Carnegie Mellon University
Software and Societal Systems Department  ›  Privacy Engineering Program  ›  Masters Program  ›  Plan of Study

Plan of Study

The Privacy Engineering program is now available both as a full-time, on-campus program and a part-time distance education program. The requirements of both programs are identical and the degree awarded to students is exactly the same.

Full-Time Program: Masters in Privacy Engineering

The full-time master's program is offered at Carnegie Mellon University's Pittsburgh campus. Students enrolling in the full-time program can opt between two tracks: 12-months (Privacy Engineering 162 units) and 16-months (Privacy Engineering Practice, 165 units). Students enrolled in the 12-month track will typically begin in the fall semester, complete the program at the end of the following summer and will graduate in August. Students enrolled in the 16-month track will typically begin in the fall semester and will complete the program at the end of the following fall (December) to allow for a summer internship. For details about program requirements, please see the Privacy Engineering Handbook (Full-time).

CMU undergraduates may complete the Masters in Privacy Engineering degree as a fifth year by following the 12-month track. Required privacy engineering courses as well as some other graduate courses taken while completing other CMU degree programs may be used to meet MPE graduation requirements, as detailed in the Privacy Engineering Handbook. There is some flexibility in application dates for students completing a CMU undergraduate degree. To learn more, contact the MPE faculty.

Part-Time Program: M.S. in Privacy Technology and Policy

The part-time master's program - M.S. in Privacy Technology and Policy - has been designed with the objective of being able to accommodate students who are currently employed and who do not want to leave their current job. The program gives students remote access to the exact same classes as full-time students. All lectures are video-taped, giving students the flexibility of watching lectures at their own convenience.  A key difference between the full-time and part-time offerings is that part-time students do not have a Capstone requirement. Part-time students benefit from additional support in the form of evening recitations and office hours scheduled to simultaneously accommodate both West Coast and East Coast students. The part-time program is a total of 93 units and can be completed in as little as 12 months. Students who find this tempo to be too demanding have the option of taking a lighter load and a longer time to degree completion. 

Learn More


Applications for Fall 2026 will open in September 2025

Program Requirements - Full Time

12 Month Sample Schedule →

162 total units 

All courses listed by course number and title are required core courses for the program. Elective requirments are listed by number of units required. Unit counts for each course are noted in parentheses. 

 

Fall Semester

45-63 total units 

Spring Semester

57-63 total units 

Summer Semester 

48-60 total units 

  • 17-606 Privacy-by-design Workshop (6)
  • 17-607 Privacy-by-design Practicum (42)
  • Additional Elective (optional)

16 Month Sample Schedule →

168 total units

All courses listed by course number and title are required core courses for the program. Elective requirments are listed by number of units required. Unit counts for each course are noted in parentheses. 

Fall Semester

45-63 total units 

Spring Semester

57-63 total units 

Summer Semester 

3 non-tuition bearing units total

  • 17-609 Internship for Privacy Engineering (3)

Fall Semester

51-63 total units 

Program Requirements Part-time

The sample schedules below are guidelines for how to structure your schedule throughout your time in the program. A plan for completion in 1-year and 2-year time lines are listed.

16 Month Sample Schedule →

93 total units

All courses listed by course number and title are required core courses for the program. Elective requirments are listed by number of units required. Unit counts for each course are noted in parentheses. 

Fall

27 total units 

Spring 

27 total units 

Summer

  • 12 units Electives

Fall

27 total units 

There is flexibility to adjust the sequencing of courses to your specific needs in consultation with your advisor. Please note that courses listed in the Fall and Spring are only offered in those semesters. 

28 Month Sample Schedule →

93 total units 

All courses listed by course number and title are required core courses for the program. Elective requirments are listed by number of units required. Unit counts for each course are noted in parentheses. 

Year 1

Fall

15 total units 

Spring 

15 total units 

Summer

  • 12 units Electives

Year 2

Fall

15 total units 

Spring 

12 total units

Fall

24 total units 

Course Policies

GPA requirement. Student must maintain a 3.0 GPA in courses used for the requirements above.

Electives. Any graduate-level CMU courses can count as a general elective. Any graduate-level course in SCS or College of Engineering can count as a technical elective. In addition, graduate-level technical courses in other departments (e.g. security courses in Heinz College, statistics courses, math courses, etc.) will count if approved by the program directors. The program directors will prepare a list of recommended electives each semester that includes a variety of courses that complement the required courses and expose students to material in other relevant disciplines (e.g. biometrics, decision sciences, economics, public policy, statistics, security). Students may propose additional courses for approval. Students may also work on research projects for independent study credits that can be counted towards the elective requirement with the approval of the student’s advisor. 

Extra courses.  Some students may need to take extra non-qualifying classes to address weaknesses in their background, to fulfill prerequisites, or take extra classes simply because they are interested. Such courses will not count toward the unit requirement.

Grade requirement.  Students must earn a "B-" or better in a course for it to satisfy any requirement.