Software engineering and development professionals are enjoying some of the strongest job demand of all occupations in America today. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, demand for software developers and engineers will rise by 24% through 2026, which is much faster than average. Employment for software applications developers will rise by 31%, and employment of systems developers will increase by 11%.
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If you are interested in this exciting and growing field, it is easier than ever to get a degree in the field. There are many high quality, online software engineering programs where you can earn your bachelor’s or master’s degree without hardly ever leaving your home.
Below are some of the best online software engineering programs available today.
#1 Arizona State University
Arizona State University offers an online Bachelor of Science in Software Engineering that stresses flexibility in the context of project-driven engineering education, project leadership, computation and blending engineering, as well as software construction. This accredited, online bachelor’s program in software engineering is offered through the Ira A. Fulton Schools of Engineering, and is a unique, project-driven curriculum and is setting the bar for online software engineering education today.
The program is built around such concepts as engaged learning, discovery based education and learning by doing. You will complete projects every semester in this program that stresses communication, teamwork, professionalism and critical thinking.
Required courses in this program include:
- Design and Analysis of Data Structures and Algorithms
- Critical Inquiry of Engineering
- Software Enterprise: Testing and Quality
- Engineering Statistics
- Operating Systems and Networks
- Principles of Database Management
- Principles of Distributed Software Systems
#2 Southern New Hampshire University
Southern New Hampshire University offers an online Bachelor of Science in Computer Science – Software Engineering that teaches you the fundamental concepts and principles of software engineering. It will teach you the necessary systematic approach that is used to develop all types of software on budget, on time and within specifications.
Students in this four year, online bachelor’s program will engage in sophisticated problem solving as they use proven software design processes and methodologies. You also will use different approaches to develop computer code and testing software.
Some of the required computer and software engineering courses in this four year program include:
- Computer Platform Technologies
- Introduction to Structured Query Language
- Foundation in Application Development
- Computer Science’s Role in Industry
#3 Penn State World Campus
Penn State World Campus offers an online Bachelor of Science in Software Engineering that gives you a strong foundation in software engineering using classroom study, software development experience, and design projects. This is a four year program that blends foundational engineering principles, computing skills, project leadership and software construction to give students a complete understanding of the field and to ready graduates for future study or the workforce.
This program covers a wide array of important software engineering topics, such as discrete mathematics, statistics and probability, vital topics in computer sciences, as well as complete coverage of modern software and techniques. You will also gain knowledge in important subjects such as computer programming, object oriented methodology, software design and software validation. During your senior year, you will participate in a capstone course series that includes an industry sponsored design project that will have you collaborate with other students to design, plan and implement a software system.
#4 Western Governors University
Western Governors University offers a Bachelor of Science in Software Development that allows you to focus on either Java or C#. If you are not certain about which track to choose, keep in mind that both languages are highly desired by most companies in software engineering and design today. Learning either one will give you the groundwork to learn the other language in the future.
Generally, C# is the best choice for professionals who want to work in major tech centers such as Silicon Valley and Seattle. Major enterprises using Microsoft infrastructure want developers who know C#. Java on the other hand is used by many types of devices such as computers and phones but also smart appliances.
Required courses include the following:
- Web Development Foundations
- Web Develop Applications
- User Interface Design
- Software Engineering
- User Experience Design
- Scripting and Programing
- Software Quality Assurance
- Advanced Java Concepts
#5 Washington State University Global Campus
Washington State University Global Campus offers an online Master of Science in Software Engineering that will provide you with advanced skills in software design, development, management, maintenance and security. Students who graduate from this two year, online graduate degree program will learn how to identify software engineering problems and to implement effective solutions, and to document procedures that lead to those solutions.
This master’s degree in software engineering has been designed specifically to help experienced software engineering professionals to advance in the workplace. Course requirements were created with input from major industry including representatives from Microsoft, Amazon, Boeing and Hewlett Packard. Graduates of this program have gone on to become company presidents, CEOs, directors and department managers. Others have become senior designers, project managers, senior scientists and lead engineers.
Required courses include:
- Advanced Algorithms
- Software Requirements
- Software Design and Architecture
- Software Maintenance
- Software Testing
- Software Quality
- Project Management
#6 University of Houston – Clear Lake
The University of Houston – Clear Lake offers a Master of Science in Software Engineering that provides you with an affordable, accredited solution to getting an advanced degree in this growing field. This graduate degree program is an effective combination of convenience and quality and will provide you with the necessary training and knowledge to do well in various software engineering specialties.
The distinguished faculty in this two year, online degree program come from business and industry and many globally respected academic institutions. Courses are designed to provide you with applied instruction with core courses in requirements engineering, software construction, software architecture, software processes and software engineering lifecycle.
Depending upon your software engineering interests, you can take online degree electives in:
- Risk Management
- Software Design Patterns
- Gaming Software Development
- Software Project Management
- Testing, Validation and Verification
- Personal Software Process
- Reuse and Reengineering
#7 Eastern Carolina University
Eastern Carolina University offers a Master of Science in Software Engineering that can be taken either on campus or online. It is a respected and accredited degree program that provides graduates with the skills needed to design, develop, test and maintain software systems with a focus on both practical application and theory.
Students can expect to learn about a broad range of software engineering topics such as object oriented design, software systems architecture, programming languages such as Java and software project management tools and techniques. Core courses are in software engineering foundations, software project management and foundations of software testing.
#8 Drexel University
Drexel University offers a Master of Science in Software Engineering online that provides you with a foundational knowledge of important software engineering topics such as software design and architecture, engineering management, and systems analytics. Some of the advantages of this two year, master’s degree program are:
- The program has been shaped by the university’s respected College of Computing and Informatics, and the curriculum features behavioral, managerial and technical aspects of software engineering
- Faculty members all have doctorates in their field of study and are accomplished in software engineering
- You can choose software engineering electives based upon your interests and career goals
Required courses include:
- Software Design
- Software Reliability and Testing
- Software Architecture
- Security Engineering
- Requirements Engineering and Management
- Software Engineering Economics
- Software Engineering Process
#9 West Virginia University
West Virginia University offers an online Master of Science in Software Engineering program provided by the Lane Department of Computer Science and Electrical Engineering. This program is offered only online and there is no campus requirement. It is designed especially for the experienced software engineering professional who needs to take their courses in the evening with live discussions with the instructor and other students.
Core courses in this online master’s degree program are:
- Software Project Management
- Software Analysis and Design
- Validation and Verification
- Software Evolution
- Introduction to Object Oriented Design
#10 University of Florida Online
The University of Florida offers an online Bachelor of Science in Computer Science and Software Engineering that encourages students to learn about the foundations of computer science, information technology and software engineering. This four year, online degree program will give you the strong foundation in computer science and software engineering while also giving you a robust liberal arts education in the humanities and social and behavioral sciences.
Required courses include:
- Computer Organization
- Introduction to Software Engineering
- Programming Fundamentals I and II
- Information and Database Systems I
- Data Structures and Algorithm
- Operating Systems
- Applications of Discrete Structures
- Digital Logic and Computer Systems
References
- Software Developers Job Outlook. (2017). Retrieved from https://www.bls.gov/ooh/computer-and-information-technology/software-developers.htm#tab-6
