Fowler School of Engineering
BS in Software Engineering
»Software Engineering
Society runs on software. Software is what makes work, school, health, entertainment and nearly every other facet of life go round.
And it’s software engineers who make it all possible.
Chapman’s Software Engineering program teaches you how to develop and maintain software for any industry and field you can think of. By the time you graduate, you will be ready to join a fast-paced field that’s always growing, always innovating and always imagining the future of tech one app at a time.
In this program, you will:
- Build user applications, including mobile and web apps.
- Develop a strong knowledge of programming languages and the software development pipelines.
- Develop computer-systems software focused on computing utilities and operating systems.
By the time you graduate, you'll be prepared to:
- Combine math, computer science and engineering to create useful apps for computer, mobile and web.
- Design systems-level software.
- Go into video game development.
Day in the life of a Software Engineering student
Learn more about classes, facilities, clubs and more in this video from a Software Engineering student!
Software Engineering careers
Software Engineering graduates can go into roles like:
- Software engineer.
- Embedded software engineer.
- Software developer.
- Applications developer.
- Systems developer.
- Systems analyst.
- Data scientist.
- Data engineer.
- Web developer.
- Web designer.
- Cyber security analyst.
- Game developer.
Or you can go on to one of Chapman's integrated bachelor's + master's programs. These programs let you earn a master's degree with just one year of additional coursework on top of your bachelor's. Good options for Software Engineering students include:
Career services on campus
Our Engineering Career Center is your gateway to opportunites in engineering. We're here to help you with build your resume, find internships, apply to engineering jobs and much more.
See our Career Services page for all the details and to get started.
Engineering facilities
The Swenson Family Hall of Engineering is our state-of-the-science home for engineering at Chapman. At Swenson Hall, you will have access to engineering facilities designed for:
- Creating with tools and technologies that meet or exceed industry standards.
- Collaborating with your fellow engineers and scientists.
- Innovating through meaningful, hands-on research.
- Bringing your engineering ideas to life in workshops and labs with the latest equipment.
Take a tour of campus
Check out all of our engineering facilities for yourself on this interactive, 360° tour. You'll start your tour in the Swenson Family Hall of Engineering and be able to explore the entire Chapman campus.
Engineering scholarships
We’re dedicated to making science and engineering accessible to everyone. That’s why all our Software Engineering applicants are eligible for engineering scholarships ranging from $3,000 to 100% of tuition and fees.
The scholarships we offer include:
- Merit-based scholarships for exemplary academic performance.
- Need-based scholarships for students with financial need.
- Human-centered scholarships for students from groups traditionally underrepresented in STEM.
These engineering-specific scholarships are in addition to any general financial aid you receive as a Chapman student.
Engineering research and opportunities
Programmers, designers and developers may spend their days immersed in line after line of code, but when it comes to the Software Engineering field, research is key. Researchers and theorists are making new breakthroughs every day, and staying on top of the latest can help you no matter what you plan to do with your degree.
At Chapman, you will have plenty of opportunities to get involved in research and software engineering projects. This includes:
- Pursuing academic research alongside professors.
- Tackling real-world engineering problems with your peers.
- Participating in the Grand Challanges Initiative, a two-year research project embedded in your curriculum.
- Earning funding and awards for practical engineering projects.
- Studying abroad.
- And more.
Student-led engineering clubs and organizations
In college, clubs and organizations help you make friends and connections, gain experience and prepare for your career. At Chapman, our student-led engineering clubs and organizations give you opportunities to:
- Explore your interests and passions in engineering, or find new ones.
- Build professional skills such as teamwork and leadership.
- Make friends and colleagues you'll work with throughout college and beyond.
Study abroad and away
Studying abroad is a great way to expand your horizons and experience what life is like in other countries. For Software Engineering students, it's also a good way to complete general education classes, finishing those requirements before moving on to your major classes here at Chapman.
We support all students who want to take their education abroad in one of our study abroad programs. Our programs are designed to:
- Be affordable.
- Keep you on track to graduate.
- Help you grow personally and professionally.
Dedicated engineering advisors
As a Software Engineering student at Chapman, you will have a team of advisors here to help you. Your academic advisor can help you plan your classes, learn about opportunities on campus and stay on track to graduate.
You will also have a study abroad advisor, access to our career services and more.
Next steps
Interested in connecting with Chapman? Take one of the next steps below to get started:
- If you are planning on transferring into Software Engineering, you'll want to check out the transfer prerequisites.
- We are always available for tours and information sessions. We have in-person and virtual options available.
- Learn how to apply to Chapman.
