Software Engineering (BS)

Software Engineering is the engineering discipline that utilizes a systematic approach to the development, production, operation, and maintenance of software. The Bachelor of Science degree in Software Engineering (SE) at FGCU prepares students in the theory and methods of systematic and rigorous construction of software for industrial, scientific and commercial applications.

Software plays an increasingly important role in our daily life. It is a fast growing field. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics’ Occupational Outlook Handbook 2016 Edition, more than 302,500 new software engineer positions will be created over the 2016 to 2026 period.

Software Engineering students complete core courses including traditional Computer Science courses and specific Software Engineering courses. Computer Science courses include object-oriented programming, data structures and algorithms, operating systems, and computer organization and networking. Software Engineering courses include software engineering fundamentals, software requirements engineering, software architecture and design, software testing, and team-oriented senior software engineering projects. Further specialized courses in real-time embedded systems, data acquisition and control, simulation and modeling, intelligent systems, and computer graphics are among the possible SE electives. In addition, students can take electives in computer information systems. Software Engineering students build on general education courses with a significant component in math and physics as prerequisites for upper level courses.

The mission of the B.S. Software Engineering degree program is to:

deliver graduates with a high quality education in engineering and computer science who are well prepared for careers as valuable contributors in application software development, system software development, as well as for further graduate study
while providing an entrepreneurial, interdisciplinary, and service oriented environment and curriculum, and
valuing diversity and professionalism in our field, and collaboration across the engineering and computing disciplines.

The B.S. Software Engineering Program at FGCU is accredited by the Engineering Accreditation Commission of ABET, http://www.abet.org. Total current academic year enrollment in the FGCU B.S. Software Engineering program is 403 students (official institutional numbers for program majors plus pre-majors as of the Fall semester of 2019). Program graduates over the most recent prior academic year of 2018-2019 totaled 38.

Meet Software Engineering Faculty/Staff

Admissions Information
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Admissions Information for the 2020-2021 Catalog Year
If you are not yet an FGCU student, visit the Admissions Office Website
If you are a newly-admitted FGCU student please be sure to sign up for an Eagle View Orientation session. As part of this session you will be meeting with an academic advisor who will assist you in registering for classes for your major.
Admission Deadlines
Visit the Admissions Office Web site for information on admission deadlines of the university.
Program Requirements
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Program Requirements for the 2020-2021 Catalog Year
The General Education Program Website is located at http://www.fgcu.edu/general_education
Program Progression and Additional Graduation Requirements
Students admitted to Florida Gulf Coast University as a degree seeking student in good academic standing may declare a major in engineering. All engineering majors must satisfy the academic milestones as described in the student guidebook. Refer to the Software Engineering (B.S.) Student Guidebook for further information on milestones.
- In addition to the program requirements, students must complete:
- Complete a minimum of 120 credits, with at least 48 credits at the upper division (3-4000 level).
- Complete a minimum of 30 of the last 60 credits at FGCU, including 12 credit hours in the major. Also CEN 4065 and CEN 4935 must be taken at FGCU.
- Earn a cumulative GPA of 2.0 for all coursework attempted at FGCU.
- Satisfy College-Level Skills and foreign language entrance requirements.
- Satisfy Service Learning requirement. See https://www.fgcu.edu/studentlife/servicelearning/
- Satisfy Civic Literacy requirement.
Program Requirements
1. FGCU General Education Program (https://www.fgcu.edu/academics/undergraduatestudies/generaleducation/)
2. To prevent or minimize excess hours, select general education courses that satisfy common prerequisite requirements for your intended major.
3. Common Prerequisites
  For this major, common prerequisite courses with an asterisk (*) require prior knowledge and skills demonstrated through degree acceleration programs (e.g., the College Board's Advanced Placement Program [AP], International Baccalaureate Program [IB], College-Level Examination Program [CLEP], Advanced International Certificate of Education Program [AICE]); dual enrollment; placement exam; or college coursework.
  
  FGCU Course: *COP 1500 Intro to Computer Science (3) Minimum grade of C
  Acceptable Substitute: COPX500 or COP X000
  [Prerequisites of MAT 1033 minimum grade of C then MAC 1105 Minimum grade of C; or relevant accelerated credit; or placement exam]
  
  FGCU Course: COP2006 Introduction to Programming (3) Minimum grade of C
  Acceptable Substitute: COP X250, COP X253, or COP X800
  
  FGCU Course: *MAC 2311 Calculus I (4) Minimum grade of C
  Acceptable Substitute: MACX311
  [Prerequisites of MAT 1033 minimum grade of C then MAC 1105 minimum grade of C then MAC 1147 minimum grade of C; or relevant accelerated credit; or placement exam]
  
