Program Overview

Introduction to the BS Software Engineering Program ##"

The BS in Software Engineering prepares students to become software professionals who develop software products on time, within budget, and that meet customer requirements. Building on the fundamentals of computer science, the program focuses on practical aspects of building and deploying software systems in a socially responsible way.

Program Educational Mission

The program's educational mission supports the faculty in research and professional development that keeps them current in their field and in touch with current industry practices and trends.

Program Hallmark

The hallmark of the program is "hands on" experience where students follow a curriculum that builds on traditional computer science but differs from the BS in Computer Science in the following ways:

• Classes emphasize the team approach to building software and provide leadership opportunities for every student.
  • This includes significant learning in engineering and management areas.
• Classes place an emphasis on software processes and lifecycles.
• Classes include significant learning in engineering and management areas such as:
  • Quality assurance
  • Testing
  • Metrics
  • Maintenance
  • Configuration management
  • Interpersonal management skills
• The curriculum has a stronger emphasis on mathematics and the use of engineering methods in software design.

Curriculum and Capstone Sequence

The software engineering curriculum culminates in a year-long capstone sequence where the students work in teams to build a large software system. Students are required to develop an ability to work in a significant application domain through the requirement of an advisor-approved cooperative education experience.

Program Flexibility

Department programs are designed to be flexible. Although freshmen choose their major when they apply for admission, students can easily switch among software engineering, computer engineering, and computer science since the lower division curricula are similar.

Career Opportunities

The software industry increasingly requires both a software and an engineering background for their cutting-edge projects. Graduates with a BS in Software Engineering can expect to find significant opportunities in:

• Software development and management
• Software engineering
• Marketing

Program Educational Objectives

The Software Engineering program has three broad program educational objectives (PEOs) that graduates are expected to attain within a few years of graduation. Graduates are expected to:

• Apply the software engineering body of knowledge and other technical knowledge and skills to specify, design, and implement complex software systems and multiple levels of abstraction.
• Effectively communicate and work as part of a multidisciplinary team in order to be an effective member of the workplace and society.
• Have a positive and ethical attitude concerning the computing profession and its impact on individuals, organizations, and society.
• Have a desire to continue to grow intellectually and professionally in their chosen field.

Accreditation

The BS Software Engineering program is accredited by the Engineering Accreditation Commission of ABET.