Residential Master’s Program University of Pennsylvania
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As a student in the MCIT Online Program, students have access to a Student Success Advising Team that can help them plan their course schedule and overall degree plan. Below you can find a few examples of potential course plans. Note that students can easily switch between part-time and full-time registration each semester based on how many courses they take. Enrollment in the summer semester is optional. We encourage all students to meet with a member of our Student Success Advising Team to discuss the course load and route to degree completion that best fits their needs.

MCIT Online
Sample 20 Month Plan

*Enrollment in 1-2 courses per semester is considered part-time.

Semester 1 – Fall

CIT 5910 Introduction to Software Development

CIT 5910

Introduction to Software Development

This course is an introduction to fundamental concepts of programming and computer science for students who have little or no experience in these areas. Includes an introduction to programming using Python, where students are introduced to core programming concepts like data structures, conditionals, loops, variables, and functions. Also provides an introduction to basic data science techniques using Python. The second half of this course is an introduction to object-oriented programming using Java, where students are introduced to polymorphism, inheritance, abstract classes, interfaces, and advanced data structures. Students will also learn how to read and write to files, connect to databases, and use regular expressions to parse text. This course includes substantial programming assignments in both Python and Java, and teaches techniques for test-driven development and debugging code.

Pre-Requisites

No Pre-Requisites

CIT 5920 Mathematical Foundations of Computer Science

CIT 5920

Mathematical Foundations of Computer Science

This course introduces students to math concepts that form the backbone of the majority of computer science. Topics covered include sets, functions, permutations and combinations, discrete probability, expectation, mathematical induction, and graph theory. The goal of the course is to ensure that students are comfortable enough with the math required for most of the CIS electives.

Pre-Requisites

There are no college-level prerequisites for this class. However, reviewing the algebra learned in high school will be very useful. No prior programming background is expected nor will this course assign any programming exercises.

Semester 2 – Spring

CIT 5930 Introduction to Computer Systems

CIT 5930

Introduction to Computer Systems

This course provides an introduction to fundamental concepts of computer systems and computer architecture. Students learn the C programming language and an instruction set (machine language) as a basis for understanding how computers represent data, process information, and execute programs.

Pre-Requisites

This course does not have prerequisites, but CIT 5910 Introduction to Software Development is a co-requisite.

CIT 5940 Data Structures & Software Design

CIT 5940

Data Structures & Software Design

This course focuses on data structures, software design, and advanced Java. The course starts off with an introduction to data structures and basics of the analysis of algorithms. Important data structures covered include arrays, lists, stacks, queues, trees, hash maps, and graphs. The course also focuses on software design and advanced Java topics such as software architectures, design patterns, and concurrency.

Pre-Requisites

Students in this course are expected to have completed or waived CIT 5910 Introduction to Software Development.

Semester 3 – Summer

CIT 5950 Computer Systems Programming

CIT 5950

Computer Systems Programming

This course is a continuation of CIT 5930 and introduces students to fundamental concepts in computing systems. The course is divided into two parts. The first half of the course introduces important concepts in modern operating systems: processes, scheduling, caching, and virtual memory. The second half of the course provides an introduction to fundamental concepts in the design and implementation of networked systems, their protocols, and applications. The course will use the C program language, and will develop your knowledge on C system calls, and libraries for process/thread creation and manipulation, synchronization, and network communication.

Pre-Requisites

CIT 5930

CIT 5960 Algorithms & Computation

CIT 5960

Algorithms & Computation

This course focuses primarily on the design and analysis of algorithms. It begins with sorting and searching algorithms and then investigates graph algorithms. In order to study graph algorithms, general algorithm design patterns like dynamic programming and greedy algorithms are introduced. A section of this course is also devoted to understanding NP-Completeness.

Pre-Requisites

CIT 5920 | Co-requisite: CIT 5940 (Taking concurrently is allowed but taking beforehand is preferred)

Semester 4 – Fall

Elective 1
Elective 2

Semester 5 – Spring

Elective 3
Elective 4

MCIT Online
Sample 16 Month Plan

*Enrollment in 3-4 courses is considered full-time.

