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Program Information | Degree Requirements | Career Outlook

BACHELOR OF SCIENCE IN

SOFTWARE ENGINEERING

Embry-Riddle's Software Engineering Degree

Software now plays an important and central role in all aspects of daily life. It is the driving force in business, entertainment, medicine, and transportation, especially in aviation and space. In 2001, the Department of Labor Statistics stated that software engineering is projected to be the fastest growing professional field in the next ten years. Software engineers are responsible for the analysis, design, construction, and testing of the complex software systems that are essential to the Boeing 777, the new Lockheed-Martin Joint Strike Fighter, the Space Station, the modernization of our air traffic control, and every other aviation system being developed today. These are all systems that have computers (and their software) "embedded" inside of another physical system (an airplane, a radar system, or a space suit). These systems have to deal with a multitude of data and make decisions in "real-time," often involving "safety-critical" elements upon which human life can depend.

Embry-Riddle offers a unique program that combines the "engineering" discipline and the team skills required to build aviation systems, along with the computer science foundations needed to understand and use modern technology. The employers of our graduates have told us repeatedly that we are preparing just the type of computing professional that they need to develop the complex systems they deal with. This preparation includes:

* Computer Programming
* Computer Science Foundations
* Software Engineering Fundamentals
* Object-Oriented Analysis, Design, and Construction
* Real-Time Systems
* Software Team Projects involving industrial processes and practices
* Elective courses in Artificial Intelligence, Graphics, and Simulation

Five-Year MSE Program

Embry-Riddle offers a unique program that allows exceptional students to complete both a B.S. in Computer Science and a Master of Software Engineering degree in five years. The objective of this five-year program is to produce professional software engineers with advanced software engineering education and real-world experience in software development. The program includes a requirement for two summer internships in industry. Typically, one internship will be completed between the Junior and Senior years, and one will be completed between the Senior and Graduate Years.

The five-year program covers the following areas:

Fundamentals of Computer Science (e.g., Data Structures and Algorithms, Organization of Programming Languages, Operating Systems and Databases)
Software systems development for Real-Time embedded applications
Personal and Team Software Processes
Software engineering methods, tools, and techniques
Use of Requirements Engineering and Software Architecture and Design
Modern software development methodologies (e.g., Object-Oriented Analysis and Design)
Software development in a "real" work environment

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PROGRAM INFORMATION

Our Unique Program Prepares You For a Wide Variety of Computer Software Fields

The computer science curriculum offered at Embry-Riddle has a two-layered architecture: a general education layer and a discipline knowledge layer. The discipline knowledge layer is further partitioned into math and science knowledge, domain knowledge (in our case, it is aviation), and software engineering/computer science knowledge. The computer science portion divides into fundamentals of computing, advanced computing concepts, and computing application courses, culminating in the senior design project -- the capstone program course. Successful completion of the program requires a minimum of 126 credit hours. The program provides for:

* general education 24 credit hours
* math and science 24 credit hours
* aviation 12 credit hours
* software engineering/computer science 57 credit hours
* open electives 9 credit hours

General Education, Math, and Science

The general education layer is made up of a standard sequence of college-level courses in humanities, social sciences, and economics. The math and science component consist of a standard sequence of math and physics classes, as recommended by the Association of Computing Machinery (ACM).

The Knowledge

The aviation application domain is integrated into the curriculum in two ways. The first is by a sequence of Airway Science courses such as air traffic control, principles of flight, and meteorology that all the students are required to take.

The second way is accomplished by the departmental policy of assigning problems and projects in application courses that are drawn from the aviation discipline. By making a departmental commitment to aviation as the application domain, the faculty have agreed to assign problems dealing with aviation or aerospace.

This approach has proven to be an excellent motivator for our students, as they are attracted to our school because of their interest in aviation. The students we recruit want to be in a computing discipline but also have a strong interest in aviation and aerospace and want to exercise their computing skills in this field.

Computing Fundamentals

This component provides the basic concepts of computer discipline in both hardware and software tracks. On the software track, the computing fundamentals component consists of a sequence of two courses computer programming and software design (roughly an equivalent of CS1 and CS2 in ACM standard).

Advanced Computing Concepts

This component provides theoretical extensions of the fundamentals of computing software and hardware. It includes courses on advanced data structures, organizations of programming languages, operating systems, analysis of algorithms, software engineering process, interfacing, and computer architecture. The courses in this component conform to the recommendation of ACM, to accomplish the completeness of the computer science undergraduate degree. The advanced computing concepts sequence provides the theoretical backgound and teaches the methodologies and tools for the subsequent work. Examples are courses on organization of programming languages (which gives a review of various programming paradigms and environments), on C and UNIX (giving the student basics for another language and the most popular operating system), and on software engineering (preparing for work on software projects).

Computing Applications

This component is of primary importance to the domain-centered curriculum. This component provides the theoretical and practical aspects of implementing computer applications in the selected domain. At the same time, the courses provide theoretical material from the computer science discipline, as required by ACM. Some emphasize the requirement and specification stage, some place an emphasis on design and project management, others on implementation and testing.

