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The Latest
#IOLchat Report: Online Instructor as Advisor and CounselorEach week we meet via Twitter for #IOLchat to discuss current issues related to online learning. Participants include students, instructors, eLearning companies, schools, publishers, and instructional designers. The college instructor of today takes …
Software Engineering
What Will I Learn in a Software Engineering Degree Program?
By getting your degree as a software engineer, you'll be qualified to work in the development, design and implementation of computer systems and applications. Through the course of your studies, you'll learn how to create and modify programs so that they meet the needs of a wide range of users, as well as how to analyze and solve computer issues. Although all students will take general courses in programming, computer science, mathematics, systems engineering and networking, many, if not most, students will want to choose a specialization. This can mean taking higher level classes in application development or computer graphics. Additionally, students should be prepared to not only gain skills through book learning and lectures, but through hands-on experimental projects as well.
What Can I Do With a Software Engineering Degree?
A software engineering degree can provide a gateway to some of the most in-demand jobs in the world today. Most such engineers will find work after graduation developing programs and software for businesses and individuals. These jobs require designing, testing and tweaking these programs until they are perfect for their intended purpose. Software engineering grads can also find work designing computer systems software, which can mean working on an entire operating system rather than a specific program. Additionally, because programs are so complex, many engineers will find work as technicians and testing managers, working out the kinks of new and established software programs.
What Is the Career Outlook for Software Engineering Degree Students?
It's likely that at some point in your day you use something developed and created by a software engineer, especially if you have a cellphone or work on a computer. Because the products that software engineers design are so ubiquitous and in-demand, there will be ample job opportunities in the coming years. There will be competition for those positions, but that job growth is expected to be steady throughout the next decade. The highest growth areas in the industry will be found in the telecommunications, Web and customized software markets. Graduates can expect to make on average $70,000 a year.
