Graduate Education
Professional Master's Program
Now more than ever, staying current with the rapid rate of change in the computing field can make a significant difference in job performance and career opportunities.
The Allen School’s Professional Master’s Program is designed with the working professional in mind. Individuals whose primary interest is in continuing on their career paths at Puget Sound-area technology companies select the PMP for its flexibility while enabling them to acquire critical skills to move them into positions and projects of greater responsibility and impact. The degree typically requires 40 credit hours of courses and colloquia, and takes an average of 2 ½-3 years to complete. More than 1200 software professionals have earned their Master’s degree from the Allen School since the PMP’s inception in 1996.
The PMP offers a range of courses of interest to computing professionals interested in advancing their knowledge in core and emerging areas of computing, including database management, machine learning, computer architecture, computational biology, programming languages, software entrepreneurship, computer vision, ubiquitous computing, robotics, and more. Students furthermore have access to myriad topical colloquia, seminars, and distinguished lectures to keep current on cutting-edge research and applied computing topics.
Explore Our Professional Master's Program
Program Overview
The PMP is a part-time, evening program leading to a Master’s Degree designed with the schedule and needs of working software professionals in mind.
Admissions
Students in the PMP are among the best and brightest in the Seattle area’s technology industry, chosen for their software development knowledge and achievements.
Courses & Colloquia
PMP courses and colloquia enable computing professionals to advance their knowledge in core and emerging areas and learn about the latest research in the field.
Student Handbook
From registration timelines to course websites, the handbook covers the essentials busy PMP students need to know to navigate the program.
Advising &
Program Contact
PMP Advising is the primary point of contact for prospective and continuing PMP students, guiding them on their journey from pre-application through graduation.
Single Course Enrollment
Local software professionals not enrolled in the PMP may take courses to expand their knowledge or to prepare to apply to a graduate program later on.
Professional Master's Fast Facts
The PMP offers unique benefits to working professionals, including an opportunity to interact with other talented area professionals in a flexible, part-time learning environment that blends focused academic coursework and exciting colloquia offering practical engineering and development insights and tools.
Key Program Features
- Flexible part-time program with evening classes that meet just one night per week and colloquia that can be attended or viewed online.
- Affordable program that is reimbursable by many local employers.
- Broad range of graduate computer science classes with no prerequisites.
- Welcoming and supportive environment for international students, women, and other groups historically underrepresented or under-served in STEM and computing.
- Access to extensive UW computer science libraries.
- Can sub up to two non-PMP courses with graduate-level transfer credit or coursework from elsewhere at UW.
- 3 application cycles annually with no GRE requirement.
- No summer classes.
Student Body Profile
- Average professional experience: 5.5 years
- Average undergraduate GPA: 3.5
- Percent of students who are non-US citizens: 30%
- Popular undergraduate majors: Computer Science, Computer Engineering, Electrical Engineering, Math, or closely-related fields
- Most-represented employers among student body (out of nearly 50 local companies represented in the program): Microsoft, Amazon, Google, Boeing, Apple
- Typical job titles: Software Engineer (I, II, Senior, et cetera), Software Development Engineer, Computer Engineer, Software Developer