Software engineers are responsible for the specification, design, and development of software programs that support computer and computer controlled systems or products. They apply the principles of engineering and science to the solution of technological problems that can be solved by the use of software controlled devices. They frequently work as members of large teams or as leaders of smaller teams that are responsible for determining customer needs, synthesizing alternative solutions, and selecting optimal solutions within economic, social, and resource constraints. Their wide-ranging role involves creating products and systems that meet the immediate needs of customers, and which can efficiently evolve over time to satisfy needs that are unknown at the start of the product.
By the time students in the BSSE program graduate they must have demonstrated:
The educational objectives of the BSSE program are to prepare software engineering graduates to do the following things within the first few years after graduation from the program:
Monmouth is one of very few universities in the nation offering an undergraduate program leading to a Bachelor of Science in Software Engineering degree. It uniquely combines the study of mathematics, physical science, and computer science with engineering and the humanities to produce a well-rounded, practical education. Our BSSE program is rigorous, comprehensive, and unlike engineering programs in many large universities, it is taught entirely by a faculty of engineering scholars without the participation of teaching assistants in the classroom or laboratories. Introductory courses are also taught in small classes. Our students never participate in lectures with several hundred attendees as they do in many large universities. Finally, the program benefits enormously from the University's proximity to the area's leading high technology firms, as well as the creativity being spawned by the multimedia industry of the New York metropolitan area.
In the evolving world of software development, career advancement requires a well-rounded preparation in the basic principals of engineering and computer science, as well as the ability to work effectively as a member of a large team or as a leader of a smaller team. Courses in these key areas - together with courses in mathematics and science - form the heart of Monmouth's BSSE curriculum.
But, given the close interrelationship of computing and social needs, a broader perspective is necessary. Our BSSE program also provides a strong background in liberal arts, culture, and the humanities; thus enriching the imagination, understanding, and the analytic skills of our engineering degree candidates.
A problem-solving approach and the need for engineered solutions lies at the very core of software engineering. Software engineers develop a deep understanding of business needs, synthesize a variety of potential solutions, evaluate those alternatives, and implement the best alternative. The software engineer who addresses these problems needs a disciplined and analytic mind, and a laser-sharp focus on the challenges and constraints of real-world computer applications. At the same time, the "breakthrough" practitioners in the field, who synthesize winning solutions, also possess a creative flair that enables them to go beyond the quantitative approaches involved in comparing alternatives. Our BSSE program teaches a disciplined engineering approach to solving problems, while simultaneously encouraging the development of intuitive capabilities, to make technological leaps in the synthesis of alternatives.
Never before has the demand been greater for highly skilled software professionals. This is the case in companies of every size, description, and location, from automobile manufacturers, to telecommunications providers, to financial institutions, e-commerce, and those providing news and entertainment programming. Advances in computer technology have transformed software engineers into the career market's "hottest" and most generously rewarded commodity. There is, in fact, a very real crisis in the marketplace where the need for talent has far outstripped the available supply of qualified software engineers.