What is Software Engineering?
Ohio is a state whose economy is vital to the nation for many reasons. It’s one of the strongest players in the automotive manufacturing sector, while also providing a large percentage of our agricultural products. Ohio is full of bustling metropolitan centers that are home to cutting edge tech solutions and business opportunities. Finally, Ohio's geographical position means it's central to travel from the east to west, and its Great Lakes exposure means that it's a great shipping hub, as well.
A software engineer is a technology professional whose job is to create and maintain software packages for their employer or client. Software engineers are experts in at least one programming language and, often, they have mastered more. Their chosen languages often help to determine what sort of products they create. They not only write the code but then they put it to the test. They measure their software for speed and resilience, and they evaluate user inputs to determine what features are needed and which are unnecessary.
Software engineers typically spend their days working at computer terminals. While many commute to offices for work, an increasing number stay at home or otherwise work from a remote location. While much of their time is spent writing computer code, software engineers do need to attend meetings, whether via video conferences or a real-life gathering, to discuss their progress.
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Online Software Engineering Education in Ohio
Unsurprisingly, Ohio's top industry is manufacturing. While Ohio was once written off as a rust belt state, it retains its strength in the automotive and other sectors. In fact, Ohio ranks 3rd nationwide for manufacturing, generating over $111 billion in annual revenues from this sector. Ohio's food manufacturing represents 14% of all jobs in the state.
The second largest sector in Ohio is the one known as professional and business services. This economic category is wide ranging and includes diverse businesses such as waste removal, commercial laboratories, administrative support, and corporate management. Professional and business services brings over $77 billion in annual revenues to the Buckeye State and ranks 10th in the nation. Only Ohio's real estate market drops out of the national top ten, ranking 12th with $74 billion in annual revenues.
Fueling all this economic activity is a robust tech sector comprised of information technology and computer science wizards. Software engineers are a big part of this, as even manufacturing concerns need software solutions. After all, automated manufacturing systems rely on software that is often customized for particular functions, if not written from scratch, to address a firm's specific needs.
To help build this vital part of the Ohio economy, the state legislature provides generous budgets to its public colleges and universities. These funds help to support information technology and computer science degree programs. In turn, faculties use the funds to attract and maintain the very best talent in higher education.
Not only do they seek out the top academic talent, scholars who boast PhDs and cutting-edge research, but they also hire working engineers who have a master's degree. A blend of experience with scholarship yields a learning atmosphere that benefits students. PhDs impart research and scholarly studies while master's degree holding instructors can cover scholarly matters while imparting wisdom from the field.
Students interested in earning a software or computer engineering degree will have plenty of options of software engineering schools in the state. These options include Devry University Ohio, Baldwin Wallace University, Cleveland State University, Bowling Green State University, Miami University, Ohio State University, and others. Nearly every institution offers some basic education in computer science, but you will need to ensure that the institution you choose offers engineering degrees. The specific degree program offered may vary and admission criteria change from place to place, but remain similar for private and public university options.
Online Associate (AS)
Associate computer software engineering degrees should be a minimum standard for aspiring technology workers. Even those who already have excellent coding abilities will benefit from the core college curriculum that their community college will require. Those humanities and social science courses will help them develop in ways that will facilitate their communication and other soft skills. This degree will also be a great benefit for those who later decide to pursue a bachelor's degree.
Associate computer software engineering degree students find that this approach is smart for many reasons. For one thing, community colleges throughout Ohio offer courses in software engineering, computer programming, and computer science. Students can thus stay close to home for their degree. On top of this, community colleges typically charge far less for credit hours than four-year colleges or universities. Thus, those who are aiming to progress toward a bachelor's computer software engineering degree will end up with lower net expenses.
Online Bachelors (BS)
A bachelor's software engineering degree is the de facto standard for those seeking an entry-level position. While software engineers are certainly able to launch a career based solely on their programming skills, when corporate recruiters see a bachelor's degree in computer science or computer software engineering, they are far more likely to call that candidate for an interview. A bachelor's degree may also be helpful for those who are interested in professional certifications. Some industry associations have degree requirements for their certifications, so a bachelor's degree is recommended as a baseline credential.
Finally, bachelor's degree programs offer students the opportunity to complete a minor concentration or a double major. This way students can achieve a well-rounded educational experience. Computer software engineering students may benefit from additional courses in statistics, data science, economics, business administration, or even fine arts if they are looking for a career in video game development.
National online rankings - 15 best BS in software engineeringOnline Masters (MS)
A master's software engineering degree can put one's career over the top. The additional academic training helps students focus their programming and software development skills in specific areas that employers value. Further, there are other master's degree options that broaden the scope of a career.
Many software engineers return to school to expand their knowledge of business with an MBA. This approach can help them rise through the corporate ranks to the C-suites. It can also help them build the knowledge and skill sets necessary to start their own firm. MBA degree programs may offer concentrations in information technology, computer science, and more. There are also dual-MBA degree programs where students can complete two master's degrees simultaneously over the course of a mere three years. This is a terrific option, especially for students coming straight from an undergraduate computer science program, though a dual MBA program will likely make it difficult to work until the degree is complete.
