Software engineering is the branch of computer science that deals with the design, development, testing, and maintenance of software applications. Software engineers apply engineering principles and knowledge of programming languages to build software solutions for end users. They work in systems used to control technologies for automobiles, aviation, robotics, defense, toys, biomedical instrumentation, and more.
Combine your passions for computer science and problem-solving with a bachelor's degree in software engineering from Michigan Tech. You'll learn in a team-based environment modeled after real working spaces, led by faculty who are experts in their field and dedicated to their students' success. Benefit from frequent office hours, one-on-one advising, research mentorship, and more. Our software engineering degree is accredited by the Engineering Accreditation Commission of ABET, ensuring the program meets rigorous standards and produces graduates who are career-ready when they complete their degree.
What Will I Study?
During your first two years at Tech, you'll gain a solid foundation in computer science. Then, in your final two years, you'll specialize in software engineering, focusing on the practical, technical, and security sides of software. There's plenty of hands-on work, lab time, collaboration, and team building. Course topics include:
- Design
- Reliability
- Quality
- Usability
- Modeling and analysis
- Requirements and testing
- Cost effectiveness
- Teamwork and management
- Domain knowledge of an application area
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See software engineering degree requirements for more course information.
Tomorrow Needs Software Engineers.
Software engineering is one of the best-paid careers out there. The mean entry-level salary for a Software Developer is $68,973 (Payscale) with a mean annual wage of $144,570 (BLS) and the top 10 percent making $211,450 (BLS). And the career outlook for software developers, quality assurance analysts, and testers is projected to grow 17% from 2023 to 2033, much faster than average.
See additional computing salary information.
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Figures from payscale.com, accessed April 2025.
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Figures from U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), dated May 2024.
Career Opportunities
MTU software engineering graduates choose to work in a variety of fields and industries developing and testing computer games, business applications, operating systems, network control systems, and more. Professional positions held by recent graduates include:
- Programmer/Analyst
- Scientific Programmer
- Software Engineer
- Software Quality Engineer
- Program Manager
- Project Leader
- Quality Assurance Coordinator
- Senior Computer Applications Engineer
- Senior Software Engineer
- Senior Systems Analyst
Great Jobs, Great Employers
Each year, more than 400 employers come to campus to recruit Huskies at our Career Fairs. Our grads go on to work at Fortune 500 companies, tech start-ups, small businesses, and everything in between. Some of the companies that employ Michigan Tech software engineering graduates include:
- American Express
- Argonne National Laboratory
- Boeing
- Blue Cross Blue Shield
- Burlington North Santa Fe Corporation
- Citizens Bank
- Cray Research
- Eastman Kodak
- Epic
- General Electric
- Lockheed Martin
- Microsoft
- Motorola
- Orbitz.com
- SBC Telecommunications Inc.
- Texas Instruments
- US Air Force
Enterprise, Only at Michigan Tech
Michigan Tech Enterprises are student-run business teams providing end-to-end original product development through real-world experiences in engineering design, team building, and project management. Enterprise teams work under the direction of a faculty advisor. Students from across campus participate in Enterprise program teams.
- Students in the Husky Game Development Enterprise design and develop games for business, education, and fun. Earn credit, gain experience, and build your resume, all while creating quality software that will attract and satisfy industry sponsors. Who says you can’t work and play?
- Humane Interface Design Enterprise (HIDE) students design, develop, and evaluate human-centered computer interfaces to make daily work more efficient and easier to manage.
- IT Oxygen Enterprise students—from numerous majors—provide Information Technology help to both student organizations and businesses, working on real projects for real companies that foster skills in development, problem-solving, and business.
One of my favorite things about the College of Computing is the number of opportunities there are to find your niche and go out and explore. I've attended conferences and learned all sorts of technologies that I don't think I would have had the chance to do elsewhere.
