Quick wins for a faster PC:
Fix the driver behind crashes, sound loss and screen glitchesFind Drivers →Repair Windows errors before they cause bigger problemsFix Now →Scan for outdated or missing drivers - takes under a minuteDriver Scan →Southern Methodist University still lists its Master of Science in Datacenter Systems Engineering, a 30-credit graduate degree that combines data-center facilities and infrastructure with computing, analytics, networking, security, and business. SMU describes the current format as in person with some online classes; it lists typical completion times of two years full time or three years part time. Those details differ from the distance-education option described when the degree was announced in 2014.
Is SMU’s data-center master’s degree still offered?
Yes. SMU’s current program page and catalog entry list the Master of Science in Datacenter Systems Engineering.
The degree was announced in March 2014, with an expected launch that fall. The announcement described it as the first U.S. multidisciplinary graduate degree focused specifically on data centers. That is a claim from the announcement period; SMU’s current program page separately calls it the only graduate program of its kind in the United States. The latter is SMU’s characterization, not an independent comparison of every current program.
The 2014 announcement also reported that Compass Datacenters CEO Chris Crosby was helping develop the curriculum and would guest lecture, and cited a Northwestern graduate-level course as another example of university attention to data centers. Those are historical details, not confirmation of current partnerships or offerings. The announcement quoted Crosby describing the curriculum as providing professionals “the breadth of knowledge” needed in a complex industry with many interdependencies.
#1 Best Overall
What does the degree require?
SMU’s catalog describes a 30-credit-hour degree: 27 credits of coursework and a three-credit capstone. The course plan consists of five core courses, three Group I electives totaling nine credits, and two Group II electives totaling six credits. Group I electives are selected from one or more specializations; Group II choices require adviser approval.
| Program component | Credits | Catalog description |
|---|---|---|
| Core courses | 15 | Five required courses |
| Group I electives | 9 | Three courses selected from one or more specializations |
| Group II electives | 6 | Two additional electives, subject to adviser approval |
| Capstone | 3 | Required capstone |
| Total | 30 | Credits for the M.S. listed in SMU’s catalog |
SMU’s catalog names specializations in facilities and infrastructure; data engineering and analytics; networks, virtualization, and security; and business. The program page highlights subject areas including management of industrial and mission-critical facilities, artificial intelligence, and energy management for buildings. Consult the current catalog and an adviser for the applicable course list and elective approval.
Rank #2
- Ideal for Gifting
- Ideal for a bookworm
- Compact for travelling
Can students complete it while working?
SMU lists both full-time and part-time study. Its program page gives typical durations of two years full time and three years part time, and describes delivery as in person with some online classes. These are the current published format and timelines; the 2014 announcement’s description of on-campus and distance-education options should not be read as the current delivery promise.
What academic background is required?
The catalog’s degree-specific requirements call for a bachelor’s degree in engineering, computer science, a quantitative science, or mathematics, plus at least two years of college-level mathematics, including one year of calculus. Applicants must also meet Lyle School of Engineering’s general M.S. admission requirements. Because those general requirements are separate from the degree-specific prerequisites, prospective students should check both the degree catalog entry and the school’s current admissions information before applying.
What’s actually slowing this PC down?
Pick the symptom - the matching free tool is one click away.
What careers does the curriculum address?
SMU lists preparation areas that include data-center operations and management, cloud-computing infrastructure, high-performance computing, telecommunications and networking, cybersecurity and critical systems, AI and machine-learning infrastructure, enterprise IT and systems integration, and financial systems or FinTech. These are fields the program says it prepares students to pursue, not a promise of a job or a particular career outcome.
SMU reports a $125,000 average starting salary for M.S. data center systems engineering graduates in 2024 on its program page. The page does not state the cohort size, how salaries were collected, the salary distribution, or whether the average is weighted. Treat the figure as a school-reported average for that year, not an expected salary for an individual graduate.
Quick Recap
Best Value
- It can be a gift option
- Comes with secure packaging
- Helpful in various ways
Rank #4
What to check before applying
- Confirm the current course rotation, specialization options, and elective approvals with the program or an adviser.
- Ask how the in-person schedule and online classes are arranged for the term you plan to attend.
- Check Lyle’s general M.S. admission requirements in addition to the degree’s stated academic prerequisites.
- For financial planning, request current tuition, fees, and any available funding information directly from SMU; the program details cited here do not establish those costs.
- If comparing programs, weigh completion time, admission prerequisites, schedule and delivery, the balance of facilities and computing subjects, and the dates and methods behind any published graduate-outcome figures.
Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply.
