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By University HQ Staff Writers
Edited by Evelyn Keener
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What is Software Engineering?

Rhode Island is one of America's smallest states. It has only one sizable city, Providence, and a total population that is roughly equivalent to Charlotte, NC. Nevertheless, Rhode Island has significant exposure to the wider New England economy and thrives on industries such as insurance, finance, and real estate, among others. Many consider Providence to be the financial hub of New England.

Despite the state's diminutive size, Rhode Island's top industry is real estate, perhaps due to the constrained supply. Real estate - including rentals, leases, and property sales - accounts for $9 billion in annual revenue, ranking RI 43rd in national real estate statistics. The state has many miles of shoreline that may account for this sector's strength.

Most of Rhode Island's industries are ranked in the 40’s on the national scene, and its 4th largest industry ranks 39th overall. That is the finance and insurance field. Since Rhode Island is New England's financial hub, it's no wonder that it ranks this high. It's worth noting that Providence is competing with Boston, which is one of the top financial hubs of the world.

Rhode Island's third largest economic sector is known as professional and business services. This is a broad-based category that includes professional laboratory services, management services, waste management, and any sort of service needed to do business. This sector brings in nearly $8 billion to the Rhode Island economy, earning it the #42 spot nationwide.

Business services also includes information technology and related fields, such as software engineering. After all, these days, all businesses need software solutions to thrive in their respective marketplaces. Given Rhode Island's central location, a Providence software firm would may be well positioned to service firms in Boston, New Haven, Manchester, and even New York City.

Given software engineering's importance in the Rhode Island economy, and that of computer science roles in general, it’s important that it be supported by local Rhode Island public education. The local government provides funds to the state's community colleges, four-year colleges, and universities and some of these funds are allocated to computer science, IT, and software or computer engineering degree programs so that the state can remain competitive in this vital economic sector. In kind, Rhode Island's post-secondary faculties use their state funds to attract top academic talent to their programs.

A software engineer is a tech professional whose job is to build and maintain software packages for their employers or clients. Engineers are essentially computer programmers, though they tend to work on software projects as a whole, while programmers often focus on perfecting one specific aspect of an application. For instance, an engineer may oversee a word processor project, while a programmer works on making sure the application supports images or hypertext.

Software engineers work for a variety of firms. Their work may be in office buildings, but software engineers are increasingly found working from remote locations. Some even travel the globe, learning new languages and eating new food while submitting their work online. Most work for software development firms or other established businesses, but there are also a significant number at work for consulting firms or as independent contractors.

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Online Software Engineering Education in Rhode Island

Find Your Online Software Engineering Program

Online Associates (AS)

A two-year associate software engineering degree can provide the foundation for a successful career. In fact, many skilled software engineers have started out with exactly this degree level. However, they also learn and perfect their skill coding in a specific set of programming languages. An associate software engineering degree helps students grasp the fundamentals of software development and engineering, as well as the fundamentals of programming.

Further, a low-cost associate software engineering degree is great for students who may have excellent coding skills and a track record as software engineers. The degree provides a well-rounded education that covers the core college curriculum. After all, even software engineers need to write proposals, communicate with colleagues, and evaluate issues outside of the coding realm. That community colleges offer this sort of an education at a discount, relative to four-year colleges or universities, is an added bonus.

Online Bachelors (BS)

A four-year bachelor’s software engineering degree is perhaps the best choice for most students who desire to get ahead in corporate America, or corporate Rhode Island. During the course of a four-year degree program, software engineering students are able to dive deep into specific issues related to their field. They complete a variety of interesting projects that will impart vital lessons for later. They can also expand their learning with a minor concentration, or even a double major, that will make them all the more hirable.

In fact, it's a good idea for software engineering students to carefully consider their minor concentration. They can use this to help shape the course of their career. For instance, those who minor in statistics could end up working as data scientists. Other students might take a minor in management so that they can work up from software development into the C-suites of their company. Furthermore, all software engineering students should consider an internship program that will provide real-world experience.

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Online Masters (MS)

A master's degree is becoming more and more of a standard for America's workers. This may be even truer for software engineers because the field is complex. There are many niche areas to investigate that more academic credentials are needed to find true career success. For instance, these days artificial intelligence is a hot topic, and those who tackle it in graduate school are likely to find eager corporate recruiters after graduation.

There are other options, as well. While an MS in software engineering can boost one's career, an MBA might do the same, albeit from a different angle. Students who earn an MBA and concentrate in computer science, information technology, or software engineering can climb the ladder into a C-suite position such as Chief Information Officer. Many also take this route as a springboard to open their own tech start-up or to work as a tech consultant.

National Rankings - Top 15 online masters in software engineering

Online Doctorate (PhD)

Though most PhD candidates are earning their credentials because they are required for their desired career, software engineers don't necessarily need any specific degree. After all, there are many wildly successful software developers who are self-taught and who may not have any post-secondary degree whatsoever. However, a PhD in software engineering can still lead to a very lucrative career.

