Why Software Engineering?
The software engineering program at Nebraska will help you learn what it takes to create the software of the future through real-world experience, research opportunities and student organizations. We will prepare you for a promising career in a tech-driven world.
In our software engineering program, your education will extend far beyond basic programming. Software engineering students follow a specific and unique curriculum that introduces core engineering principles in the first semester and continues to build on them each year through hands-on experiences. You'll work closely with outstanding faculty and fellow students as you study in a small cohort of software engineering majors.
Areas of Emphasis
- Artificial Intelligence
- Computer Architecture and High-Performance Computing
- CyberSecurity
- Data Science and Informatics
- Foundations of Computer Science
- IoT, Robotics, and Embedded Systems
- Networking
- User-Centered Computing
WHAT YOU'LL LEARN
Software engineering students complete courses in both computing and software engineering and may take additional classes in both areas to fulfill their technical elective requirement. They follow a specific, innovative, and hands-on curriculum modeled after industry work that will prepare them for their professional careers.
LEARNING OUTCOMES
An ability to identify, formulate, and solve complex engineering problems by applying principles of engineering, science, and mathematics.
An ability to apply engineering design to produce solutions that meet specified needs with consideration of public health, safety, and welfare, as well as global, cultural, social, environmental, and economic factors.
An ability to communicate effectively with a range of audiences.
An ability to recognize ethical and professional responsibilities in engineering situations and make informed judgments, which must consider the impact of engineering solutions in global, economic, environmental, and societal contexts.
An ability to function effectively on a team whose members together provide leadership, create a collaborative and inclusive environment, establish goals, plan tasks, and meet objectives.
An ability to develop and conduct appropriate experimentation, analyze and interpret data, and use engineering judgment to draw conclusions.
An ability to acquire and apply new knowledge as needed, using appropriate learning strategies.
CAREER CONNECTIONS
Connect with industry professionals through frequent career events.
Explore internship opportunities in the local tech sector, located within walking distance from campus.
Spend two full academic years collaborating with faculty or members of industry in the Senior Design capstone course.
Complete coursework designed to imitate real industry work.
How You'll Learn
Hands-On Learning Experiences
- Participate in our annual student-led CornHacks hackathon to build software that solves global problems.
- Assist distinguished faculty in groundbreaking research.
- Complete not just one but two Senior Design capstone courses, in which you’ll spend a full academic year developing a new product with a faculty or industry sponsor.
Transferrable Career Skills
- Network with employees from dozens of thriving start-ups and companies at career events like Reverse Pitch.
- Attend resume and interview prep sessions with Computing for All.
- Earn course credit for completed internships with both local and world-renowned companies.
Social Connections
- Study and socialize with fellow majors in our Student Resource Center community hub.
- Attend Game Development Club meetings to learn niche new skills from other students.
- Build robots and enter them into competitions through the VEX U Robotics Club.
Making a Difference
- Volunteer at local middle schools as a Lincoln Robotics League mentor with Initialize.
- Contribute to free and publicly accessible open source projects in classes and clubs like OS2G.
- Promote diversity in technology through campus events and local initiatives with Computing for All.
Core Academics
- Study software engineering principles in classes and labs during your first semester.
- Spend two full academic years developing projects with local companies in our Senior Design course.
- Complete one approved internship for credit prior to graduation.
Research & Grad School Prep
- Analyze human-robot interactions and their implications with Dr. Brittany Duncan.
- Test eye-tracking technology to study programmer coding habits with Dr. Bonita Sharif.
- Develop drones that start fires, dig dirt and sample water with Dr. Carrick Detweiler and Dr. Justin Bradley.
Core Academic Experience
- You'll prepare for life after graduation by making professional connections while at Nebraska. We host regular career events with hiring companies that allow you to engage with employers and explore opportunities.
- Careers in this field require strong interpersonal and communication skills. You'll expand your abilities through student involvement opportunities.
