Bachelor of Science in Software Engineering

Bachelor of Science in Software Engineering

Design a Safer, Sustainable and More Innovative World

Software engineers create the programs that make our digital world possible. From startups to giant corporations, organizations depend on software for their businesses to run efficiently, securely and cost-effectively.

As a software engineering major, you'll learn to develop complex systems and solve real-world problems. As more and more of us rely on smart devices, the number of openings for software engineers will only increase, with the job outlook predicted to grow 25 percent by 2031, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.

Why Major in Software Engineering at Clarkson?

Our low student-to-faculty ratio allows our professors to get to know you personally while you engage in research together. This unique level of interaction is the hallmark of the Clarkson educational experience. Our curriculum combined with research, internships, co-op opportunities and career placement services separates us from other programs.

Our faculty experts engage in the development of technology and innovation in areas such as next-generation identification, advanced cybersecurity for a safer world, metamaterials that can bend waves and cutting-edge renewable energy systems for a greener tomorrow.

Our program balances hardware, software and systems concepts, along with a robust set of communication and teamwork skills that industry leaders are looking for. For a capstone design project, you'll have the chance to showcase the knowledge you've accumulated. Some design projects give students opportunities to conduct research with professors and graduate students and present their work at conferences.

And, our Software Engineering majors had a 100 percent placement rate in 2023.

What You'll Learn

Clarkson's BS in Software Engineering combines software and hardware topics through a streamlined course sequence emphasizing software engineering technology and engineering design.

This interdisciplinary curriculum draws from computer science and electrical and computer engineering. This collaborative approach focuses on:

  • Data structures and algorithms
  • Embedded systems
  • Programming fundamentals
  • Programming languages
  • Software engineering (requirements, design, implementation and verification and validation)
  • Software systems
  • Web and mobile systems

Our students are taught with state-of-the-art industry tools and get introduced to programming languages C/C++, Java, Python and JavaScript, among others.

Software Engineering Core Requirements

Students are required to complete the following courses:

Software Engineering

  • EE260 Embedded Systems 
  • EE262 Intro to Object-Oriented Programming and Software Design
  • EE264 Introduction to Digital Design 
  • EE361 Fundamentals of Software Engineering 
  • EE363 Software Components & Generic Programming 
  • EE368 Software Engineering 
  • EE407 Computer Networks 
  • EE408 Software Design for Visual Environments 
  • EE418 Software Engineering Senior Design 
  • EE462 Software System Architecture 
  • EE466 Computer Architecture
  • EE468 Database Systems 

Professional Experience

Students are required to complete the following Professional Experience:

  • ES499 Professional Experience (0 credits)

School of Engineering Common First Year

Students must complete the following courses in their first year:

  • CM131 General Chemistry I (4 credits)
  • CS141 Introduction to Computer Science (4 credits)
  • ES100 Introduction to Engineering Use of the Computer (2 credits)
  • ES110 Engineering & Society 
  • MA131 Calculus I 
  • MA132 Calculus II 
  • PH131 Physics I (4 credits)
  • PH132 Physics II (4 credits)

Software Engineering Core Electives

Students must complete the following courses:

Computer Science/Electrical Science

  • CS341 Programming Languages 
  • CS344 Algorithms & Data Structures 
  • CS444 Operating Systems 
  • CS458 Formal Methods for Program Verification
  • ES250 Electrical Science 

Mathematics

  • MA211 Foundations 
  • MA231 Calculus III 
  • MA232 Elementary Differential Equations
  • MA381 Probability
  • or STAT383 Probability & Statistics

Software Engineering Electives

Professional Electives

  • Software engineering professional electives may be any course numbered EE300+, CS300+, MS300+, AS300+, BR400, ME444, COMM442, COMM444 or CS242.

Knowledge Area/University Course Electives

  • Students will have at least 12 credit hours available to use toward Knowledge Area and/or University Course electives to satisfy the Clarkson Common Experience requirements.

