Software Engineering Degrees & Careers How to Become a Software Engineer

Software engineering is a field that is vitally important to computer technology as a whole. Without the software to run the computer hardware, that hardware is simply a clump of plastic, silicon and metal – perhaps useful as an overpriced paperweight.

In the strictest sense, software engineering is the application of engineering principles to the design, development and implementation of software. Because software engineering is such as a unique, scientific and technically-driven field, special training and formal degrees are required. By getting a degree in software engineering, graduates can work in any number of fields creating video games, developing internet applications, running computer networks or implementing computer security measures for an organization. Find out more about software engineering degrees and careers, and learn about salaries and employment projections for this specialized field.

What Does a Software Engineer Do?

Software Engineering Basics

Combining business sense with programming know-how, software engineers devise software application solutions for business problems. Software engineers work with different platforms, such as the Internet, mobile devices, and desktop computers.

Software Engineering In-Depth

The practice of software engineering blends engineering, computing, project management, and software development. Software engineers manage a comprehensive list of critical functions across broad knowledge areas, such as Web and mobile applications, embedded systems, networking, data, security and systems administration. These critical functions span the entire development process, which often includes business needs and use analysis, design and development, implementation, quality assurance testing, and product release.

As a profession, software engineering has two central specializations: software/systems development and applications development. Applications developers review the needs of a user to design and code computer applications for different platforms, such as Web, social media, and mobile. Software/systems engineers, on the other hand, use programming languages and frameworks to design and create systems that keep technology functioning correctly.

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Software Engineer Salaries

The market demand for qualified software engineers has created an arms race for the top talent. Salary research from ComputerWorld, the Bureau of Labor Statistics and Robert Half International all reveal the same thing: Companies are willing to pay a premium to acquire top talent, with some annual salaries pushing northward of six figures. ComputerWorld's 2015 IT salary survey reported average salaries of nearly $109,000 for software engineers, while Robert Half reported earnings that range from $96,000 to $147,000. The financial climate is good for individuals considering a career in the field — Robert Half projects salaries will climb by 6.6 percent in 2016.

Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational and Wage Estimates, 2014

Steps to Becoming a Software Engineer

Software engineering is an ever-changing profession, one that adapts as new technologies are developed. Because of its shifting nature, there are multiple entry points into the profession. Although no single path to becoming a software engineer exists, the steps below outline the general path to employment.

Software Engineering Degrees & Concentrations

Matching Goals to Software Engineering Degrees

Software Engineering Degree Levels

For those interested in a software engineering degree, there are many options to choose from on both the graduate and undergraduate levels. Depending on prior work and educational background, as well as professional aspirations, one degree will probably make more sense than the other. Let's take a look at the software engineering degrees available.

Software Engineering Associate Degrees

An associate degree in software engineering takes about two years to complete. The associate degree can be a useful way for students who want a degree to take on an entry level software engineering position without spending the time and money getting a four-year degree. As an added bonus, some associate degrees can serve as stepping stones to getting a bachelor's degree later on.

Classes typically found in software engineering associate degree programs include:

Software Engineering Bachelor's Degrees

For students fresh out of high school (or shifting over from another career) who want to maximize their professional potential in software engineering and give themselves the best chance of finding ideal post-graduate employment, the bachelor's in software engineering is worth pursuing. In fact, most entry-level software engineering positions will require this four-year degree. Some more advanced positions may require a master's degree in software engineering. In that case, a bachelor's degree could be a prerequisite to admission.

Four of the typical classes that can be found at most software engineering bachelor's degree programs are described below:

Software Engineering Master's Degree

Depending on the program, a master's degree in software engineering takes about two years to complete. Many programs are designed for students who are working full-time. The master's degree not only provides additional knowledge of the software engineering field, but also offers education in management and leadership, so that graduates can take on more complex projects, be able to successfully coordinate those projects and work well with a team.

Students who enter a master's degree program in software engineering can expect to cover classes such as these:

Software Engineering PhD Degree

While PhD programs in software engineering do exist, they are far less common than the bachelor's or master's degree. Usually taking at least four years to complete, PhD software engineering degrees are often research-oriented, culminating with a dissertation. In addition, students will take focused classes on very specific areas of software engineering, such as robotics, distributed systems, software security and quantitative research methods. A PhD is usually necessary for those who desire a career in research or academia, such as teaching at a college or university.

By enrolling in a PhD software engineering program, students can tailor a curriculum that's unique to them. As such, there are very few similar class schedules among students in the same program. However, the following courses would likely be helpful in the PhD course list:

Components of a Successful Software Engineering Career: Skills, Tools and Technology

Skills

Software engineers are expected to have a broad knowledge base and skill set in multiple proficiencies, including both nontechnical and technical areas.

Nontechnical Skills

Because software engineers work non-engineers such as with vendors, customers, and other team members, employers value individuals who possess nontechnical skills. A good software engineer should be a:

Industry-Specific Skills.

Software engineering requires a comprehensive technical skill set and knowledge base that ranges from understanding business requirements to testing products. Below is a list of the core software engineering competencies from the National Workforce Center for Emerging Technologies.

According to Robert Half Technology, computer software engineers who possess valuable technical skills in the following programming, database, and Web areas may see a related increase in earning potential.

