Program highlights
- Flexible, online format. Complete the 30-credit degree fully online – ideal if you’re balancing work and other responsibilities with going to school. Enroll full time or part time.
- Accessible to all experience levels. The program is designed to serve a diverse student population. Foundational courses are offered for those new to the field or as refreshers. Advanced coursework helps students deepen their expertise.
- Hands-on learning. Solve practical industry challenges and gain real-world skills through a two-semester capstone project.
- Cutting-edge curriculum. The program is designed to meet the growing industry demand for software engineers across fields like healthcare, finance and manufacturing. Our curriculum aligns with what employers are looking for. It covers essential industry needs that are frequently cited as critical skill gaps in the job market – agile project management, DevOps, AI-driven development and software quality assurance.
- Expert faculty. Learn from experienced faculty with academic and practical knowledge. They have deep expertise in software engineering, research and teaching.
- Strong industry connections. You’ll have opportunities for internships, sponsored projects and professional collaboration with our industry partners.
- Strong support. Students from non-computer science backgrounds benefit from tailored support and clear pathways to success.
- Outcomes-focused. Regular assessments and team-based work ensure graduates are ready to meet professional expectations.
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Career opportunities
BGSU software engineering graduates are well-positioned to enter one of the fastest-growing and most in-demand fields in the global economy. You’ll be equipped with the skills and versatility to thrive in a wide range of high-impact technology roles, thanks to the program’s combination of technical depth, hands-on experience and strong industry connections.
Graduates have the theoretical knowledge and practical experience to tackle real-world challenges in software development, quality assurance, and emerging technologies such as artificial intelligence (AI). We prepare you to lead software development projects, contribute to interdisciplinary teams and drive innovation.
Employment of software developers and engineers is projected to grow by 25% through 2031, significantly faster than the average for all occupations (U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics). This growth is fueled by rapid advances in artificial intelligence, automation, cloud computing and data-driven decision-making across industries.
Professionals with a master’s degree in software engineering are sought after for roles in healthcare, finance, logistics and manufacturing – especially in regions like northwest Ohio, where local industry needs align closely with the program’s outcomes.
Career paths
- Agile project manager
- AI/ML Ops engineer
- Application developer (front end or back end)
- Database architect
- DevOps engineer
- Full-stack developer
- Software engineer
- Software quality assurance engineer
- Software system analyst
Quick Facts from the Bureau of Labor Statistics
Why software engineering? 25% job growth through 2031.
– Bureau of Labor Statistics, 2024
Curriculum
Our 30-credit hour curriculum delivers technical mastery and professional decision-making skills – preparing you for leadership in software development. It ensures you build a strong foundation while gaining specialized, real-world skills in advanced analytical methods, professional decision-making and practical problem solving.
The curriculum integrates essential industry needs, such as agile project management, DevOps, AI-driven development and software quality assurance, which are frequently cited as critical skill gaps in the job market.
The curriculum is divided into three key components:
- Software engineering fundamentals (12 credits)
These courses build a strong foundation in essential software engineering concepts and focus on hands-on skills and applied techniques critical for success in the industry. They build foundational knowledge in programming and data structures, database management, software development principles and software development with AI.
These courses are specifically designed to bridge knowledge gaps for learners from non-computing backgrounds while also providing deeper insights and practical applications for those with prior exposure to software engineering.
- Advanced software engineering principles (12 credits)
Students build on their foundational knowledge through courses that delve into critical methodologies and practices essential for modern software engineering. Advanced topics cover requirements analysis, quality assurance, DevOps and Agile project management.
Professional decision-making and critical analysis are central to the program. Courses on agile project management and DevOps teach students to make data-driven decisions, manage complex software projects and apply critical analysis in problem-solving.
- Culminating capstone experience (6 credits)
This two-semester project provides you with an opportunity to synthesize and apply your learning as you work on a real-world software problem with an industry partner or a project sponsor. You’ll engage in the full development lifecycle – from design to deployment – delivering professional-grade solutions that demonstrate technical mastery, critical analysis and decision-making skills.
Sample courses
- Database Management Systems
- Software Engineering Principles
- Software Development with AI
- Agile Project Management
- Requirements Analysis and Design
- Software Quality Assurance
- DevOps
BGSU is one of only a handful of universities in the nation — and the only one in Ohio — to earn the Quality Matters Online Learner Support certificate for all of our online programs. This recognition reflects our commitment to providing the critical support and academic services that online students need to succeed.
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The online Master of Science in Software Engineering is a program of the Department of Computer Science in the College of Arts and Sciences.
Learning Outcomes
Upon completion of the graduate degree, students in computer science are expected to be able to:
Perform research, discovery and integration by applying advanced knowledge of computer science.
Critically analyze a body of current, published research in an area of computer science.
Evaluate algorithmic and/or software-based solutions to a given problem.
Bowling Green State University [BGSU] is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission. BGSU has been accredited by the Higher Learning Commission since 01/01/1916. The most recent reaffirmation of accreditation was received in 2012 - 2013. Questions should be directed to the Office of Institutional Effectiveness.
Bowling Green State University programs leading to licensure, certification and/or endorsement, whether delivered online, face-to-face or in a blended format, satisfy the academic requirements for those credentials set forth by the State of Ohio.
Requirements for licensure, certification and/or endorsement eligibility vary greatly from one profession to another and from state to state. The computer science program does not lead to professional licensure.
Under the Higher Education Act Title IV disclosure requirements, an institution must provide current and prospective students with information about each of its programs that prepares students for gainful employment in a recognized occupation.
The computer science program is not a recognized occupation that requires a Gainful Employment disclosure.
Updated: 11/25/2025 02:22PM