Senior Design

In addition to the above applications courses, the curriculum includes a senior design project course that concentrates on a semester-long team project involving a computer application in the aviation domain. The component gives each student an opportunity to participate in a formal software development cycle. This capstone course allows the students to play roles in a software development team and produce software engineering artifacts related to a project in the application domain. The students' work and the project artifacts are used to assess the entire computer science program.

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DEGREE REQUIREMENTS

Our Software Engineering Program Prepares Graduates to Work In a Collaborative Environment

REQUIREMENTS

Download complete requirements for this program in pdf format.

The Bachelor of Science degree in Software Engineering is designed to prepare students for an entry-level software engineering position in industry that supports the design and imple- mentation of software systems with the focus on real-time, embedded, and safety-critical applications. Such systems are critical in avia- tion, space, medicine, and other disciplines that rely on high-quality, dependable software. The objectives of the Software Engineering program are that our graduates:

Effectively analyze, design, and implement software systems, including embedded, real-time, and safety-critical systems.
Demonstrate professionalism in their work and grow professionally through continued learning and involvement in professional activities.
Contribute to society by behaving ethically and responsibly.
Communicate effectively in oral, written, and newly developing modes and media.
Successfully assume a variety of roles in teams of diverse membership.

The curriculum is designed to facilitate accom- plishment of these objectives by program grad- uates. It provides a broad education, including fundamental knowledge about computer soft- ware and hardware. It also allows graduates to work in a team environment and to recognize the value of collaborative effort. The program lays a foundation for lifelong learning, profes- sional growth, and ethical and responsible behavior in the society.

Degree Requirements

The Bachelor of Science degree can be earned in eight semesters assuming appropriate back- ground and full-time enrollment. Successful completion of a minimum of 127 credit hours is required.

Students entering this program should have demonstrated a competence in math- ematics and science (preferably physics). They should be prepared to enter Calculus I, having demonstrated proficiency in algebra and trig- onometry. Students can prepare for this pro- gram by taking MA 140, College Algebra, and MA 142, Trigonometry, prior to taking MA 241. For those students who have not taken physics in high school, it is recommended that PS 103, Technical Physics I, be taken prior to PS 150.

The Software Engineering program is designed to prepare students to work as part of a team on the development of software sys- tems. Software engineering concepts, meth- ods, and techniques are integrated through the curriculum. The curriculum includes courses in general education, math and sci- ence, and computing. The latter is divided into computing fundamentals, advanced concepts, applied computing, and software engineering. In addition, a student can acquire a minor or a concentration in a domain area of interest. Students should be aware that sev- eral courses in each academic year may have prerequisites and/or corequisites. Check the course descriptions at the back of this catalog before registering for classes to ensure requi- site sequencing.

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CAREER OUTLOOK

The Embry-Riddle Connection Gives You Best Shot
at Careers in Aerospace, Aviation, and Technology

For more than 15 years Embry-Riddle's software engineering/computer science graduates have been at the top of many employers' lists and most graduates receive multiple job offers. The following is a list of some of the top employers of our graduates:

Boeing
Carrier
FAA
Guidant
Lockheed Martin
Motorola

NASA
Raytheon
Rockwell Collins
Sikorsky
U.S. Air Force

The Embry-Riddle Advantage: The Career Services Office

One of the most valuable benefits of being a student or alumnus of Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University is access to the resources of the Career Services Office.

The Career Services Office provides career development assistance to all students and alumni of Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University, regardless of campus affiliation. The Daytona Beach office serves Daytona Beach, Worldwide Campus, and Worldwide Online students. Prescott campus students are served by the Prescott office.

The Career Services Web site offers students and alumni:

A virtual library of job search aids including interview tips
An alumni network which enables students to contact alumni throughout the United States and abroad to learn more about their careers and employers.
Sample résumés and cover letters
Company profiles and employment hotlines
Cooperative education opportunities
Current job listings; and
A Web-based résumé referral service

A career fair is hosted at the Daytona Beach and Prescott campuses each fall. Throughout each year, dozens of companies visit the campuses to recruit students and to provide information about their industry. On-campus interviews are also scheduled year-round.

The Career Services Office employs a staff of program managers to provide one-on-one career advisement, mock interviews, and résumé critique services. The Career Services Office encourages students to make contact early in their Embry-Riddle educations to explore career options and develop a successful job search strategy.

More From the Career Services Office

Career Advisement
Several degree-specific program managers are available for assistance with career choice/change, exploration of career opportunities, and development of job search techniques.

Career Resource Center
The Career Resource Center is a library of information that includes addresses and information on potential employers, as well as information on hiring trends, salaries, and other career references. The Career Resource Center is continuously updated and expanded to meet student needs. The Career Services Web site also serves as a virtual resource center with links to job listings, salary information, sample résumés, interview preparation, and company Web sites.

EagleHire Network
The EagleHire Network allows students and alumni to submit résumés directly to employers seeking full-time and co-op/internship candidates. EagleHire is a free service and is available to all students and alumni of the University.

Cooperative Education/Internship Program
Cooperative education positions provide an opportunity for students to gain valuable work experience while earning college credit, learn about their chosen field, and establish contacts in the industry. Co-ops and internships are opportunities to earn college credit while gaining career-related work experience for undergraduate and graduate students.