  FGCU Course: MAC 2312 Calculus II (4) Minimum grade of C
  Acceptable Substitute: MACX312
  
  FGCU Course: PHY 2048 General Physics I (3) and PHY 2048L General Physics I Laboratory (1) Minimum grade of C
  FGCU Course: PHY 2049 General Physics II (3) and PHY 2049L General Physics II Laboratory (1) Minimum grade C
  Acceptable Substitute: [(PHYX048 and PHYX048L) and (PHYX049 and PHYX049L)] or (PHYX048C and PHYX049C)
  
  FGCU Course: *STA 2023 Statistical Methods (3) or *STA 2037 Statistics with Calculus (3) Minimum grade of C
  Acceptable Substitute: STAX023 or STAX037
  [For STA 2023 Prerequisites of MAT 1033 minimum grade of C; or relevant accelerated credit; or placement exam]
  [For STA 2037 Prerequisites of MAT 1033 minimum grade of C then MAC 1105 minimum grade of C then MAC 1147 minimum grade of C then MAC 2311 minimum grade of C; or relevant accelerated credit; or placement exam]
  
  Math Electives (6-7 credits) from the following:
  FGCU Course: MAC 2313 Calculus III (4)
  FGCU Course: MAP 2302 Differential Equations (3)
  FGCU Course: MHF 2191 Mathematics Foundations (3)
  FGCU Course: MHF 2310 Symbolic Logic (3)
  Acceptable Substitutes: (6-7 credits) from: MACX313 or MAPX302 or MHFX191 or MHFX310
  
  Science Electives (4 credits) from the following:
  FGCU Course: BSC 1010C Gen'l Biology I w/Lab (4)
  FGCU Course: BSC 1011C Gen'l Biology II w/Lab (4)
  FGCU Course: *CHM 1045C General Chem w/Lab I (4)
  [Prerequisites of MAT 1033 minimum grade of C then MAC 1105 minimum grade of C; or relevant accelerated credit; or placement exam]
  FGCU Course: CHM 1046C General Chem w/Lab II (4)
  FGCU Course: GLY 1010C Physical Geology (4)
  Acceptable Substitutes: BSCX010c or (BSCX010 and BSCX010L) or BSCX011C or (BSCX011 and BSCX011L) or CHMX045C or (CHMX045 and CHMX045L) or GLYX000C
4. Required Courses in the Major (45 credits)
  A minimum grade of C is required in each course.
  
  CDA 3104 Comp Org'n Assem Lang Prog (3)
  CEN 3031 Software Engng Fundamentals (3)
  CEN 3078 Software Security (3)
  CEN 3073 Software Specifications (3)
  CEN 4072 Software Testing (3)
  CEN 4065 Software Architecture & Design (3)
  CEN 4935 Senior Software Engr Project (3)
  CNT 4104 Software Proj Comp Networks (3)
  COP 2001 Programming Methodology (3)
  COP 3003 Object-Oriented Programming (3)
  COP 3530 Data Structures & Algorithms (3)
  COP 3710 Intro to Data Engineering (3)
  COP 4610 Operating Systems (3)
  EGN 3641C Engineering Entrepreneurship (3)
  MAD 3107 Discrete Mathematics (3)
5. Restricted Electives (12 credits)
  A minimum grade of C is required in each course.
  
  Select 12 credits from the following:
  BME 3506C Circuits for Bioengineers (3)
  BME 3507C Signals Syst Bioengineers (3)
  CAP 4662 Introduction to Robotics (3)
  CAP 4730 Computer Graphics (3)
  CAP 4770 Knowledge Disc. & Data Mining (3)
  CAP 4830 Simulation & Modeling (3)
  CDA 3200 Digital Systems (3)
  CDA 4150 Computer Architecture (3)
  CDA 4170 Data Acquis & Control Systems (3)
  CEN 3213 Embedded Systems Programming (3)
  CEN 4083 Intro. to Cloud Computing (3)
  CEN 4216 Cyberphysical Systems (3)
  CEN 4930 Special Topics in Software Engineering (3)
  COP 4908 Independent Study (3)
  COP 4931 Special Topics in Computer Science (3)
  
  See college advisor for approval of additional courses.
6. University Requirements (3 credits)
  IDS 3920 University Colloquium (3)
7. Additional Electives - as needed to reach total credits required for the degree
Total Credits Required: 120
Curriculum Map
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Curriculum Map

Catalog Year 2018 - 2019 Curriculum Maps and Flow Charts -

Software Engineering Curriculum Map (PDF)

Software Engineering Curriculum Flow Chart (PDF)

Destination FGCU (Transfer from FSW to FGCU)

Student Guidebook -

Software Engineering Student Guidebook (PDF)
Course Description
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Official Course Descriptions

Search for official course descriptions by using the Course Description Search utility.

