Longest Running in Minnesota, Constantly Evolving
Nestled against the Mississippi River and the urban landscape of St. Paul, the O’Shaughnessy Science Hall at the University of St. Thomas houses the Software Engineering and Data Science Program, which generates innovation, leadership and – of course – graduates.
Producing 4,000 graduates since its 1985 inception, the program has seen many alumni work for the area’s economic drivers such as 3M, Medtronic, Boston Scientific, Cargill, Mayo Clinic and Target. Here, an industryacademia partnership creates software professionals with the know-how to lead within some of the most sophisticated and fast-moving companies on the planet.
The program has grown over the years to cover a wide spectrum of software professional interests and today there are four master’s degrees (Data Science, Software Engineering, Software Management, and Information Technology) and eight graduate certificates (Artificial Intelligence, Big Data, Business Analysis, Data Management, Digital Transformation, Embedded Systems, Healthcare Analytics and Internet of Things).
Software Engineering and Data Science Timeline and Major Milestones
1985: Accepts first class, comprising 52 students
1996: Won Award of Excellence for the Advancement of Technology Education from the Minnesota Software Association (now the Minnesota Technology Association)
2000-03: Offered cohort master’s degree in Software Engineering to corporate employees
2001-02: Over 900 students enrolled in graduate programs
2004: First Certificate of Computer Security started
2008: Creation of Strategic Advisory Board with 14 CIO executives; MS in Software Management program started
2009: Five-year programs with undergraduate computer science started; First Certificate of Business Analysis created
2010: Graduate Programs in Software joins St. Thomas School of Engineering
2013: MS in Information Technology started; Certificate in Big Data started
2014: MS in Data Science started
2015: Center of Excellence for Big Data established
2016-17: Offered cohort Graduate Certificate in Healthcare Analytics programs on-site at Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Minnesota
2018: Certificate in Artificial Intelligence and Certificate of Internet of Things started
2020: Center for Applied AI established
2021: Certificate in Digital Transformation started
2022: 4,000 alumni strong