Professional certifications in software engineering establish an individual's qualifications within the field. Certifications demonstrate a conceptual understanding and technical expertise in specific areas of the profession. Software engineers can select from a variety of credentialing programs based on their career needs and professional goals. Below is a snapshot of potential certifications.

• C++ Certification.

  The C++ Institute has designed multiple certification programs for both the C and C++ programming languages. Advancing in difficulty, there are associate, professional and senior examinations available for each programming language. Associate certifications are foundational in nature, demonstrating the candidate's basic knowledge of C/C++ programming. Professional certifications are advanced, measuring the candidate's understanding of complex C/C++ programing techniques. Senior is expert-level certification, testing the candidate's knowledge of highly complex C/C++ coding problems. Certifications include:

  • C Programming Language Certified Association (CLA)
  • C Certified Professional Programmer (CLP)
  • Certified Senior Programmer (CLS)
  • C++ Certified Associate Programmer (CPA)
  • C++ Certified Professional Programmer (CPP)
  • C++ Certified Senior Programmer (CPS)
• IEEE Professional Software Developer Certification (PSD)

  Sponsored by the IEEE Computer Society, the Professional Software Developer Certification (PSD) tests the candidate's knowledge of software engineering requirements, design, construction and testing.

• IEEE Professional Software Engineering Process Master Certification (PSEPM)

  The PSEPM measures the candidate's critical knowledge of software engineering. A two-part examination, the first test covers software requirements, software construction and testing, software design, maintenance and configuration management. The second examination reviews software engineering management, software engineering processes, software models and methods, quality and engineering economics, and software project management.

• IEEE Software Engineering Master Certification (PSEM)

  An advanced certification, the PSEM tests the candidate's knowledge of software engineering principles as well as technical skills through an applied examination. The applied examination places the test taker in the position of a professional developer and requires the completion of two performance tasks, which are reviewed and rated.

• Microsoft Certified Solutions Developer (MCSD)

  The MCSD certification is designed for professionals working with Microsoft languages and enterprise development tools. The MCSD covers several certification areas, including Windows Store apps, Web applications, SharePoint applications, Azure Solutions Architect, application lifecycle management, and Universal Windows Platform.

Career Trends in Software Engineering

The demand for software engineers is driven by the emergence of the information economy and the need for technological solutions for both consumer- and enterprise-based markets. For example, Robert Half Technology reports that healthcare organizations are seeking new software solutions to improve patient care, while financial service organizations are looking for ways to provide more effective technology-driven services to customers. Coupled with these traditional industries, emerging markets — such as big data, mobile computing, and security — are creating new opportunities for software engineers. Finally, because the complex skills of a software engineer translate across any industry, it is a must-have position in nearly every business sector.

Related Careers

Below is a list of related career opportunities that are projected to experience double-digit employment growth between 2012 and 2022, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics.

Spotlight Careers

The hottest, most in-demand software engineering skill is currently mobile application development because of exploding growth in mobile networks, phones, and commerce. By 2017, the global mobile app market will be worth $77 billion, according to the University of Alabama at Birmingham, and the mobile Web market will be worth $850 billion by 2018 says mobile industry consulting firm Digi-Capital. As a result, mobile application developers possess skills that companies want. Below is a list of three spotlight careers in the software engineering field and their corresponding salary figures according to a Robert Half Technology survey.

Software Engineer Job Growth, Prospects, and Outlook

Today, software accounts for 19 percent of the IT market in the United States, according to research from CompTIA. A convergence of several factors are contributing to the age of the software engineer: the shift to cloud-based infrastructure, the rise of mobile devices and computing, the explosion of big data analytics, the yet-to-be-tapped potential of social media, and the need for companies to provide managed services.

What Do Related Occupations Make?

Whether in online technology services, data storage, network management or security, technological innovation is driven by a central need: more effective and powerful computing solutions. Because programming languages and frameworks (e.g., HTML, SQL, Java, C++) cut across industry channels, individuals with both education and experience can stand out in today's crowded and competitive IT marketplace. In turn, other tech roles are growing alongside software engineering, with salaries that can exceed $100,000 for experienced professionals.

Related Occupations: What You Need to Know

The need for high-skilled informational technology talent stretches across specializations, from information systems to networking, databases to business intelligence. An education in computer science and software development can lead to a variety of related career opportunities throughout the technology industry. Below is a list of example occupational avenues:

Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational and Employment Wages, 2014

Related Careers at a Glance

Software Engineering Degree & Career Resources

ABET is a leading organization for accrediting undergraduate and graduate programs in science, technology and engineering fields.

The ACM is the world's largest computer society with the mission of promoting computer science and related fields in the educational and professional realms.

CompTIA promotes the interests of information technology professionals by advocating on their behalf and providing professional certifications and educational opportunities for those working in information technology.

IEEE is a leading professional organization with the goal of helping humanity through the support of advanced technology.

The ICCP is a non-profit organization that offers many internationally-recognized computer certifications.

This excellent podcast updates every two weeks or so with compelling expert guests and insider information on the world of software engineering, past, present and future.

This site offers insight into a variety of engineering careers, including software engineer. This is a great basic description of what software engineers do.

Become Team

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