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Software Engineering Overview

There is still no consensus amongst institutions of higher learning over what should be covered by degrees in computer science, software engineering, information systems, computer science engineering, and information technology. These fields are just too new, and what one university or employer deems to be a necessity of software engineering, another might call computer science.

Many similarities exist between these two fields. In both, a student will be expected to appreciate how computers function, how programs should be structured, and just what a user can reasonably expect. In days of old, computers were hardwired to carry out one function, and little was required of the user beyond punching a button. Granting more user control prompted the creation of compilers and programming languages which could translate the language of humans into the language of computers.

Computer programming came of age with the arrival of the personal computer. Simpler languages like BASIC allowed the user more control. After not many minutes spent reading a book, a user could construct simple programs. One way to examine the distinction between computer science and software engineering is to hark back to how the majority of printers were controlled by early personal computers. Usually, a change of printer functions such as number of copies, paper size, or font size required the entering of the appropriate printer string to DOS.

These days, such functions are managed from a desktop interface, where the user enters information in the printer dialog box or to the software. Looking at it simply, one could say the creation of the dialog boxes and their underlying code was the work of a software engineer. The printer's ability to understand these commands was thanks to the computer scientist.

Since there is so little standardization between academic institutions, degree quality can differ by a wide margin. Some require their CS majors to study Microsoft Office in their first programming course. Sometimes, this is followed by RPG, COBOL or Pascal, languages not at all widely used today. Visual BASIC, Visual J, or Visual C++  might be taught, but without the underlying language. In the same fashion, software engineers can graduate without understanding the basics of wireless technology. Both people pursuing a degree and employers would do better to disregard a degree's title and looking at the actual courses taken.

Not so long in the past, computer science vacancies were frequently filled by people holding other degrees, for instance electrical engineers. Software engineers were mostly those possessing programming abilities, many of whom taught themselves and had no degree. As technological complexity increased, there was more specialization. Only by considering the objective can one differentiate between degrees.

By way of example, a software engineer is probably the person you want to help produce the greatest game ever. But if the objective is to produce the latest generation of gaming systems, a computer scientist is likely to be the one who will make the largest contribution. Software engineering is the wide field to consider if you are planning to take it as a career.