $35/semester | |
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Exam Proctoring | $40 - $100 per course | | |
Detailed Information on Tuition & FeesThis program is also available online to professional engineers through DEN@Viterbi. Because the DEN@Viterbi program provides a fully equivalent academic experience, the degree a USC engineering student earns is the same whether they are on-campus or online.
If you are interested in beginning classes as a DEN@Viterbi student next semester, explore the requirements and steps to enrolling as a Limited Status Student.
Learn More About DEN@Viterbi
Detailed Program Curriculum and RequirementsSchedule of Classes
DEN@VITERBI ONLINE COURSE OFFERINGS
The following courses and program requirements serve as program planning for DEN@Viterbi students. Course offerings and availability are subject to change. Please consult with advisor if you have any questions.
Required Courses |
All courses are required – 14 units total. |
CSCI 568 | Requirements Engineering (4 units) |
CSCI 578 | Software Architectures (4 units) |
SAE 547 | Model-Based Systems Architecting & Engineering (3 units) |
SAE 549 | Systems Architecting (3 units) |
Elective Courses |
One course required – 3-4 units total. |
CSCI 510 | Software Management and Economics (4 units) |
CSCI 530 | Security Systems (4 units) |
CSCI 577a | Software Engineering (4 units) |
CSCI 577b | Software Engineering (4 units) |
EE 557 | Computer Systems Architecture (4 units) |
SAE 541 | Systems Engineering Theory & Practice (3 units) |
Please complete the following form for more information.