The School of Science and Computer Engineering at UHCL offers the Software Engineering (SWEN) Master of Science to students throughout the United States via online instruction. Graduates earn this degree as part of the UHCL Distance-Learning effort; they need not travel to the UHCL campus. Students pursue coursework over the Internet via the course-delivery platform known as WebCT. The SWEN program accommodates a combination of online and face-to-face classes along with exclusively online instruction. Note: FI international students must apply for traditional classroom instruction; they may not pursue full-time coursework online. As an FI student, you may still take online classes, but you are limited to one online class per semester.
UHCL offers the online classes on a semester basis, on the same schedule as face-to-face classes. Online classwork takes place via the web, with web-based materials and resources, and the school assigns all work and administers tests electronically. Online classes follow the same start and end dates for registration periods as face-to-face classes. They also have identical deadlines in terms of drop date, homework submission dates, an so on. The degree awarded is the same degree face-to-face students receive; students must meet all the same requirements. The basic difference between an online class and a face-to-face class is that the student need not attend lectures at the UHCL campus; all instruction instead takes places through the course website. These courses are not correspondence courses; we do not mail bulk materials and offer an open timeframe for you to complete them. The courses operate on a weekly schedule, just like face-to-face classes, with weekly deadlines and regular exams. Online students are welcome to attend face-to-face lectures on campus if they would like, but the plan does not require it.
Our online program eliminates travel-time concerns. Students can earn a degree without traveling to a physical location to attend class several times a week. This gives students access to a degree even if they are out of driving range. It also allows students to maintain a flexible schedule by letting them pursue coursework at home and submit it electronically (although online students must submit all work by the due dates). Students do not have to attend weekly lectures, but if the class has a live lecture option, they may attend the lectures.
Successful students in our online SWEN program are self-motivated, follow written instructions, display good comprehension skills, and exhibit excellent English-language reading and writing skills. These are skills students need to thrive outside the traditional classroom setting, where the instructor lectures to a seated audience of students. In the absence of that traditional environment, such personal discipline is vital.
To speak to someone about the online degree program in Software Engineering contact the Office of Distance Education at 281-283-3031. The links below offer additional helpful information.
FAQ (contains important questions and answers about our online degree program)
Student Information (who to contact for various issues you may need help with)
Quick start guide to Distant Education at UHCL. This summarizes the basic process of getting started with a distant course at UCHL. You may find this helpful to download and keep, or print, as it contains helpful numbers and information to get your started in your first distant course at UHCL. It is a PDF file and requires s Adobe Acrobat Reader to open.
