2026-2027 Cal Poly Humboldt Catalog DRAFT [ARCHIVED CATALOG]
Software Engineering, B.S.
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Software Engineering is a field that applies engineering concepts to software development. It encompasses the development, operation and maintenance of programs. The curriculum of software engineering programs includes computing fundamentals, software design and construction, requirements analysis, security, verification, and validation; software engineering processes and tools appropriate for the development of complex software systems; and discrete mathematics, probability, and statistics, with applications appropriate to software engineering.
A bachelor’s degree in software engineering leads to careers in software development in fields including business, communications, transportation, medicine, aeronautics, and more. Software engineering graduates are eligible for positions in related fields like cybersecurity and may also be competitive for many mid-level positions in software development. Graduates may also have opportunities to work on embedded software projects; this type of software is used in virtually every industry, from medicine to aeronautics.
Program Learning Outcomes: Bachelor’s Degrees
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Requirements for the Bachelor’s Degree
A bachelor’s degree requires a total of 120 units. Students must fulfill General Education & All-University Requirements , residency, unit, and GPA requirements as outlined in the Bachelor’s Degree Requirements . This major does not include a Graduation Writing Assessment Requirement (GWAR) certified course. Students must take a GWAR certified writing intensive course to fulfill the requirement. General Education Modifications for Software Engineering Majors
The Cal Poly Humboldt Software Engineering majors have approval for the following GE requirement to be fulfilled by completion of all major coursework: - Lower Division GE Area 1B: Critical Thinking (3 Units)
- Upper Division GE Area 2/5: Mathematics or Sciences (3 Units)
In addition, the Cal Poly Humboldt Software Engineering program has approval for both courses fulfilling the American Institutions requirement (6 Units) to count as fulfilling Lower Division GE (6 Units): - Software Engineering students have special approval to choose NAS 200 to satisfy GE Area 6, American Institutions: U.S. History, and one of the Diversity and Common Ground: Domestic requirements.
- Software Engineering students have special approval to choose PSCI 110 to satisfy Lower Division GE Area 4 and American Institutions: U.S. & California Government.
Students who change out of a Software Engineering major are encouraged to contact the Office of the Registrar or the Academic Advising Center regarding completion of GE requirements. Other degree requirements must be fulfilled in addition to those listed above for the major. Please see “Bachelor’s Degree Requirements”. Major Academic Plans, Software Engineering, B.S.
Program MAPs represent recommended or possible pathways toward degree completion in four years (or two years for transfer students). Please see an advisor and use the DARS planner to create an education plan that is customized to meet your needs. Software Engineering, B.S. MAP Software Engineering, B.S. Transfer MAP Requirements for the Major (89-95 Units)
Prerequisite (0-6 Units)
Students may demonstrate calculus readiness by achieving an appropriate score on a department administered placement test, by successful completion of a course in precalculus, or by completing one of the following prerequisite course pathways, or their equivalent: Lower Division (46 Units)
Upper Division (37 Units)
Elective Requirement (6 Units)
Complete at least 6 units of advisor-approved elective courses in computer science or a related discipline. To meet the major elective requirement through computer science courses, Software Engineering students may select any two of the following computer science courses that are not part of the Software Engineering Major: Program Learning Outcomes
Students completing the program will be able to: - Identify, formulate, and solve complex engineering problems by applying principles of engineering, science, and mathematics.
- 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.
- Communicate effectively with a range of audiences.
- 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.
- Function effectively on a team whose members together provide leadership, create a collaborative and inclusive environment, establish goals, plan tasks, and meet objectives.
- Develop and conduct appropriate experimentation, analyze and interpret data, and use engineering judgment to draw conclusions.
- Acquire and apply new knowledge as needed, using appropriate learning strategies.
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