Semester 1 – Fall

CIT 5910 Introduction to Software Development

CIT 5910

Introduction to Software Development

This course is an introduction to fundamental concepts of programming and computer science for students who have little or no experience in these areas. Includes an introduction to programming using Python, where students are introduced to core programming concepts like data structures, conditionals, loops, variables, and functions. Also provides an introduction to basic data science techniques using Python. The second half of this course is an introduction to object-oriented programming using Java, where students are introduced to polymorphism, inheritance, abstract classes, interfaces, and advanced data structures. Students will also learn how to read and write to files, connect to databases, and use regular expressions to parse text. This course includes substantial programming assignments in both Python and Java, and teaches techniques for test-driven development and debugging code.

Pre-Requisites

No Pre-Requisites

CIT 5920 Mathematical Foundations of Computer Science

CIT 5920

Mathematical Foundations of Computer Science

This course introduces students to math concepts that form the backbone of the majority of computer science. Topics covered include sets, functions, permutations and combinations, discrete probability, expectation, mathematical induction, and graph theory. The goal of the course is to ensure that students are comfortable enough with the math required for most of the CIS electives.

Pre-Requisites

There are no college-level prerequisites for this class. However, reviewing the algebra learned in high school will be very useful. No prior programming background is expected nor will this course assign any programming exercises.

CIT 5930 Introduction to Computer Systems

CIT 5930

Introduction to Computer Systems

This course provides an introduction to fundamental concepts of computer systems and computer architecture. Students learn the C programming language and an instruction set (machine language) as a basis for understanding how computers represent data, process information, and execute programs.

Pre-Requisites

This course does not have prerequisites, but CIT 5910 Introduction to Software Development is a co-requisite.

Semester 2 – Spring

CIT 5940 Data Structures & Software Design

CIT 5940

Data Structures & Software Design

This course focuses on data structures, software design, and advanced Java. The course starts off with an introduction to data structures and basics of the analysis of algorithms. Important data structures covered include arrays, lists, stacks, queues, trees, hash maps, and graphs. The course also focuses on software design and advanced Java topics such as software architectures, design patterns, and concurrency.

Pre-Requisites

Students in this course are expected to have completed or waived CIT 5910 Introduction to Software Development.

CIT 5950 Computer Systems Programming

CIT 5950

Computer Systems Programming

This course is a continuation of CIT 5930 and introduces students to fundamental concepts in computing systems. The course is divided into two parts. The first half of the course introduces important concepts in modern operating systems: processes, scheduling, caching, and virtual memory. The second half of the course provides an introduction to fundamental concepts in the design and implementation of networked systems, their protocols, and applications. The course will use the C program language, and will develop your knowledge on C system calls, and libraries for process/thread creation and manipulation, synchronization, and network communication.

Pre-Requisites

CIT 5930

CIT 5960 Algorithms & Computation

CIT 5960

Algorithms & Computation

This course focuses primarily on the design and analysis of algorithms. It begins with sorting and searching algorithms and then investigates graph algorithms. In order to study graph algorithms, general algorithm design patterns like dynamic programming and greedy algorithms are introduced. A section of this course is also devoted to understanding NP-Completeness.

Pre-Requisites

CIT 5920 | Co-requisite: CIT 5940 (Taking concurrently is allowed but taking beforehand is preferred)

Semester 3 – Summer

Elective 1
Elective 2

Semester 4 – Fall

Elective 3
Elective 4

Sample Enrollment Timelines

# of
Semesters		12345678910
Part-time
minimum
course load		1 CU1 CU1 CU1 CU1 CU1 CU1 CU1 CU1 CU1 CU
Part-time
maximum
course load		2 CU 2 CU 2 CU 2 CU 2 CU
Full-time
minimum
course load		3 CU3 CU3 CU1 CU*
Full-time
maximum
course load		3 CU 3 CU 4 CU
CU: Course Unit. | *part-time
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