Masters in Privacy Engineering
The world's first and foremost masters degree program dedicated entirely to Privacy Engineering.
Privacy is not dead. But, our current state of privacy is far from ideal. Data breaches are revealing a shocking amount of data is being collected on all of us. Privacy policies are flimsy, obscure, or unreadable. IoT devices are gathering information about us without anyone noticing. These trends are impacting the bottom line: users are losing trust in the services they use daily and regulators are doling out billions of dollars in fines.
At Carnegie Mellon we’ve spent decades at the forefront of privacy research and our Privacy Engineering masters program is the first and only program dedicated to training software engineers to develop products and services which respect user privacy. Classroom instruction, student research projects, internships, and capstone projects done in partnership with industry give our students the skill set needed to identify and resolve privacy challenges in modern software systems. The skills are in high demand and our graduates earn handsome salaries at the biggest technology companies in the world.
New Certificate and Part-Time Online Options Now Available!
New Part-Time online and certificate options are now available! These options are particularly well-suited for students who cannot afford to leave their existing jobs. The Part-Time option - MS in Privacy Technology and Policy - will enable students to earn their degree in as little as 24 months. Program requirements and the degree awarded are identical to those of the full-time on-campus program. The Privacy Engineering Certificate program offers accreditation upon completion of an intensive 4-week program with coursework offered remotely over weekends .
To learn more and apply online:
The first. The best.
Our first-of-its kind Masters in Privacy Engineering degree is designed specifically for computer scientists and engineers who want to make an meaningful impact as privacy engineers or technical privacy managers. Students who elect to take a summer internship typically finish the program in 16 months, and those who do not take an internship may finish in 12. All students finish their degree with a Capstone project in which they solve real-world privacy challenges for an outside sponsor. Past sponsors include Facebook, Netflix, Microsoft, and other major names in the technology sector.
READY TO MAKE A DIFFERENCE? LEARN MORE.
"The Privacy Engineering program will equip you, as it has me, to grapple with the ever-changing legal landscape in privacy while at the same time arming you with a tool-kit of deep privacy engineering fundamentals. You are ready to start making a difference from day-one.
If you are at all interested in a technical career in information privacy, this is the program for you."
- Adam Durity (MSIT-PE '14), Google Security & Privacy
Featured Faculty and Alumni
Privacy by Design: Shaping Tomorrow's Digital Defenders
CMU’s Privacy Engineering Program, led by pioneers like Lorrie Cranor and Norman Sadeh, equips students with the technical, legal, and ethical skills to tackle today’s privacy challenges. With a focus on real-world applications and privacy by design, graduates are leading the way in safeguarding data in an evolving digital landscape...
Navigating the Future of Privacy Engineering with Lorrie Cranor
Join Privacy Engineering Program co-director Lorrie Cranor as she delves into the cutting-edge challenges and opportunities in the field of privacy engineering. Discover how CMU is training the next generation of privacy leaders to blend technical expertise with ethical responsibility. Register now to explore how you can be part of the privacy revolution...
Privacy Alumni Feature: Dhanuja Shaji
Carnegie Mellon University Privacy Engineering alumna, Dhanuja Shaji, wants you to know that the field of Privacy Engineering is exploding. Worried about finding a great job after graduation? Don’t, she says. Learn more about Dhanuja’s journey and why a Privacy Engineering degree from CMU will have the biggest names in tech coming to you, instead of the other way around.
Let's Talk
We strive to provide comprehensive information for our prospective applicants, but we understand that you may still have questions. If there's anything you'd like to know, please feel free to reach out using the form below, and we'll respond as soon as possible.