Software Engineering explores every aspect of the software development effort. It examines all issues of software development across the software development life cycle, particularly aspects of development that take place before and after coding. In our program, students learn how to elicit requirements, how to design a system at the architectural level and detailed design level, how to design test cases, how to measure software quality, and how to manage a software project. They determine which software processes to use, how to manage risk, how to estimate project size and cost, how to validate software and how to verify specifications.
What kind of job can I get?
Our program prepares a student for a wide array of jobs beyond the scope of mere coding. Students qualify for positions such as requirements analyst, software architect, system designer, software quality engineer, software project manager, software process analyst, and process designer. These careers predominate in major firms that develop and market non-trivial software; companies like United Space Alliance, Hewlett-Packard, Texas Instruments, Stewart Title, Cisco Systems, Boeing, and Microsoft fills such positions constantly. These high-paid positions demand superior English-language communication skills. They also offer a quicker path to advancement, and require an MS.
What about getting the Degree online or do I have to come to UHCL?
You may complete the Software Engineering degree at UHCL by taking all required courses online, or you may attend courses in a traditional classroom setting on the UHCL campus. If you live outside the Houston area, you will want to enroll in our online program. The degree requirements for online courses are the same as those for traditional classroom course. You acquire the same knowledge and receive the same coursework, assignments, and exams. To find out more about the online program, please refer to the online degree link in the navigation bar on the left.
How established is Software Engineering at UHCL?
Our Software Engineering program is one of the first Software Engineering programs established in the United States. We have been awarding the MS in Software Engineering for over 17 years. Our stable and successful curriculum teaches fundamental software engineering principles that apply to all areas of software development and application.
What type of students has UHCL graduated in its Software Engineering Program?
Many of NASA JSC's engineers have enrolled in our SWEN program over the past 17 years. These were engineers who decided to return to graduate school to earn an additional engineering degree in order to switch jobs at NASA or who had been working in software at JSC but did not have the required degree to allow advancement.
Many Houston-area Aerospace related industry employees (Boeing and United Space Alliance for example) enroll and have graduated in our Software Engineering MS Program in order to advance their careers at their company.
Many Houston Area oil and chemical company engineers have entered our SWEN program and graduated and went on to higher paying positions within their company. Many of these companies paid the tuition for their employees to take our program.
What is the difference in Computer Science and Software Engineering?
Computer Science examines the theory and application of algorithms and the code used to implement those algorithms. Computer Science is a concentrated study that centers around the coding phase of the software development lifecycle. Software Engineering studies all phases of the software development lifecycle, of which coding is only one phase. The undergraduate degree plan focuses mainly on the coding phase, whereas the master degree in software engineering concentrates on the development of requirements, the specification of system and user requirements, design specification, software architecture specification, risk analysis, verification, and validation technique that are applied across the lifecycle. Software engineering program curriculum courses emphasize each major phase of the software lifecycle.
How do I apply to enter the Software Engineering Program at UHCL?
You will need a copy of your transcripts from your undergraduate degree and any postgraduate work. You must submit these transcripts to UHCL for evaluation for admission. You also must submit your GRE (Graduate Record Examination) scores to UHCL. You will have to fill out an application for admission to UHCL and specify that you want to enroll in the Software Engineering program and indicate the online study of SWEN if you want do the degree by distance.
You can apply online here. Before you actually fill out the application, please read about the application process. If you have questions about the application process, please e-mail admissions or call 281-283-2500.
How are Online Classes handled (tests, lectures, advising, homework submission, office hours)?
The faculty members teaching a particular course develop the online version. Each course will give (via Blackboard) each student a syllabus, a set of online modules that cover the course material, a class schedule with assignment due dates, a set of assignments, a set of quizzes or exams, a bulletin board for message posting and discussion, and other features specific to the course. Students submit all work electronically via the Blackboard course platform. A quiz facility is used to offer online quizzes to the students. Depending on the course, you may take exams using the quiz facility or the instructor may choose to give open-ended essay-type exams that you can submit via e-mail or through Blackboard. Each student is given an account to access the course; once the course begins, the student receives all instructions online.