Go to the Course Descriptions Search Web page, then follow these steps:
1. Select an Academic Year from the TERM dropdown (required)
2. Select a course prefix from one of the SUBJECT dropdowns (required)
3. Enter search words in the TEXT field (optional, but will narrow the search results)
4. Press Search
Course Schedule
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Getting started with the Course Schedule Search

Search for program courses by using the Course Schedule Search utility.

Go to the Course Schedule Search Web page, then follow these steps:
1. Select an Academic Year from the TERM dropdown (required)
2. Select one or more of the search options to narrow your results (for example, CAMPUS, COLLEGE, DEPARTMENT, LEVEL, PREFIX*, COURSEATTRIBUTE**). For virtual or web courses, select VIRTUAL in the CAMPUS field.
3. Press Search.
*A course prefix is a three-letter designator for a major division of an academic discipline (for example, ACG for Accounting , BSC for Biological Science, ENC for English Composition). See the Degree Requirements page for a list of courses (with prefix and number) that can be used to fulfill degree requirements.

**A course attribute identifies specific characteristics of courses that can be used in a Degree Evaluation to satisfy a degree requirement. (Course attribute examples are Humanities courses - GEHM and Social Science courses - GESO.)
Learning Outcomes
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Academic Learning Compact

Consistent with its mission and guiding principles, Florida Gulf Coast University is committed to academic excellence and continuous quality improvement, as supported by a sound teaching-learning process. Within this process, students and instructors share responsibility for learning that is a movement from the simple to the complex, the concrete to the abstract, and the dependent to the independent. The Academic Learning Compact (ALC) initiative supports the teaching-learning process by clearly identifying expected core student learning outcomes in the areas of content/discipline knowledge and skills, communication skills, and critical thinking skills; aligning curricula with expectations; and using assessment to guide continuous improvement.

Content/Discipline Knowledge and Skills
Graduates will be able to:
1. Apply engineering design to produce solutions that meet specified software engineering needs with consideration of public health, safety, and welfare as well as global, cultural, social, environmental, and sustainability factors.
2. Recognize professional and ethical responsibilities in software engineering and make informed judgments.
3. Use the techniques, skills, and modern engineering tools necessary for software engineering practice.
Content/discipline knowledge and skills are assessed at the college and departmental levels through oral and written presentations, exams, design projects, laboratory assessment and other assignments throughout the curriculum.
Communication Skills
Graduates will be able to:
1. Select, organize, and relate ideas and information in written, oral, and graphic form with coherence, clarity, and unity.
2. Develop and present consistent arguments to select and diverse audiences.
Communication skills are assessed at the University, College, and Department levels through oral and written presentations, exams, projects, laboratory assessment and other assignments throughout the curriculum.
Critical Thinking Skills
Graduates will be able to:
1. Identify problems and the critical information needed for their solution.
2. Analyze and synthesize information, and draw reasoned inferences.
3. Formulate and evaluate appropriate problems-solving strategies.
Critical thinking skills are assessed at the University, College, and Departmental levels through oral and written presentations, exams, projects, laboratory assessment, and other assignments throughout the curriculum.
Educational Objectives and Student Outcomes
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Program Educational Objectives and Student Outcomes

The Software Engineering Program has formulated the following Program Educational Objectives, which describe the career and professional accomplishments that our BS Software Engineering degree program is preparing graduates to attain. In support of these objectives, the faculty have also identified the following Student Outcomes, which describe what students are expected to know and be able to do by the time of graduation.

Program Educational Objectives

Graduates of the FGCU BS Software Engineering degree program are expected to within a few years of graduation:
1. successfully enter chosen careers in application software development, system software development, and/or graduate studies,
2. practice life-long learning in their professions, adapting to the rapidly changing technological world.
Student Outcomes

Students by the time of graduation will have attained:
1. an ability to identify, formulate, and solve complex engineering problems by applying principles of engineering, science, and mathematics
2. 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
3. an ability to communicate effectively with a range of audiences
4. 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
5. 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
6. an ability to develop and conduct appropriate experimentation, analyze and interpret data, and use engineering judgment to draw conclusions
7. an ability to acquire and apply new knowledge as needed, using appropriate learning strategies.
Tuition, Fees, and Financial Assistance
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Tuition and Fees
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Information on Tuition, Fees and estimated total Cost of Attendance is available on the Office of the Bursar web site.

Financial Aid Opportunities

Visit FGCU's Financial Aid Web site for information about grants, additional scholarships, loans, and student employment.

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