- The School of Computing's course curriculum—modeled after professional work—will allow you to smoothly transition into the industry after graduation. We will equip you with the knowledge and skills you need to get the job you want.
- Through challenging course work and undergraduate research opportunities, you will be well prepared for advanced educational experiences in future graduate programs.
Study the development of drones in the NIMBUS Lab.
Examine molecular communication with Dr. Massimiliano Pierobon.
Understand how software engineers think using eye-tracking technology with Dr. Bonita Sharif.
Learn about the Internet-of-Things with Dr. Mehmet Can Vuran.
Study Abroad Opportunities
Teamwork, Leadership, and Dynamic Programming
This faculty-led education abroad program in Amman, Jordan offers an in-depth study of dynamic programming, culminating in a programming contest. Students will collaborate with peers from Princess Sumaya University for Technology (PSUT) in Jordan through shadowing and in-class interaction.
Student and Professional Organizations
With hundreds of programs of study, Nebraska offers the breadth of academic areas you’d expect from a tier-one research university. Several of our programs are among the best in the U.S. and have been for years, and we can help you find the right program (or programs) for you.
Initialize
Initialize is a group dedicated to using computing skills to give back to the Lincoln community. This club’s activities include mentoring Girl Scouts at coding camps, teaching robotics concepts to Lincoln middle schoolers, and building new software for local nonprofits.
Computing for All
Computing for All is the university’s chapter of ACM-W, an organization committed to advocating for women in the tech industry. Our chapter has expanded its efforts to include promoting diversity of all kinds, and welcomes anyone and everyone into our computing community.
Student Advisory Board
The School of Computing Student Advisory Board is committed to helping our department improve and making student voices heard by faculty, staff and leaders. Join this group to plan events and panel discussions once per semester.
CornHacks
CornHacks aims to bring some of the most talented developers from around the Midwest to join in a weekend full of hacking. Hosted at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln, over 150 participants will code all day and night to be assessed by industry professionals and compete for several prizes.
Sample Internships
- Software Development Intern, Sandhills Global - Lincoln, NE
- UX Design Intern, Microsoft - Redmond, WA
- Data Science Intern, Ameritas - Lincoln, NE
- Software Engineering Intern, Lockheed Martin - Littleton, CO
- Application Development Intern, Buildertrend - Omaha, NE
Sample Careers / Employers
- Mobile Software Engineer, Epic - Madison, WI
- Software Engineer, Peloton - New York City, NY
- Database Developer, Sandhills Global - Lincoln, NE
- Software Engineer, Microsoft - Redmond, WA
- Application Developer, Mutual of Omaha - Omaha, NE
Sample Grad Schools
- Ph.D. Computer Science or MBA, University of Nebraska–Lincoln
- M.S. Information Networking, Carnegie Mellon University
- M.S. Computer Science, University of Southern California
4-Year Plan and Notable Courses
The School of Computing offers a unique and challenging program in software engineering, incorporating hands-on learning and an integrated computer science and software engineering core curriculum to prepare graduates for professional practice in a wide range of industries and for post-graduate education.
SOFT 160: Software Engineering I
Software engineering techniques and tools for designing, modeling, and building event-driven and multi-layer applications.
SOFT 161: Software Engineering II
Software engineering techniques and tools for designing, modeling, and building event-driven and multi-layer applications.
SOFT 360: Software Engineering Mentoring and Leadership
Mentoring and leading software engineering teams.
SOFT 466: Software Design and Architecture
Introduction to the concepts, principles, and state-of-the-art methods in software design and architecture.
SOFT 467: Testing, Verification and Analysis
In-depth coverage of problems related to software quality, and approaches for addressing them.
SOFT 468: Requirements Elicitation, Modeling and Analysis
In-depth coverage of processes, methods and techniques for determining, or deciding, what a proposed software system should do.
Connect With Us
Contact Jeff with Questions
Jeff Beavers
Director of Recruitment
(402) 472-0434
jbeavers2@unl.edu