A Brief History of the Software Engineering Major
Software engineering pertains to the design, implementation, and editing of software in an effort to make it easier to maintain, faster to build, more affordable, and most importantly- of higher quality. The first computers appeared in the 1940s with operating instructions wired inside of them, and by the 1950s programming languages started to appear and were more common ways to operate computers. Computer hardware and software made advances and in the 1970s were more common and obtainable. When the World Wide Web and the popularity of the Internet hit in the mid 1990s, the face of software advanced once again, being able to produce it more cost effective, of better quality, and faster. Today, many software engineers have a degree or certificate in the field, as a number of universities offer degrees in software engineering. Degrees in software engineering are offered at few different levels, giving students the opportunity to earn the degree at the associate, bachelor, master, and doctorate degree level.
Delving Into the Software Engineering Major
Students that pursue a degree program in software engineering will be required to take a number of courses that relate to software engineering and related subjects in order to be prepared for careers in the field. While the specific degree requirements and course requirements of programs are likely to vary between learning institutions, most programs are aimed at preparing students with the same concepts and knowledge. In order to be able to do so, students take courses that may include (but are not limited to): web design, technical writing, programming, management of information systems, business systems development, database concepts and management, SQL, and Java programming, such as in the degree plan from Cogswell College. Other courses may include those dealing with operating systems, information technology, software architecture, and application design and implementation. As part of the program and part of the grade for courses in the program, students are also likely to be assigned projects and presentations they must create in order to ensure that students are understanding and learning the material. Some projects may include designing and creating web pages, applications, software designs, and other programs for presentation to the professor and/or other peers. Students may also be required to read books and/or textbooks that they will likely be tested over in exams for a grade.
Degree Levels:
Associate
An associate degree in software engineering teaches the basics and fundamentals of software architecture in an effort to prepare students for entry level and beginner careers in the information technology and software fields. An associate degree in software engineering generally takes students about two years to complete and is great for individuals wanting to launch a career in the field or further their education to purse a higher degree. Through this degree program, students will learn basic data communication, computer concepts, and the fundamentals of computer programming, as well as the basics of web design and how to use the Internet as a tool.
Bachelor’s
A bachelor’s degree in software engineering goes into further detail about the procedures and use of software, design, the Internet, and computer programming. Bachelor degree programs generally take students about four years to complete and teach students the skills they will need in order to know how to program computers and applications and work with technological aspects of computer systems. Graduates of bachelor degree software engineering programs will also be able to design, create, and implement software as well as be able to maintain and update software. With this coursework, students will also be able to identify and solve issues that will occur in the workplace with the critical thinking, analytical, and communication abilities they have learned.
Master’s
Master degree programs in software engineering delve more into the theories and research behind computer software engineering and architecture and are research heavy degree programs. Master degree programs generally take students between one and a half and two years to complete and teach students the skills and knowledge they will need to understand the latest technology in the field. With these programs, students will develop advanced skills and knowledge, and graduates will be able to identify and demonstrate managerial and technological aspects of information technology and software engineering.
Doctorate
Doctorate degree programs are rigorous research intensive programs that allow students to develop advanced experience in the field. Doctorate degree programs require hard work, time, and dedication and are the highest level of degree an individual can pursue in software engineering. Graduates of software engineering Ph.D programs will be able to use their critical thinking, analytical skills, and application and knowledge of theories to develop strategies to develop new software. They will also be able to create, test, evaluate and maintain new techniques and applications, develop creative design skills, and develop and use organizational and communicational skills in their work.
Supplementing Your Software Engineering Major
There are a number of concentrations within the software engineering major that students will need to be familiar with in order to succeed in the program and earn a degree. Some of the concentrations within the degree field of software engineering may include (but are not limited to): computer programming, web design, HTML, computer networks, database management, application theories, computer science, and operating systems. Through learning concentrations and concepts specific to software engineering, students gain a better understanding of the field and have the opportunity to qualify for careers in the industry. Students may also have better job opportunities if they decide to dedicate study time to a minor concentration as well. Not only does having a minor concentration in another study allow students to learn more knowledge and gain more experience in another field, but it is likely to widen job opportunities as well. Minors that may pair well with software engineering major degree programs include business, education, or information technology. Business minors may also have the opportunity to pursue upper level or management positions in an information technology setting or company, or pursue an entrepreneur career and open their own business in the field. Those students that major in education have the option to teach in the field or work in some sort of educational setting, while those that minor in information technology could expand their knowledge in the information systems and computer science field to qualify for a larger amount of jobs.
Learn More About the Software Engineering Major
- US News and World Report’s Software Engineering Degree Programs
- Software Engineering for Web Applications
- IEEE Transactions on Software Engineering
The Software Engineering Major in the Job Market
Earning a degree in software engineering will prepare students with the knowledge, training, and skills they will need to excel in careers relating to the information technology and software engineering fields, as well as other fields and careers that are closely related. During the course of earning the degree, students will study and learn about the basics and fundamentals of computer systems and programs, web design, software application, building software, using the Internet and the web as a tool, and computer programming. Students will know how to use digital materials and simulations to create and design software, know how to program computers and programs, and understand and be able to create and maintain databases, as well as be familiar with network technologies. Graduates will have gained skills through these courses including (but not limited to): creative design, critical thinking, organizational, communicational, and project planning skills. All of the skills that graduates of software engineering degree programs develop are skills that will most likely be required or sought after by employers in the field. Many employers prefer to hire individuals that have the training, experience, and education to know about the field and be able to provide creative input and designs for their company, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. Because of this, individuals with the educational experience and degree in the field may have the best job opportunities. Graduates of software engineering degree programs can pursue a number of careers in a variety of fields including those in (but not limited to): computer programing, computer networking, government, systems engineering, computer science, information technology, or project management. Some of the careers that can be pursued in these fields may include (but are not limited to): computer software analyst, computer software engineer, computer software designer, computer software technician, support technician, web application developer, web application analyst, or software programmer.
Careers I Can Get with This Degree:
