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Degrees and Schools
Computer information systems and computer science degrees are very common academic paths for system software engineers. Most colleges and universities offer four-year degree programs in these study areas.
Classes
Students in a computer science program usually divide their time between class and computer lab. Courses include:
- theory of system design
- software engineering
- relational databases
- distributed systems
- operating systems
- computer networks
- specific programming languages
- use of specific software and database products
- mathematics
Online Classes and Programs
Degree programs in computer science and computer information systems are readily available online. E-learning programs that are offered by brick-and-mortar schools are more likely to coordinate internships and provide job placement. Online courses should be part of an institution with accreditation from agencies approved by the Council for Higher Education Accreditation (CHEA) or United States Department of Education (USDE).
Employment Requirements
Most employers of systems software engineers typically require:
- Certification in specific software packages and technologies
- Substantial experience with a broad range of computer systems and technologies
- A minimum of a bachelors degree in computer science or computer information systems
How to Evaluate Schools
Asking the following questions can be helpful when evaluating computer science and computer information systems degree programs:
- Reputation - Do the school and program rank nationally or otherwise have a positive and well-known reputation?
- Classes and subjects - Does the curriculum support a concentration in software engineering? Are classes difficult to get into?
- Practical experience - Do computer labs have enough of cutting edge technologies to support demand? Are internships coordinated by the program, with opportunities that are varied and desirable?
- Financial aid and expenses - How well are students assisted in making use of scholarships, grants, work / study programs, student loans, and other financial aid opportunities?
- Graduate success - What is the program's track record for placing graduates in relevant jobs?
Software Engineer for Systems Job Description
Organizations run on technology, and systems software engineers make sure each department has what it needs. They plan and oversee the implementation of computer systems within an organization, either as an employee or consultant. Other responsibilities of software engineers for systems include:
- Collecting and analyzing requirements from different departments or clients
- Making recommendations as to technical direction
- Conferring with sales staff on solutions for clients
- Providing technical support and customization of software products for clients
- Setting up websites for internal use (intranets)
- Making sure systems are set up securely and remain secure during implementation
Computer systems software engineers often travel extensively to client sites or different organizational facilities to oversee implementation and provide training.
Career Profiles
Job Title: Lead Web Developer
Attended: SUNY At Stony Brook • Stony Brook, NY
Studied Computer Science (completion in 1994)
Highest relevant degree: Bachelor's
• Submitted: 1/22/2012
"I love the work I do and who I work for. I find computers and the internet to be an exciting, dynamic field suited for my skills and problem-solving ability. The environment I work in and my employer make it conducive to producing good work."
Ratings are on a 1-10 scale
| Characteristic | Rating | Comment |
|---|---|---|
| School Rating | 8 | My computer science degree was meant to develop problem solving skills with programming languages. It focused on a foundation of logical analysis and the fundamentals of computing and operating systems, rather that learning one or two specific programming languages. |
| Opportunity for Promotion | 7 | There are some opportunities for promotion, but most of them move upwards towards management. I am unsure of whether I want to manage, because it means less hands-on work even though it means a better salary. |
| Job Security | 10 | The field I work in is stable and has good job security. If I ever need to move on, I am confident that I will be able to find a new position. I also work for an employer who is not undergoing any downsizing or restructuring. I am also confident (and am reminded regularly) that my work is valued and appreciated. |
| Earnings Potential | 8 | I feel my potential for earnings is good as my industry will continue to be in demand for years. Additionally, the potential for promotion increases what I might earn in the future. |
| How Stressful | 5 | The career can be stressful, but it all depends on how you approach the problem. There are often outside forces acting on the work I do, but the amount of stress I have depends entirely on how I react to the situation. |
| Task Variety | 8 | I work on one large, long-term project, which requires a great deal of planning and development, and several smaller, medium-term projects which require less work. Additionally, I spend time doing tech support, some intra-office training, troubleshooting, and short term programming tasks or one-off scripts. |
| How Cool Is The Career | 9 | People think we who work with computer are "magicians." But aside from that, what we do is visible to many people and often people recognize the website or software you work on, which is nice. |
| Career Flexibility | 9 | My employer encourages some telecommuting. Although I live near one of the large centers of internet business in the country (Virginia), I know that if I move to another city, I will be able to find software jobs there, too. |
| Social Orientation | 7 | There are times when I sit in my cubicle for hours or days without seeing a lot of my colleagues. On the other hand, I have lots of opportunities to work and collaborate with them. Also, there's a good local community of developers that helps me keep in touch and keep my skills up to date. |
Job Title: Programmer/Analyst Of Web Applications
Attended: DeVry University • Online, IL
Studied Information Systems Management (completion in 2009)
Highest relevant degree: Master's
• Submitted: 1/21/2012
"I enjoy application development and problem-solving, so computer programming was a good choice for my career. Web development is a particularly in-demand field and I am able to work with new technologies, like mobile development."
Ratings are on a 1-10 scale
| Characteristic | Rating | Comment |
|---|---|---|
| School Rating | 8 | I feel I got a lot out of my graduate program. I hand-picked the courses as much as possible to match topics from my job. That made the courses very relevant to my daily work. |
| Opportunity for Promotion | 3 | Unfortunately, there is not much of a promotion track in my current work. A few developers have the desire and opportunity to get into management, but otherwise many will remain at the same level. We just take on additional responsibility (like leading projects) rather than receive actual promotions. |
| Job Security | 10 | Programmers are always in demand. The internet allows us to work from anywhere, so geography is not a big restriction. |
| Earnings Potential | 7 | I think this depends highly on the industry of your employer. For example, jobs with high tech and medical organizations will usually have higher pay than government agencies or academic institutions. But in general, developers are paid well. |
| How Stressful | 7 | I would say this work has a slightly higher level of stress than average, particularly for programmers who work with financial or medical applications, where the effects of problems are great. |
| Task Variety | 5 | About half the work (development) is routine. The other half (the troubleshooting) is much less routine. |
| How Cool Is The Career | 5 | I really am not sure. Among 'geeks' I suppose this is a cool career. For people outside of IT, it might not be seen as very cool. There's not much glamor or prestige, but it can be exciting. |
| Career Flexibility | 5 | Geography is not much of an issue, as you can work from anywhere there's an internet connection. The scheduling can be flexible in many organizations as well. However, there are usually on-call responsibilities. |
| Social Orientation | 4 | Programming is a fairly solo activity, so I think it's lower than average in terms of social interaction. We do interact within teams, but most of the actual work is done alone. |
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