Purdue College of Engineering has sponsored this post.
Software doesn’t just live in computers anymore; it is in our appliances, cars and buildings, our tools and toys. This ever-growing reliance on — and complexity of — our digital technologies means that the need is greater than ever for engineers skilled in software systems architecture, machine learning, cybersecurity and much more.
According to recent research by Lightcast, there were more than 2 million software engineering job posting between September 2021 and Sept 2023, and the demand for software engineers has grown by 51% since 2013. These roles encompass a wide range of industries and applications, everything from healthcare, to product design and development, to industrial manufacturing and automation.
“There are a lot of software engineering jobs out there,” says Lynn Hegewald, Senior Master’s Program Manager with the Elmore Family School of Electrical and Computer Engineering at Purdue University. “And our research tells us that a lot of these jobs are going unfilled.”
Artificial intelligence and LLM technologies are a strong driver of this need for software engineers, along with growing applications of cybersecurity, data science, embedded software, systems software, and robotics and automation, especially at the industrial scale.
This means engineers who want to advance in this field — and stay at the cutting edge — need to ensure their skills are in-depth and up-to-date. For these software engineers who want to refine their knowledge and enhance their skills, a master’s degree is the way to go.
Build an ideal career with Purdue’s new online master’s in software engineering
Whether their interest lies in computer engineering, AI, systems design or another path, Purdue offers a fully online Master’s of Science degree in Software Engineering (MSSWE) that ensures graduates have the right skills, knowledge, and ability to succeed in this competitive field.
“We have students who are interested in computer engineering and software, in artificial intelligence and machine learning,” says Hegewald. “And all the way on the other side, we have students who are interested in power and robotics. We developed this degree so that these students who are interested in software engineering can earn a fine-tuned credential that reflects their interests.”
Prior to the launch of the MSSWE degree and its inaugural class in 2024, Purdue offered separate degrees through the colleges of computer science and engineering, which could have a software focus. The new Software Engineering degree is a specialized program that combines the best of both worlds into a collaborative degree program with a singular focus on software engineering.
The MSSWE builds on Purdue’s long-standing excellence in electrical and computer engineering, and its renowned history of computer science, says Hegewald. “The courses are the same ones we’ve been teaching for computer science and electrical and computer engineering, the faculty are all the same. This is expertise we already have, resources we already have, and now we’re offering them through a specialized credential.” Students can concentrate on the areas that interest them and are most useful to their career plans with focus areas in cybersecurity, embedded software, machine learning and data science, or systems software.
Many MS or MEng programs are very prescriptive, Hegewald explains. “Everybody takes this course, then they take that course, and then the next. Our program doesn’t work like that at all.” There are base degree requirements, of course, but Purdue’s software engineering program stands out by being very flexible in that students can take the technical courses that are most useful and interesting to them, and which will be most valuable to their chosen career path.
One of the unique aspects of the MSSWE from Purdue is not only the collaborative nature of the program, but also the flexibility of prerequisites for incoming students.
Typically, an ECE master’s degree program will require an undergraduate degree in electrical or computer engineering. Purdue’s online MSSWE is more flexible, Hegewald says. “Generally, if you have a computer science or computer engineering bachelor’s, you’re completely prepared, but we also have mechanical engineers and other disciplines. Plus, many applicants are working and have a lot of on-the-job experience. So we also have students with degrees in IT, data science, analytics.” Prospective students don’t necessarily need to have a related degree, provided they have extensive work experience. “If so, Purdue’s degree might be right for you,” she adds.
Prospective students considering the MSSWE are encouraged to complete the self-assessment available on the program’s website.
Benefits and ROI of Purdue’s online MSSWE
Purdue’s online MSSWE degree is ideal for working professional engineers because it offers the flexibility that these students need to pursue further education while also balancing school with the other demands of their work and personal life. Students can live and work anywhere in the U.S. or around the world, and still earn a highly-regarded Purdue degree.
“Purdue’s faculty have really embraced teaching online,” Hegewald says, with 60 – 70% of engineering courses on campus also being taught online and available to remote students. “Our faculty really enjoy having online students in their classes, since often these students are working in industry and can bring different perspectives and new information that enhances the experience of that class for everyone.”
Hegewald emphasizes that the personalized support Purdue offers its students is a key aspect of the program and its students’ success. “We communicate often and clearly. They know if they send an email, they will get a response back very quickly. That personalized support, just having somebody to reach out to and get their questions answered, I think it makes a big difference in our program.”
Lastly, for students who earn a master’s degree from Purdue, the return on investment is high. Having a master’s degree helps professional engineers move into new roles or obtain promotions, or even change industries. Demonstrating the in-demand skills with a master’s also means higher salaries, and many more opportunities to build an ideal engineering career.
Visit Purdue to learn more about the online Master’s of Science in Software Engineering program.
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