Bachelor of Science in Software Engineering, Daytona-Beach , Embry-Riddle

Overview

The Bachelor of Science in Software Engineering degree prepares students for an entry-level software engineering position in a variety of industries ranging from aerospace to video game development. Because of the inclusion of real-world hands-on projects, such as flight control of an autonomous aircraft, or power control in a hybrid automobile, the program gives students a chance to develop the knowledge, skills, and ways of thinking required to design and implement large software systems. The program combines the system design and development practices of the professional software engineering community with a thorough grounding in the fundamentals of software engineering, along with a knowledge of how embedded computer hardware works, such that graduates enter the workforce ready to make a contribution and a difference.

The BSSE program focuses on software for embedded, real-time, computer systems: The kinds of systems at the heart of technologies from mobile phones and handheld computers to the control systems of modern aircraft and spacecraft. Embedded controllers take information from the physical world, such as an airplane’s altitude or the amount of light entering a lens, and use a microprocessor to generate control signals to component devices, such as that airplane’s control surfaces or a camera’s aperture opening. Many embedded devices, particularly those employed in aviation, space, and medicine are part of safety-critical systems: applications and devices for which failure endangers life and limb. The design and development of such safety-critical systems depends on the use of well-developed processes for determining a system’s requirements and specifications, converting those to operational software, and then employing quality assurance approaches to ensure minimal risk.

The BSSE curriculum gives the student an opportunity to start to work with embedded systems, such as a small, mobile robot, upon entering the program. Through the program, not only will you will how to develop software effectively, but also how to construct large, complex software systems in a way that ensures that they meet design specifications, customer requirements, and mandated levels of safety. The program culminates in a two-semester capstone design sequence in which you’ll work with a team of other student software engineers, computer engineers, and electrical engineers to specify, design, build, and demonstrate a working system, or even system of systems, often for a real-world "customer."

The detailed objectives of the program are that our graduates:

Effectively analyze, design, and implement computer systems, including embedded, real-time, and safety-critical computer systems;
Demonstrate professionalism in their work and grow professionally through continued learning and involvement in professional activities;
Contribute to society by behaving ethically and responsibly;
Communicate effectively in oral, written, and newly developing modes and media; and
Assume a variety of roles in teams of diverse membership.

The Software Engineering program is accredited by the Engineering Accreditation Commission of the Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology (111 Market Place, Suite 1050, Baltimore, MD 21202-4012; Telephone: (410) 347-7700, http://www.abet.org).

Advantages

Why a Software Engineering degree from ERAU?

The Bachelor of Science in Software Engineering allows students to being develop projects for the real world from the first day of classes. Design and build are hands on from day one. Working both individually and in teams, students have the opportunity not only to learn about developing software, in particular for embedded computer systems, but also to develop those larger software systems and learn from that process throughout the curriculum.

The sequence of design culminates in a near real-world capstone design experience: Students, working in multidisciplinary teams of engineers with a core of software, computer, and electrical engineers, determine a customer’s requirements for a system, convert those to system specifications, perform the design of a system to meet the requirements using a formalized process from industry, implement and build the system, and then test the system to ensure that it meets the customer’s requirements, fully documenting the process along the way. Capstone design students get not only a chance to show their skill in designing and developing software systems, but also their proficiency in managing the process and communicating with each other and the “customer.” Employers come back to ERAU year after year for program graduates both because of the software development proficiency and because of those graduates’ ability to enter the workplace familiar with design, development, and quality assurance processes, with industrial-strength documentation, and with working with teammates to bring a project to a successful conclusion.

The BSSE program has an expert faculty, many with industrial experience, and instruction takes place in small classes with state-of-the-art facilities, including a wide range of software and hardware development environments. Being located at Embry-Riddle allows the student to take advantage of knowledge and expertise on campus of a vast array of aviation and aerospace matters. And beyond the projects in the curriculum, student projects are available through professional organizations like the Student Branch of the IEEE (Institute for Electrical and Electronics Engineers) or competition hosts like AUVSI (Association of Unmanned Vehicle Systems International).

Requirements

Freshman Year
Course	Title	Credit
COM 122	English Composition and Literature I	3
COM 219*	Speech	3
EGR 101	Introduction to Engineering	3
EGR 115	Introduction to Computing for Engineers	3
HU 14X	Humanities	3
MA 241	Calculus I	4
MA 242	Calculus II	4
PS 150	Physics I	3
PS 160	Physics II	3
SS	Lower-Level Social Sciences Elective	3
UNIV 101	College Success	1
Total Credits		32

Sophomore Year
Course	Title	Credit
AS 120	Principles of Aeronautical Science	3
CEC 220	Digital Circuit Design	3
CEC 222	Digital Circuit Design Laboratory	1
CEC 320	Microprocessor Systems	3
CEC 322	Microprocessor Systems Laboratory	1
COM 221	Technical Report Writing	3
CS 222	Introduction to Discrete Structures	3
CS 315	Data Structures and Algorithms	3
PS 250	Physics III for Engineers	3
PS 253	Physics Laboratory for Engineers	1
SE 300	Software Engineering Practices (3 credits lecture, 1 credit lab)	4
CS 225	Computer Science II* (3 credits lecture, 1 credit lab) -OR-	4
COM 219	Speech*	3
Total Credits		31/32

Junior Year
Course	Title	Credit
CEC 470	Computer Architecture	3
CS 317	Files and Database Systems	3
CS 332	Organization of Programming Languages	3
CS 420	Operating Systems	3
EC 225	Engineering Economics	3
HU/SS XXX	Humanities / Social Sciences Elective	3
MA 3/4XX	Math Elective**	3
MA 412	Probability and Statistics	3
SE 310	Analysis & Design of Software Systems	3
SE 320	Software Construction	3
CEC 450	Real Time Systems	3
Total Credits		33

Senior Year
Course	Title	Credit
CEC/CS/SE 3/4XX	Elective	3
HU/SS 3/4XX	Humanities / Social Sciences Elective (upper division)	3
SE 410	Formal Software Modeling	3
SE 420	Software Quality Assurance &Testing	3
SE 450	Software Team Project I (2 credits lecture, 1 credit lab)	3
SE 451	Software Team Project II (1 credit lecture, 2 credits lab)	3
	Specified Electives***	9
Total Credits		30
TOTAL DEGREE CREDITS		127

*Students in the Software Engineering program are encouraged to take CS 225 during the first year, postponing COM 219 until the second year.

**Specified electives are courses to be selected, with the approval of the Program Coordinator, to support acquiring a minor, an identified concentration in a knowledge domain (e.g., aerospace, aviation, business, communications, human factors, mathematics, etc.) or further depth in software engineering or related disciplines.