COMPUTER SCIENCE vs SOFTWARE ENGINEERING
Beneath this paragraph is a side-by-side comparison of software engineering and computer science, including information regarding their status in universities and colleges, the topics students should be prepared to study, the specializations students may pursue, and more. Individuals who are interested in pursuing a software-related career would be wise to review the following information before selecting a major.
| COMPUTER SCIENCE | SOFTWARE ENGINEERING | |
|---|---|---|
| How do the fields define and differentiate themselves? | Computer science takes a broad approach to the study of the principles and use of computers that covers both theory and application. This field involves the understanding and application of both abstract and concrete knowledge. |
Software engineering is a field largely concerned with the application of engineering processes to the creation, maintenance, and design of software for a variety of different purposes. |
| What department is the program typically part of within the educational institution? | The computer science program is generally contained in the engineering department in four-year universities. | The software engineering program is most often housed in the engineering department in four-year universities. |
| What bodies of knowledge will students focus on in pursuit of this degree? | In general, curriculum courses may focus on 18 different knowledge areas, as described by the Association for Computing Machinery (ACM):
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According to Software Engineering 2014, a set of curriculum guidelines developed by the Joint Task Force on Computing Curricula, the IEEE Computer Society, and the Association for Computing Machinery (ACM), studies in software engineering will focus on certain core topics, including:
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| Is hardware training part of the curriculum? | Understanding the interaction between hardware and software will be included in curricula; however, specific training on hardware development generally will not. | In general, students in this field will not receive training on hardware development; however, they will gain knowledge on the interplay between hardware and software. |
| Is algorithmic training part of the curriculum? | Algorithmic training should be part of a computer science curriculum, pursuant to the 2013 Computer Science Curricula offered by the Joint Task Force on Computing Curricula Association for Computing Machinery (ACM), and the IEEE Computer Society. | Students will likely take classes on algorithms; however, it will not be a focal point of the degree. |
| Is project management of software development part of the curriculum? | Project management is often included in the computer science curriculum, sometimes as part of a software engineering course. | Students studying software engineering will likely take courses on project management, both in undergraduate and graduate programs. |
| What specializations,if any, are formally available as part of the program? | Depending on the institution, a wide array of specializations may be available, including a focus on artificial intelligence, mobile and internet computing, security, real-world computing, and theory. | While pursuing a degree in software engineering, students may have the opportunity to focus on a number of different specializations, including network-centric systems, modeling and simulation, games and entertainment systems, digital and embedded systems, and other areas. |
| What established occupations will students be prepared for after receiving a degree? | A degree in computer science may prepare students for careers as computer and information research scientists; computer network architects; computer programmers; systems analysts; information security analysts; software developers; or web developers, all of which are described in detail by the Bureau of Labor Statistics. | According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, established positions related to software engineering may include careers in software development; computer network architecture; computer systems analysis; web development; and information research. |
| What emerging occupations will students be prepared for after receiving a degree? | Emerging positions in the field of computer science may include careers in cloud computing; robotics and artificial intelligence; application development; and forensic analysis. By nature, this list will continue to grow in the future. | Emerging occupations related to software engineering depend on the state of software and technology in the future. That being said, those with a degree in software engineering may find work in artificial intelligence, app development, and software development for any future technologies that arise. |
| Name eight schools that offer online degrees in these fields. | The following is a list of 8 schools that offer online degree programs in computer science: | The following is a list of 8 schools that offer online degree programs in software engineering: |
| Bottom Line: Specifics of Each | Ultimately, while it is impossible to place a single label on this field of study, largely due to the ever-changing nature of technology, those studying computer science should expect to become familiar with computers, their functions, and their general application. While some software programming may play a part in this area, computer scientists may also be tasked with developing new coding languages,or researching new technology to extend the boundaries of the industry. Overall, computer science mixes both concrete and abstract concepts as they relate to computers and technology. | Software engineering, much like other engineering disciplines, aims to utilize general applications of computers and software to create efficiencies or solve problems. As such, software engineers can expect to create and maintain existing software for a number of different purposes. While software engineers will generally not find themselves in research-based positions, they should expect to become extremely familiar with the development of software, as well as how to use the variety of tools in their arsenal to create useful finished product. |
