Curriculum

The Master of Molecular Science and Software Engineering at UC Berkeley is awarded upon successful completion of 29 approved units for the Fall cohort and 30 units for the Summer cohort. There are two standard completion options: full-time (2 semesters) and part-time (4 semesters). The course progressions for these "standard" options are listed below. Part-time students may also choose to complete MSSE in more than 4 semesters. If you would like to complete the program part-time in more than 4 semesters, it is important to speak with your Advisor about your individual track as soon as possible. Students who wish to change their completion option (from full-time to part-time, or vice versa) must gain approval from the program. If you would like to make this change, please reach out to your Advisor as soon as possible.

Bootcamps

CHEM 280: Foundations of Programming and Software Engineering for Molecular Sciences
The Programming Bootcamp is a 2-week, full-time course that takes place just before the start of the first semester for the Fall cohort. The Summer cohort will NOT take Chem 280. The Programming Bootcamp is a 2-unit, required class that will be offered online. 

August 4th - August 15th, 2025 (weekdays only)
      9:00am to 4:00pm PST
      Online, synchronous

CHEM 282A: Leadership Bootcamp
This boot camp for the Master of Molecular Science and Software Engineering program is a two-week intensive course that introduces program participants to the leadership, management, and entrepreneurial skills necessary in today’s professional environment. Week 1 is offered asynchronously online. Week 2 is in-person. 

January 5th - January 9th, 2026
      Online, asynchronous

January 12th - January 16th, 2026
      9:00am to 12:00pm PT
      In-person, synchronous

Fall Semester  -  14 units

CHEM 280: Foundations of Programming and Software Engineering for Molecular Sciences (2 units)*

CHEM 274A: Programming Languages for Molecular Sciences: Python and C++ (3 units)

CHEM 274B: Software Engineering Fundamentals for Molecular Sciences (3 units)

DATA 200S: Principles and Techniques of Data Science (3 units)

CHEM 277B: Machine Learning Algorithms (3 units)

Spring Semester  -  15 units

CHEM 282A: Leadership Bootcamp (1 unit)*

CHEM 282B: MSSE Leadership and Project Management (1 unit)

CHEM 278: Ethics in Molecular Science and Software Engineering (1 unit)

CHEM 284: High Performance Computing for the Molecular Sciences (3 units)

CHEM 281: Software Engineering for Scientific Computing (3 units)

CHEM 279: Numerical Algorithms Applied to Computational Quantum Chemistry (3 units)

CHEM 283: MSSE Capstone Project (3 units)

More information about each course, as well as sample syllabi, can be found on the MSSE Curriculum webpage.

Year 1

Fall Semester  -  8 units

CHEM 280: Foundations of Programming and Software Engineering for Molecular Sciences (2 units)*

CHEM 274A: Programming Languages for Molecular Sciences: Python and C++ (3 units)

CHEM 274B: Software Engineering Fundamentals for Molecular Sciences (3 units)

Spring Semester  -  7 units

DATA 200S: Principles and Techniques of Data Science (3 units)

CHEM 277B: Machine Learning Algorithms (3 units)

CHEM 278: Ethics in Molecular Science and Software Engineering (1 unit)

Year 2

Fall Semester  -  6 units

CHEM 281: Software Engineering for Scientific Computing (3 units)

CHEM 279: Numerical Algorithms Applied to Computational Quantum Chemistry (3 units)

Spring Semester  -  8 units

CHEM 282A: Leadership Bootcamp (1 unit)*

CHEM 282B: MSSE Leadership and Project Management (1 unit)

CHEM 284: High Performance Computing for the Molecular Sciences (3 units)

CHEM 283: MSSE Capstone Project (3 units)

More information about each course, as well as sample syllabi, can be found on the MSSE Curriculum webpage.

Summer Semester  -  6 units

CHEM 272: Python for Molecular Science (3 units)

CHEM 273: Numerical Methods for Computational Science (3 units)

Fall Semester  -  12 units

CHEM 274A: Programming Languages for Molecular Sciences: Python and C++ (3 units)

CHEM 274B: Software Engineering Fundamentals for Molecular Sciences (3 units)

DATA 200S: Principles and Techniques of Data Science (3 units)

CHEM 277B: Machine Learning Algorithms (3 units)

Spring Semester  -  12 units

CHEM 282A: Leadership Bootcamp (1 unit)*

CHEM 282B: MSSE Leadership and Project Management (1 unit)

CHEM 278: Ethics in Molecular Science and Software Engineering (1 unit)

CHEM 284: High Performance Computing for the Molecular Sciences 

OR CHEM 279: Numerical Algorithms Applied to Computational Quantum Chemistry (3 units)

CHEM 281: Software Engineering for Scientific Computing (3 units)

CHEM 283: MSSE Capstone Project (3 units)

More information about each course, as well as sample syllabi, can be found on the MSSE Curriculum webpage.

Year 1

Summer Semester  -  6 units

CHEM 272: Python for Molecular Science (3 units)

CHEM 273: Numerical Methods for Computational Science (3 units)

Fall Semester  -  6 units

CHEM 274A: Programming Languages for Molecular Sciences: Python and C++ (3 units)

CHEM 274B: Software Engineering Fundamentals for Molecular Sciences (3 units)

Spring Semester  -  6 units

DATA 200S: Principles and Techniques of Data Science (3 units)

CHEM 277B: Machine Learning Algorithms (3 units)

Year 2

Fall Semester  -  6 units

CHEM 281: Software Engineering for Scientific Computing (3 units)

CHEM 279: Numerical Algorithms Applied to Computational Quantum Chemistry (3 units)

Spring Semester  -  6 units

CHEM 282A: Leadership Bootcamp (1 unit)*

CHEM 282B: MSSE Leadership and Project Management (1 unit)

CHEM 278: Ethics in Molecular Science and Software Engineering (1 unit)

CHEM 283: MSSE Capstone Project (3 units)

More information about each course, as well as sample syllabi, can be found on the MSSE Curriculum webpage.