Those with PhDs in computer science can often land positions with top firms who want them to continue their research. For instance, a PhD who did significant research into artificial intelligence might be hired to continue that work under the umbrella of a corporation who wants the intellectual property rights to whatever they develop.

A doctorate software engineering degree can also launch a career in academia. A doctorate is required for most full-time tenure track positions at a college or university. PhDs can even choose to become teaching professors or research faculty. Researchers attract grants from corporations, for whom they conduct research. This is a popular path for those who want to continue the work they started for their dissertation.

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Become a Software Engineer in Rhode Island

Software engineering is a field that doesn't require any specific credentials. There are no licensing requirements, and professionals can even enter the field after teaching themselves everything they need to know. However, there are steps that aspiring tech workers can take that will help to ensure a long, fruitful career in software engineering.

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The first steps start early on. Youngsters who become intrigued with computers might start learning more about them using various resources available such as YouTube, websites, and books. There are also low-cost, and even free, courses available that introduce the fundamentals of coding. For instance, a low-cost course in HTML may be a great introduction to computer programming. That's a language that's relatively easy and requires nothing more than a text editor and a web browser to experiment with.

During high school, aspiring software professionals should dive deep into their math books. Math skills are vital to success in software engineering. Lucky students may even have access to computer courses. There may be local charter schools that focus on STEM subjects, including computers. There may also be co-op programs with local community colleges that allow high school students in their third and fourth years to take introductory programming courses or higher-level math than their high school provides.

Students who become more advanced might even pick up part-time projects for local companies that need updated, or new, websites. There is even the possibility to create software, such as simple video games, that might sell a few copies, but which can certainly be shared with fellow coders.

When it comes time to seek a software engineering degree program, students need to be careful. While there are many terrific computer science degree programs in Rhode Island and elsewhere in New England, not every program is equal. Each will have its own focus and approach to learning. Students should therefore examine each program's curriculum and accreditation.

While students should only apply to programs with a CHEA-approved regional accreditation, they should also look for program-specific accreditation. Programs that can boast ABET accreditation are nationally recognized for excellence. ABET only accredits STEM programs such as computer science and information technology.

Careers for Software Engineering Graduates

  • Web and Digital Interface Designer
    Web designers are separate from web developers in that they focus on a site's interface. Developers work on a site's back-end technology. Designers need to know certain coding languages such as HTML and CSS, as well as more robust languages such as JavaScript. They should also be savvy with Photoshop, Illustrator, and Blender.
  • Systems Administrator
    System admins are vital to any company with sizeable information technology exposure. These tech workers oversee a firm's computer networks, databases, and more. They may even have the firm's security tech and protocols in their scope. Essentially, they should have strong skills that cover both software and hardware.
  • Software Engineer
    Software engineers oversee the entire software development process. These are experienced coders who have built many different software packages. They may be asked to assemble a team of coders, each of whom will be tasked with specific aspects of the project.
  • Information Analyst
    These workers work on a firm's information technology systems to make sure that they are all up to date and meeting the needs of the firm. Information analysts also keep an eye on emerging technologies and ensure that their business can implement cutting-edge tech.
  • Information Security Analyst
    Cyber security is an issue all companies need to address. InfoSec analysts help their business maintain their security protocols and technologies to ensure that they are up to date and ready to thwart new threats. InfoSec professionals may be asked to oversee the hiring for penetration testers and other information security professionals.
  • Web Developer
    Unlike web designers, website developers focus their work on the back end of a website's development and maintenance. To succeed in this field, most developers need to know multiple coding languages. Popular languages include PHP, Python, Java, and C++.
  • Game Developer
    Nearly everyone plays video games these days, providing game developers with ample employment opportunities. Game developers often are trained to write code in multiple languages while also knowing how to create attractive, even artistic, gaming environments. They must also have a mastery of the physics their game needs, among other skills.
  • Database Administrator
    Business these days runs on data. Database administrators are, thus, a vital part of any business that wants to succeed in the current business environment. Administrators make sure their firm's databases are secure, updated with all relevant data, and are running updated database software. Database administrators are well served by knowing languages in the SQL family of coding languages.
  • Computer and Information Systems Manager
    Every company runs on its technology, and computer and information systems managers make sure that tech is updated and functioning. They may oversee an IT department that rolls out software updates, installs whole new software packages, and even maintains the information security for the firm. A master's degree is often necessary for this position.
  • Computer Programmer
    Programmers typically know multiple, related coding languages. They spend most of their time updating software packages or working on wholly new software packages. Programmers tend to focus on specific industries for their careers.
  • Application Developer
  • Software Developer
  • Computer Systems Analyst
  • Computer Network Architect
  • Network and Computer Systems Administrator
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