The Master of Software Engineering degree: an integrative engineering discipline

Abstract

Software based products are an ever increasing portion of industrial output. However few engineers who produce software have had formal training in the specification, design, implementation, documentation, and maintenance of large software systems. In addition, few have had training in software engineering management and development tools and processes. KSU has implemented a Master of Software Engineering degree program which provides an opportunity for new engineering graduates and practicing engineers to learn state of the art software engineering analysis and processes. The purpose is to provide students a foundation in the software engineering "life cycle", software measurement, software management, software specification, and software validation and verification. In addition to the core courses on software methodology, students are required to take courses in an application area which is reliant on software development. This involves faculty from many engineering and science disciplines who teach these courses and supervise the development of the student's software "portfolio" in the designated engineering or science area. The goal is to integrate the software engineering process into traditional engineering processes.