Compare Majors

Compare Our Majors

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The School of Computing offers four majors: data science, computer science, computer engineering, and software engineering. Students can expect to take many of the same courses and learn valuable computing skills in each major, but courses and requirements will vary among the four.

Learn more about our four majors by reviewing each of the majors pages, the charts and information below, and additional details about courses and requirements in the Undergraduate Catalog.

Data 
Science

computer-bar-graph(programming)

Computer 
Science

Computer 
Engineering

Software 
Engineering

 

Major Overview

Data ScienceComputer ScienceComputer EngineeringSoftware Engineering
The data science major prepares students with skills and competency in data analysis and interpretation, algorithm design and implementation, and problem solving. The interdisciplinary program enables students to take advantage of career opportunities across diverse fields involving data-rich, data-driven systems and applications.

The computer science major focuses on theoretical and practical disciplines that will prepare students for any computing career path. Students will learn both fundamentals and high-level concepts and will have the flexibility to explore a variety of specialized computing topics tailored to their specific goals, interests, and desired skills.

 

The computer engineering major focuses on the integration of hardware and software system design, and students will learn to combine computing concepts with technical hardware skills. This major prepares students with the range of expertise required to develop a holistic view of computer-based systems and to make global design decisions.The software engineering major focuses on the engineering principles and practices necessary to build, maintain, and protect complex modern systems. Students study within a small cohort of fellow majors and are well prepared for careers in the tech field thanks to this program’s unique, hands-on curriculum modeled after real industry work.

What You'll Learn

Data ScienceComputer ScienceComputer EngineeringSoftware Engineering
Students will study various aspects of data science such as data collection, visualization, computational methodologies, and applications. In addition to choosing a focus area, they’ll also pursue either a minor or a second major in a discipline that both complements and enhances their data science studies.

Students will study advanced computing topics such as artificial intelligence, security, networking, cryptography, and high-end computing. Many choose to add a second major or a minor in another complementary subject such as business or math. They can also add another minor if they’ve completed the foreign language requirement.

 

Students will study topics such as digital logic and technologies, programming, system components and design, application of theory, experimentation, tools and techniques, and maintenance. Students will take many of the same courses as computer science majors, but will take electrical engineering courses instead of other subjects.Students will learn software engineering concepts such as design, architecture, development, analysis, testing, maintenance, and documentation starting in their first year. Students also spend not just one but two years collaborating on professional projects in our Senior Design capstone course.

Majors Requirements

 Data ScienceComputer ScienceComputer EngineeringSoftware Engineering
Total Credit Hours120120126123
Major Credit Hours33364263
Foreign Language4 years high school4 years high school2 years high school2 years high school
Science8 hours including at least one laboratory12 hours including at least one laboratory 
 
Physics and Chemistry12 hours including at least one laboratory
MathematicsCalc I and II, or Business Calc and Contemporary MathCalc I, II, Stats, Linear AlgebraCalc I, II, III, Diff. Eq., Linear AlgebraCalc I, II, Stats, Linear Algebra and one elective
Technical Electives12 (toward required focus area)91515
Open Electives01130
CapstoneOne yearOne yearOne yearTwo years
InternshipOptionalOptionalOptionalRequired
Second MajorOptionalOptionalNot requiredNot required
 MinorNot requiredRequiredOptional MinorOptional Minor
Focus AreaRequiredOptionalOptionalOptional

Focus Areas

Data ScienceComputer ScienceComputer EngineeringSoftware Engineering
  • Artificial Intelligence
  • Software Development
  • Data Pipeline
  • Statistical Modeling
  • Mathematical Modeling
  • Applied Data Science: Sociology
  • Applied Data Science: Natural Resources
  • Applied Data Science: Journalism & Humanities
  • Artificial Intelligence 
  • Computer Architecture & High-Performance Computing
  • Cybersecurity
  • Foundations of Computing
  • IoT, Robotics, & Embedded Systems
  • Networking
  • Software Engineering
  • User-Centered Computing
  • Embedded Systems & Robotics
  • VLSI Design
  • Signal Processing & Communications
  • High-Performance Computing
  • Artificial Intelligence 
  • Computer Architecture & High-Performance Computing
  • Cybersecurity
  • Foundations of Computing
  • IoT, Robotics, & Embedded Systems
  • Networking
  • User-Centered Computing

 

Learn more about our focus areas here.

Credit Hours Per Major

Data Science

Data Science Credit Hours Per Major Circle Graph


 

CourseHours
Red Dot Core33
Lime Dot Focus Area12
Orange Dot Natural Sciences8
Blue Dot General Studies21
Purple Dot Open Electives46

Computer Science

Computer Science Credit Hours Per Major Circle Graph


 

CourseHours
Red Dot Core36
Green Dot Mathematics15
Orange Dot Natural Sciences12
Blue Dot General Studies21
Fuchsia Dot Foreign Language16
Purple Dot Open Electives11
Yellow Dot Technical Electives9

Computer Engineering

Computer Engineering Credit Hours Per Major Circle Graph


 

CourseHours
Red Dot Core45
Green Dot Mathematics15
Orange Dot Natural Sciences9
Blue Dot General Studies18
Teal Dot Electrical Engineering19
Yellow Dot Technical Electives18

Software Engineering

Software Engineering Credit Hours Per Major Circle Graph


 

CourseHours
Red Dot Core64
Green Dot Mathematics18
Orange Dot Natural Sciences12
Orange Dot General Studies15
Yellow Dot Technical Electives15

Contact Us

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Olivia Ingle

Recruitment Coordinator  
(402) 472-5027 
olivia.ingle@unl.edu

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Jarrett Ramsey

Assistant Director of Academic Advising  
(402) 472-5015 
jarrett.ramsey@unl.edu

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Patrick Metoyer

Academic Advisor  
(402) 472-5040 
pmetoyer2@unl.edu