软件工程是工程实践在软件设计和维护中的应用。软件工程学位课程为学生准备大型复杂软件系统和产品的工程职业。这些系统通常涉及数百万行代码，并经常在对安全要求严格的环境中运行。软件工程专业包含与管理这些开发过程所需的实践中的软件工程相关的课程。软件工程课程的教职人员来自计算机科学与工程系和工业工程系。
Software Engineering is defined in IEEE Standard 610.12 as “the application of a systematic, disciplined, quantifiable approach to the development, operation, and maintenance of software; that is, the application of engineering to software.” David Parnas, an internationally-known scholar in computer science and engineering, recently noted that “as chemical engineering is a marriage of the science of chemistry with … engineering areas…, the software engineering field should be a marriage of the science of software with the older knowledge of the engineering profession.” This program recognizes the growing need for programs preparing students for careers in the engineering of large complex software systems and products. The BS program in Software Engineering is accredited by the Engineering Accreditation Commission of ABET, www.abet.org.