BS-Software Engineering
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Program Code
Program Title
Program Level
Degree
Department
Distance Education Program
Program Description
The Software Engineering (SE) major is designed to produce graduates capable of developing high-quality software systems with a focus on the Mobile Application domain. Gannon software engineers learn how to apply the principles of computer science, engineering, and analysis to the design, creation, testing, and evaluation of software and digital systems.
The program includes developing technical competency as well as the leadership and communication skills necessary to analyze, design, verify, validate, implement, and maintain software systems. As the societal dependence on software systems grows, the students will have the foundations necessary to face ethical dilemmas and act responsibly as part of their professional training.
The Software Engineering curriculum is delivered in five different ways:
SE-MS-CIS: Accelerated 5-year program culminating in a four year BS degree followed by one year to complete one of the MS-CIS program options.
SE: four-year degree program, described here.
SE-CoOp: five-year cooperative mode, described here.
CS-SE: dual degree program where students complete both the Computer Science and the Software Engineering degree requirements simultaneously described in the Computer Science-Software Engineering Dual Degree section.
SEID-SE: multi-degree, where students complete the additional requirements for a Bachelors of Engineering (B.Eng) degree in Software Technology at Esslingen University of Applied Science described in the Software Engineering International Degrees section.
Opportunities
Software engineers specialize in the specification, design and development of quality software systems. Software systems now serve in life-critical as well as business-critical domains, and require professionals who are prepared to develop systems in a reliable manner, balancing business needs, technology, and human factors in order to yield a successful product. Software engineering continues to be listed as one of the fastest-growing occupations.
Aims and Program Educational Objectives (PEO)
The SE major prepares its graduates to achieve significant career and professional accomplishments in four ways: as employable and accountable professionals, competent problem solvers, and selfless contributors.
Employable Professional: SE graduates are well prepared for employment or graduate work in their field and to continue working in that field or related fields. This includes adaptability to different disciplines, environments, and tasks. They are fully prepared for employment in chosen post-graduate pursuits.
Accountable Professional: SE graduates are accountable for their professional roles, and pursue their profession in an ethical manner. This includes giving and receiving professional critique and review, communication and the responsibility for, and/or leadership in:
Research/development projects or teams,
Aspects of major system components, or
Business development work.
Competent SE Problem Solver: SE graduates focus on software-based systems. They innovate, analyze, design, verify, validate, implement, and maintain software systems. SE graduates apply current computing knowledge, technology, skills, techniques, and methods to:
Identify, analyze and develop effective solutions for problems,
Improve product, process and/or organizational elements, and
Apply creativity in design thinking and innovate where appropriate.
Selfless Contributors: SE graduates value collaborative teamwork and contribute to team accomplishment that goes beyond personal development. They voluntarily give their time, talent, and/or resources to their community, profession, church and/or society.
Program Specific Outcomes
Gannon’s Software Engineering program is accredited by the Engineering Accreditation Commission of ABET, https://www.abet.org, under the commission’s General Criteria and Program Criteria for Software and Similarly Named Engineering Programs. Gannon’s Software Engineering program has enjoyed a long history of successful students who have learned to solve problems and build systems. The program has a strong focus on problem solving, beginning with the very first course in computing (CIS 180 Problem Solving and Computer Programming) and carried through into the senior design sequence (CIS 457/458 Senior Design). Throughout the learning process, students learn how to effectively define and represent both problems and the solutions needed to solve those problems. Throughout the course of study, students learn and practice making ethical decisions.
All students learn the art and science of specifying, designing, building and testing software for high-quality systems. In addition, all CIS students learn to acquire and utilize information and changing computer technology used in computing-based systems, as well as to understand its global and local impacts. Through this learning process, we expect students to function in a team environment, and demonstrate effective communication skills.
Besides the Department-Wide Outcomes, Software Engineering students completing our program will also learn to:
Realize and manage high-quality software development lifecycle processes.
Apply discrete mathematics, computer science and engineering principles to systems development.
Demonstrate an ability to design, implement and analyze testing and other experimental measures to assess the quality of software and computing systems.
Integration
One of the hallmarks of Gannon’s SE degree is its integration with traditional liberal-studies education. Gannon’s SE majors learn computing well and learn how to synthesize, think critically, and communicate well.
The Program
The SE degree requires 126 credits to graduate. These are divided into three primary sources, a Computer and Information Science (CIS) core, a Computer Science core, and a Software Engineering core. These, integrated with the Core of Discovery, provide the breadth and depth to the program. The program also provides a one-semester study abroad option.
Five-year Cooperative Program (126 credits)
Plan A
Fall Semester | Spring Semester | Summer Semester | |
|---|---|---|---|
Year 1 | Fall 1 | Spring 1 | Summer Vacation |
Year 2 | Fall 2 | Spring 2 | 4 month Work Period |
Year 3 | Fall 3 | 4 month Work Period | Summer Coursework |
Year 4 | 4 month Work Period | Spring 3 | 4 month Work Placement |
Year 5 | Fall 4 | Spring 4 |
Plan B
Fall Semester | Spring Semester | Summer Semester | |
|---|---|---|---|
Year 1 | Fall 1 | Spring 1 | Summer Vacation |
Year 2 | Fall 2 | 4 month Work Period | Summer Coursework |
Year 3 | 4 month Work Period | Spring 2 | 4 month Work Period |
Year 4 | Fall 3 | Spring 3 | 4 month Work Period |
Year 5 | Fall 4 | Spring 4 |
Plan C
Fall Semester | Spring Semester | Summer Semester | |
|---|---|---|---|
Year 1 | Fall 1 | Spring 1 | Summer Vacation |
Year 2 | Fall 2 | Spring 2 | 4 month Work Period |
Year 3 | Fall 3 | Spring 3 | 4 month Work Period |
Year 4 | Fall 4 | 4 month Work Period | Summer Coursework |
Year 5 | 4 month Work Period | Spring 4 |
During the "Summer Coursework" semesters, students should take 12 credits of Liberal Core courses to maintain progress toward degree requirements and to maximize financial aid.