Software Engineering

The software engineering major focuses study on the methodologies, processes, and tools necessary to design, develop, and maintain software as part of a multidisciplinary team. Graduates are well suited to work on diverse software engineering teams, designing and building complex and high-quality software systems. Software engineers are in high demand in a wide variety of fields, including business, communications, health care, and government.

Admission Information

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Quality classroom experiences

BGSU Computer Science fosters a comprehensive and collaborative student-centered learning environment. All computer science major classes are taught by dedicated faculty, not graduate assistants, and are offered in small class sizes. Highly qualified professors provide a strong, interactive, and practical learning environment for students to gain the necessary expertise to succeed in high-demand occupations.

Stand Out in courses like

Programming Languages
Operating Systems and Network
Software Engineering
Software Security
Software Architecture and Design
Software Testing and Quality Assurance
Database Management Systems
Capstone Project

Curriculum

The Bachelor of Science in software engineering requires basic computer science courses and advanced software engineering courses. The degree program has an emphasis on development of software and computer applications. Students are required to complete an internship/co-op experience and a capstone project course for exposure to real-world software engineering projects.

The Computer Science Department has connections with many major regional employers where students do practical computer-related work as full- or part-time employees.

Co-op/Internships and Careers

Software engineering majors are required to complete one departmentally approved co-op experience. Students receive academic credit, valuable practical experience, and good pay for co-op experiences while growing both personally and professionally.

Average Starting Salary & BGSU Placement Rate

$54,877* — Computer Science graduates average starting salary

98.77% of Computer Science graduates report they’re employed, in graduate school or starting a business within six months of graduation

(BGSU data compiled from students who completed the related questions on the graduation survey.)

Go Far in your career

Database Administrator
Full-stack Developer
Mobile Application Developer
Multimedia Programmer
Web Application Developer
Web Designer
Software Engineer
Software Tester

More Information

The Software Engineering program is part of the Department of Computer Science in the BGSU College of Arts and Sciences.

Admissions Information

Software engineering majors must meet one of the following admission criteria: an SAT math score of 550 or higher or an ACT math score of 22 or higher. Students not meeting these criteria will need to take appropriate math course(s) at the University before declaring their major to Software Engineering. Many high schools do not offer courses in computer programming or computer science, and incoming students are not expected to have such a background.

Learning Outcomes

Upon completion of the baccalaureate degree, students in software engineering will be able to:

Identify, formulate, and solve complex engineering problems by applying principles of engineering, science, and mathematics;
Apply engineering design to produce solutions that meet specified needs with consideration of public health, safety, and welfare, as well as global, cultural, social, environmental, and economic factors;
Communicate effectively with a range of audiences;
Recognize ethical and professional responsibilities in engineering situations and make informed judgments, which must consider the impact of engineering solutions in global, economic, environmental, and societal contexts;
Function effectively on a team whose members together provide leadership, create a collaborative and inclusive environment, establish goals, plan tasks, and meet objectives;
Develop and conduct appropriate experimentation, analyze and interpret data, and use engineering judgment to draw conclusions;
Acquire and apply new knowledge as needed, using appropriate learning strategies.

Accreditation

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.

More information on accreditation

Professional Licensure

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 software engineering program does not lead to professional licensure.

More information on professional licensure

Gainful Employment

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 Software Engineering program is not a recognized occupation that requires a Gainful Employment disclosure.

* Job placement and salary information was compiled by the Office of Academic Assessment through the Graduation Survey from AY2015-2018. The data are gathered around the time of Commencement and a follow-up survey six months post Commencement. For the salary question, data for programs with fewer than fifteen responses are not included. Salaries for those programs are from the National Association of Colleges and Employers Summer 2019 Survey. For questions regarding the data, contact assessment@bgsu.edu.

Updated: 07/11/2023 11:54AM