How much experience does UHCL software engineering have with distance education?
Our faculty has been teaching courses using distance education for over 12 years. We have experienced few problems in the past. Most students find the courses very convenient, rigorous, and thorough.
Can I earn the Software Engineering Masters Degree as a distant student and take all of my Software Engineering courses online?
Yes. If you enroll in our online MS program, you will be able to take all courses you need to finish the degree (including the capstone project) as a distant student.
If I am an resident of a state outside of Texas do I have to pay out of state fees?
Yes, you will have to pay out of state fees if you do not reside in Texas.
If I am a International Student living outside the US can I enroll in the Software Engineering program as an online/distant student ?
At this time, International students who reside outside the US are not able to enroll. This requirement could change in the future, but at this time enrollment is restricted to students residing in the US. If you decide you would like to enroll and attend our program after moving to the US, please see the application process for International Students. F1 international students may not enroll as full-time online students, since F1 students are currently limited to taking one online course per semester. However, you can still enroll in the SWEN program, and take some courses online and others face-to-face to complete the degree. If you have questions about this, e-mail International Students Services, or call 281-283-2575
How are the Software Engineering online courses different from the UHCL-campus Software Engineering Courses?
All SWEN courses required for the degree have an online version. Many local, non-distance-learning students are enrolled in these online courses if their schedules do not permit travel to campus for lectures. The difference between an online course and a face-to-face course is that the traditional live lecture is replaced with all lecture materials, reading materials, instructions, presentation slides, notes, assignment descriptions, self test quizzes, exams, and communication methods (Bulletin Boards, e-mail, chat). Students receive these materials over the Internet via the Blackboard course-delivery system.
If I earn a Software Engineering Degree online from UHCL will my degree requirements be any different from those students at UHCL earning the degree the traditional way?
No. The degree requirements are exactly the same. The only distinction is that your electives will be limited to those courses offered as online electives. If you attend campus courses, you can choose your electives from the classes offered online or in the classroom.
Will my diploma or transcript indicate that my degree was online if I choose to earn the online degree?
No; the diploma and transcript look identical whether you take the class online or on campus.
Can I apply for Financial aid or Scholarship money to attend UHCL?
Yes. For more information about Scholarships click here and for information about Financial Aid click here. You may e-mail wells@uhcl.edu if you have questions about Scholarships.
How much will is cost to attend UHCL?
In general, UHCL offers very competitive tuition rates. Cost of attending UHCL is outlined here. If you will be a graduate student, please review the graduate costs, they differ from the undergraduate costs. There is also a different rate for Texas residents as opposed to out-of-state students. To determine if you meet the Texas residency requirement, please visit this site.
How do I find out what classes are offered each semester and then how do I enroll in a class?
UHCL allows electronic search for classes offered beginning with the open-enrollment period for each semester. We post our SWEN schedule for the upcoming semester in the Software Engineering Information Center. Please review our online schedule before performing the UHCL class search for a specific scheduled class. You must find the class in the official UHCL search before you can register for it. The SWEN schedule posted in the Information Center is generally accurate, but there is sometimes a lag time between entry in the official schedule and when the course actually appears. A class must appear in the official UHCL class search before you can register for it.
The UHCL Academic Calendar lists registration dates and other important dates. You will use E-services to actually register for classes. You need your UHCL ID and password to register for classes. You will receive this user ID and password in a letter from the university upon acceptance to the university.
How do I get textbooks that are required for the courses?
You can order textbooks from the UHCL bookstore online or by visiting the UHCL bookstore. Of course, you are also free to order your textbooks from any online bookstore you choose. You will need the ISBN number, title, author, and publisher information to order your textbook. The UHCL bookstore and your course instructor will have this information.
Is there financial aid or scholarships available?
Yes. For financial aid information, click here. For scholarship information, click here. If you need to speak to a person about scholarships, you can e-mail Leslie Wells at wells@uhcl.edu, or call 281-283-2558. You can also e-mail UHCL_FAO@uhcl.edu, or call 281-283-2480 with your financial-aid questions.
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