National online rankings - 25 best MS in software engineeringOnline Doctorates (PhD)
A PhD in software engineering is a terrific option for those who have a continuing passion for computer science and technology. Software engineers with a doctorate are highly valued by corporate recruiters for top jobs in software development, consulting, and management. Many computer software engineering PhD candidates have even been known to leave their departments before completing their degrees. That's because their research is so promising that they'd rather create a tech start-up than complete their PhD.
However, those with full doctoral credentials can use those credentials to land great jobs and do terrific things. Those who enter consulting are in high demand since consulting clients want to work with the most qualified consultants they can afford. A PhD might even start their own consulting firm based on their research or simply guided by their expertise.
Naturally, many earn a PhD so that they can enter academia. A doctorate is necessary to land a tenure track professorship in a top Ohio college. While many will enter lecture halls and classrooms, computer software engineering doctors may also work as research faculty. Research faculty can enjoy tenure, provided that their research continues to attract grant funds. On top of that, many researchers can augment their income with freelance assignments for local companies.
Become a Software Engineer in Ohio
Tech-savvy students in Ohio are eager to put themselves on the path to success. Since the Ohio economy is so diverse and rich with possibility, it may be overwhelming trying to determine the best way to become a software engineer in Ohio. However, it may be easier than you think.
Indeed, many high school students are already preparing for a career in software engineering when they follow their passion for computing and coding. There are many resources available on the internet that can give students a leg up into coding. There are free and very affordable courses that can introduce simpler languages such as HTML and CSS, languages that students love to learn so that they can build websites. Then students can advance into JavaScript or Python, depending on what sort of projects interest them.
Students can also start building an intellectual foundation in computer software engineering with courses in their high school. These days, most high schools offer computer courses, but even those that don't offer computing will offer mathematics. All technology fans are urged to take as many advanced math courses as possible. After all, mathematics, and the analytical thinking it engenders, are vital parts of a computer software engineering career.
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High school students who can advance in programming languages may even be able to earn a certification that attests to their skill. They can use these credentials to do short-term or part-time work for local organizations who need assistance. In fact, many JavaScript experts are well paid for small tasks such as debugging code. Students who can maintain their schoolwork while gaining a bit of experience as software engineers are sure to impress college admissions counselors.
During the third year of high school, students should start looking for potential colleges to attend. Those who are interested in staying close to home should look at area community colleges or online options. Those who are ready to move away can look at any school that interests them. Ohio has many terrific public and private colleges to choose from.
During the search process, students should make sure their top choices meet certain standards. One of the core standards is accreditation. All possible programs should at least have CHEA-approved regional credentials. On the other hand, programs with both regional and program-specific credentials should be highly sought. When a software engineering program boasts ABET accreditation, students should certainly apply. This is because ABET is a national agency that accredits STEM programs. ABET's chosen programs are among the very best and they include community college, four-year college, and university programs.
Potential Careers for Graduates
- Systems Administrator:
These tech workers are tasked with overseeing a firm's technology systems. They are also the ones who install systems software and oversee the firm's databases. They may help to write technology policies for their firms. Often referred to as SysAdmins, these technology workers are indispensable in any company. - Software Engineer:
While software engineers can come from a multitude of backgrounds, they all have expertise in one or more computer programming languages. Software engineers may be involved with creating brand new software solutions for their organization or they may be hired to maintain and develop existing code. Most software engineers have a degree in computer science, but some have studied mathematics. - Software Developer:
These tech workers have credentials in one or more coding languages that they use to create applications for certain purposes. Their coding acumen is often tailored for specific uses such as video games, financial applications, or graphical applications, to name a few. Developers may work on software from scratch or join a team to help develop an application over time. - Information Security Analyst:
Cyber security is increasingly important to the ongoing success of any firm. InfoSec analysts continually evaluate their firm's cyber security processes and protocols to ensure that they are up to the task of thwarting the latest security threats. They need to have special credentials in the form of InfoSec credentials from top associations.
- Computer Programmer:
Though this job title seems to be falling out of fashion, computer programming is still a highly sought skill in the marketplace. Computer programmers tend to discover languages that they are particularly adept in and then build on them throughout their career. Programmers can have an academic computer science background, or they can learn independently. In either case, an industry recognized certification will help land a job. - Game Developer:
These technology wizards are perhaps the most well-rounded in the technology sphere. Game developers need to understand all aspects of what makes a game viable in the marketplace including the aesthetics, gameplay, and physics. Thus, a game developer must know multiple coding languages and several software packages. - Web Developer:
These technology experts are often distinguished from the web designers. Web developers are engaged with the back-end aspects of a website. For instance, they may be involved with creating the E-commerce aspects of a site or they might work on a site's database connectivity. - Application Developer:
Technology is nothing if not a string of applications. Application developers are those who design the plans for those applications and then write the code. A development team is largely comprised of computer scientists who write the code but also the application testers and general planners. Developers not only create software packages from scratch, but they may have careers that are primarily focused on updating and improving existing applications.- Information Analyst
- Computer Systems Analyst
- Database Administrator
- Web and Digital Interface Designer
- Computer Network Architect
- Network and Computer Systems Administrator
- Computer and Information Systems Manager