About the Program
Monmouth is one of very few universities in the nation offering an ABET-accredited Bachelor of Science in Software Engineering degree. Our rigorous and comprehensive program uniquely combines the study of mathematics, physical science, and computer science with engineering and the humanities to produce a well-rounded, practical education.
Software engineering majors will study computer and engineering topics while developing the essential software engineering skills needed to excel in the design, development, and deployment of large software systems. You will learn to solve complex problems, communicate effectively, function as part of an engineering team, analyze and interpret data, and implement innovative computing solutions.
Student Outcomes
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.
Most of our graduates are receiving multiple job offers from high-techcompanies, financial institutions, government agencies, health careproviders, educational institutions, automobile manufacturers, telecommunications providers, and news and entertainment companies.
Alumni have been employed by companies including AT&T, Google, Microsoft, Prudential Insurance, Lockheed Martin, Philips, DiscoveryData, and Sparta Systems.
By the time students in the BSSE program graduate they must have demonstrated:
- an ability to identify, formulate, and solve complex engineering problems by applying principles of engineering, science, and mathematics
- an ability to apply engineering design to produce solutions that meet specified needs with consideration of public health, safety, and welfare, as well as global, cultural, social, environmental, and economic factors
- an ability to communicate effectively with a range of audiences
- an ability to recognize ethical and professional responsibilities in engineering situations and make informed judgments, which must consider the impact of engineering solutions in global, economic, environmental, and societal contexts
- an ability to function effectively on a team whose members together provide leadership, create a collaborative and inclusive environment, establish goals, plan tasks, and meet objectives
- an ability to develop and conduct appropriate experimentation, analyze and interpret data, and use engineering judgment to draw conclusions
- an ability to acquire and apply new knowledge as needed, using appropriate learning strategies.
Program Educational Objectives
The educational objectives of the Bachelor of Science in Software Engineering program, accredited by the Engineering Accreditation Commission of ABET (http://www.abet.org), are to prepare software engineering graduates to do the following things within the first few years after graduation from the program:
- Work as effective team members or team leaders in the secure development and acquisition of computer and software systems covering a wide range of business, educational and scientific applications, or undertake graduate studies.
- Work in teams to solve client problems, communicating effectively with technical and non-technical team members, clients and customers, while meeting the social and ethical responsibilities of their profession.
- Adapt to new technologies, methodologies and regulations with the skills required to react to and innovate for a changing world.
Undergraduate Research & Internships
Software engineering majors will take part in a two-semester practicum experience modeled after a real-world need or one that is customized to meet the needs of an external client. All qualified students may participate in exciting summer research projects and develop strong practical skills that future employers are actively seeking.
Our students have opportunities to work on campus with faculty across multiple departments, or intern with local and national computing firms.
Innovative BSSE Undergraduate Degree 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.
Focusing on Leadership Potential
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.
Basic Skills and Disciplines
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.
An Expanding Universe of Opportunities
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.
Degree Requirements
- 30 credits of Math and Science.
- Math: at or above Introductory Calculus.
- Science: designated for Science and Engineering majors, including laboratory work.
- 57 credits of Software Engineering and Computer Science topics, including a major design experience
- 24 credits of General Education requirements
- 6 credits of Interdisciplinary requirements
- 3 credits of free electives
Enrollment
The following table shows enrollment and graduation data for the Bachelor of Science in Software Engineering Program.
Bachelor of Science in Software Engineering
Accredited by the Engineering Accreditation Commission of ABET (http://www.abet.org)
| Academic Year | Enrollment Year | Total Students | Total Students at Senior Level | Degrees Conferred | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Freshmen | Sophomore | Junior | Senior | |||||
| 2021-2022 | FT | 16 | 6 | 4 | 7 | 35 | 7 | |
| PT | 1 | 1 | ||||||
| 2020-2021 | FT | 12 | 9 | 7 | 14 | 42 | 14 | 10 |
| PT | ||||||||
| 2019-2020 | FT | 11 | 5 | 7 | 11 | 34 | 11 | 5 |
| PT | ||||||||
| 2018-2019 | FT | 10 | 6 | 13 | 13 | 42 | 13 | 13 |
| PT | ||||||||
| 2017-2018 | FT | 13 | 10 | 9 | 18 | 51 | 19 | 14 |
| PT | 1 | |||||||
| 2016-2017 | FT | 15 | 10 | 17 | 17 | 60 | 18 | 17 |
| PT | 1 | |||||||