Free Electives

  • Students will have approximately 6 credit hours available to use toward courses of their choice.

 

Our software engineering professors are also active researchers. Access undergraduate research opportunities through projects sponsored by agencies like the National Science Foundation, U.S. Air Force Research Lab and New York State Energy Research and Development Authority, as well as by private companies. Past student projects have involved the construction of web and mobile apps, data analysis using Python, machine learning applications, biometrics and cybersecurity.

Learn more about research at Clarkson.

As a software engineering major, gain professional experience through an internship or co-op. Find placements with companies, government offices and other organizations, including through on-campus Career Fairs. Twice a year, nearly 200 employers come to campus to recruit undergraduate Clarkson students for internships, co-ops and full-time positions, including many looking for software engineers.

Our students have recently completed internships for:

  • BAE Systems
  • Electric Boat
  • GE
  • General Dynamics
  • IBM
  • Lockheed Martin
  • Syracuse Research Corporation

Learn more about co-ops and internships.

Software engineering students can get involved outside the classroom through over 200 clubs and organizations on campus, including several related to software engineering.

These include:

  • American Indian Science and Engineering Society (AISES)
  • Autonomous Robotics Club
  • Clarkson Open Source Institute (COSI)
  • Clarkson University Software Engineering Club
  • Gaming Initiative
  • Gaming Society
  • H2Code LLC
  • National Society of Black Engineers (NSBE)
  • Order of Omega
  • Power and Energy Society
  • Robotics Living Learning Community
  • Sigma Xi - The Scientific Research Society
  • Society of Hispanic Professional Engineers (SHPE)
  • Society of Asian Scientists and Engineers (SASE)
  • Society of Women Engineers (SWE)
  • Tau Beta Pi - National Engineering Honor Society

Software Engineering Minor Core I

Students are required to complete the courses in one of the following options:

Option 1

  • CS141 Introduction to Computer Science I (4 credits)
  • CS142 Introduction to Computer Science II
  • CS344 Algorithms and Data Structures

Option 2

  • CS141 Introduction to Computer Science I (4 credits)
  • EE262 Intro to Object Oriented Programming and Software Design
  • EE363 Software Components and Generic Programming

Software Engineering Minor Core II

Students must complete one of the following courses:

  • CS242 Advanced Programming Concepts in Java
  • or EE408 Software Design for Visual Environments

Students must complete one of the following courses:

  • EE368 Software Engineering
  • or CS350 Software Design & Developments

Software Engineering Minor Core III

Students must complete one of the following courses:

  • EE465/CS452 Computer Graphics
  • CS455/EE407 Computer Networks
  • EE468/CS460 Database Systems
  • or course approved by the Software Engineering Program Committee.

Career Possibilities

Almost all organizations require some form of software engineering to support their operations. The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics has consistently ranked software engineer at the top of its job list for many years and predicts 25-percent growth between 2021 and 2031. Demand for software engineers spans many sectors, such as:

  • Automotive
  • Aviation
  • Energy
  • Finance and banking
  • Social media and entertainment
  • Telecommunication

Recent Employers

2023 graduates of the program started their careers with an average salary of more than $81K. Graduates have recently gone on to work for companies such as:

  • Aetna
  • Aurora North
  • BAE
  • Electric Boat
  • Gracenote
  • IBM
  • Inficon
  • Lockheed Martin
  • Northeast Information Discovery
  • RSI
  • Saab Defense and Security
  • Tata Consultancy Services

Contact

Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering
Email: ece@clarkson.edu
Phone: 315-268-6511

Interested in learning more about the Bachelor of Science in Software Engineering? Contact the Department today with your questions.

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100 Percent Placement Undergrad - Program Specific

A Flexible, Creative Major

2021 software engineering graduate Kristen Printup shares her favorite aspects of Clarkson's software engineering program, including excellent academic support and abundant high-paying career opportunities.

Design Your Future

Clarkson's software engineering degree gives you the knowledge and the confidence you need to succeed in this in-demand, creative field. Find out more today.