An online doctoral degree in software engineering may provide students with the skills and training needed to plan, develop, market, and adjust large software systems. Students enrolled in these upper-level programs may experiment in prototyping, develop strategies for modern software, and maintain high-quality software-intensive systems. Coursework within these programs may include a dissertation requirement, a handful of information technology-related electives, and major-specific courses, such as software project economics, object-oriented software construction, and user interface design.

Upon completion, students may seek employment opportunities in their chosen field of interest. Doctoral-level graduates may find career opportunities in research and development, engineering, and technology.

Program Overview

• Prerequisite: Bachelor’s Degree at minimum
• Program Length: Three to five years to complete
• Post-Grad Options: Employment
• Projected Employment Growth:30% (2010-2020)*

Program Coursework

The curriculum within an online doctoral-level program in software engineering may include a few information technology-based electives, several major-specific courses, and a dissertation requirement. In these PhD programs, students may study product implementation and verification, post-release product support, and software applications geared toward specific industries. Core software engineering courses may include the following:

• Software Project Economics
• Software Testing
• Software Modeling and Architectural Design
• Object-Oriented Software Construction
• User Interface Design
• Software Reliability and Safety
• Operations Research Models

Career Options

Graduates of online doctoral in software engineering may find jobs in education, research and development, engineering, mathematics, and technology. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, employment opportunities for those pursuing careers as software publishers are expected to increase by 30% from 2010-2020.*

Possible careers include:

• Software Publisher
• Computer Scientist
• Computer and Information Systems Manager
• Database Administrator
• Computer Systems Analyst

*U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Outlook Handbook