Software Engineering
Designing and building reliable software as part of a team.
Software engineering overlaps heavily with computer science but leans further into the practice of building software that other people depend on: how to design systems, manage a codebase over years, test rigorously, and work within a team using shared processes. Expect more coursework on software design patterns, project lifecycles, and quality assurance than in a pure CS track.
Many programs run at least one multi-semester team project that mimics an actual product build, from requirements gathering through deployment, which is where the discipline's group-process side really shows up.
Typical courses you might take
- ✓Programming Fundamentals
- ✓Object-Oriented Design
- ✓Data Structures & Algorithms
- ✓Software Requirements & Design
- ✓Software Testing & Quality Assurance
- ✓Databases
- ✓Human-Computer Interaction
- ✓Capstone Software Project
Sample four-year plan
Illustrative, not a registration planOne possible way these courses could be sequenced alongside general education and elective credit. Real programs vary in order, pacing, and prerequisites by school, use this to get a rough sense of the arc, not to plan actual registration.
- ✓Programming Fundamentals
- +General education requirement
- ✓Object-Oriented Design
- +General education requirement
- ✓Data Structures & Algorithms
- +General education requirement
- ✓Software Requirements & Design
- +Free elective
- ✓Software Testing & Quality Assurance
- +Free elective
- ✓Databases
- +Elective in the major (or minor coursework)
- ✓Human-Computer Interaction
- +Elective in the major (or minor coursework)
- ✓Capstone Software Project
- +Capstone, thesis, or culminating project (common in many programs)
Skills you'll build
This major might be a good fit if you...
- ★Likes building things that other people will actually use
- ★Comfortable working in teams with shared deadlines
- ★Detail-oriented about correctness and edge cases
- ★Interested in the process of software, not just the code
Common minors & double-major pairings
Business · Design · Statistics
Roles this major could lead to
Factual, day-to-day descriptions from our Career Role Encyclopedia, not a guarantee this major leads to any specific job.
Frequently asked questions
What is a Software Engineering major?
Designing and building reliable software as part of a team.
What courses do Software Engineering majors take?
Typical coursework includes classes like Programming Fundamentals, Object-Oriented Design, Data Structures & Algorithms, among others, see the full course list above for this major's typical lineup.
What skills do you build in a Software Engineering program?
Software Engineering coursework typically builds skills like Software design and architecture, Working within version-controlled team codebases, Writing and running automated tests, Project planning and scoping.
Is Software Engineering a good major for me?
It tends to be a good fit if signals like "Likes building things that other people will actually use" or "Comfortable working in teams with shared deadlines" describe you. See the full "good fit if you..." list above for more.
What can you do with a Software Engineering degree?
Majors in this field often go on to roles like Software Engineer, QA / Test Engineer. See our Career Role Encyclopedia for more, a major shapes what you study, not a guarantee of any specific job.
What other majors pair well with Software Engineering?
Common minor or double-major pairings include Business, Design, Statistics.
How is Software Engineering different from Computer Science?
They're related but distinct. Software Engineering: Designing and building reliable software as part of a team. Computer Science: How computers solve problems, from algorithms to systems. Use the compare tool to see courses and skills side by side.
How long does it take to earn a Software Engineering degree?
Most bachelor's degrees, including this one, are designed to be completed in about four years of full-time study. Exact timing depends on your school, course load, transfer credit, and any changes of major along the way.
From our guides
Printed from majoratlas.com/majors/software-engineering