WESTERN GOVERNORS UNIVERSITY
Network Engineering vs. Software Engineering
Ready to Level Up In Your IT Career?
Get started on a IT degree program of your choice from Â鶹Դ´.
Ready to Level Up In Your IT Career?
When comparing your IT degree options, it’s important to look at a variety of factors to help you decide which is the best fit for you, particularly when it comes to theÌýBachelor of Science in Network Engineering and SecurityÌý²¹²Ô»åÌýBachelor of Science in Software Engineering degrees. While these two degrees may seem similar, they’re actually very different and can lead to distinct career options down the road.
This guide will help you make an informed decision when picking the right program for you.
Technology
Software Engineering – B.S.
Build the software behind the next generation of AI....
Build the software behind the next generation of AI.
- Time:Ìý60% of graduates finish similar programs withinÌý35 months.
- °Õ³Ü¾±³Ù¾±´Ç²Ô:Ìý$4125 per 6-month term.
- Courses: 36 total courses in this program.
Certifications included in this program at no additional cost are:
- CompTIA Project +
- AWS Certified Developer – AssociateÌý
- ITIL®4 Foundation Certification
You can also accelerate your program and complete both a B.S. in Software Engineering and an M.S. in Software Engineering together, requiring less courses overall and saving you time and money.ÌýLearn more about this option.
Skills for your résumé that you will learn in this program:
- Scripting and programming
- Web development
- Mobile application developmentÌý
- User experience design
- Software quality assurance
Network Engineering or Software Engineering: Which One Is Right for Me?
Thinking of a career in IT engineering? Information technology is a vast, ever-evolving field, and that means that engineers with differing skill sets are needed to help companies and organizations run smoothly. Network engineering and software engineering are two of the most common types today, and learning the differences between them will help you decide which would be the best fit for you.
Â鶹Դ´ offers bachelor’s degree programs for both, but each program teaches different skill sets and prepares students for different career roles. Below, you’ll find the key differences between network engineering and software engineering, as well as specific Â鶹Դ´ courses, industry certifications, and potential careers paths for each.
B.S. Network Engineering and Security
Networking engineering involves designing, building, and maintaining networks for optimal performance. A network is a group of computers that share information and resources and that communicate with each other to perform tasks. A network engineer is primarily responsible for managing the foundation of an organization’s IT networking system. This system includes wired and wireless communication channels like phones and the internet. Engineering in this role is all about keeping that communication running smoothly and securely.
If a network is damaged, hacked, or compromised in some way, an entire set of computers may stop performing tasks crucial to an organization’s business operations. The duties of a network engineer include maintaining and updating antivirus software to prevent such threats.
Program Details
Â鶹Դ´â€™s program offers two tracks: one specializing in Cisco technologies and certifications and the other offering a more general, vendor-agnostic approach. For a detailed look at courses specific to each track, visit Â鶹Դ´â€™s network engineering and security degree page.
Certifications:
- Cisco Certified Network Associate (CCNA)
- LPI Linux Essentials
- ITIL Foundation Certification
- CompTIA A+
- CompTIA Cloud Essentials
- CompTIA Network+
- CompTIA Project+
- CompTIA Security+
- CompTIA IT Operations Specialist
- CompTIA Secure Infrastructure Specialist
- Amazon AWS SysOps Administration-Associate
Career Paths
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Careers in network engineering put you at the forefront of solving networking and communication challenges that can affect entire organizations.
- Network security administrator
- Computer systems analyst
- Network infrastructure administrator
- Network and computer systems administrator
- Computer support specialist
- Network security analyst
- Computer and information systems manager
Who Should Apply?
You might want to pursue a network engineering program if you love tackling high-level challenges and take an interest in managing entire infrastructures rather than individual programs. This role is most rewarding for those who enjoy iterating on and improving software programs and hardware solutions. That often includes troubleshooting various issues and working patiently with others who may lack the in-depth knowledge you have.
If you’d like to become a network engineer, make sure you’re comfortable overseeing or helping to oversee entire computer networks.
B.S. Software Engineering
Software engineering involves driving technological transformation through coding and scripting, as well as creating scalable software solutions. Software includes a variety of computer programs that are the building blocks to making the applications we use every day work. A software engineer primarily ensures that individual applications and programs run smoothly. This type of engineer creates, tests, and maintains networking control systems, computer programs, and business-wide operating systems.
Software engineers also need to be familiar with specific programming languages before they can run or improve computer applications.
Program Details
Â鶹Դ´â€™s program offers two tracks: one specializing in Java scripting and the other specializing in C# scripting. Java scripting is used across a wide range of tech devices. C# scripting is commonly used for large infrastructures in big tech companies like Apple and Google. For a detailed look at courses specific to each track, check out Â鶹Դ´â€™s software engineering degree page.
Certifications:
- CompTIA Project+Ìý
- AWS Certified Cloud PractitionerÌý
- ITIL Foundation Certification
- Back End Developer (earned in the Java track)
- Front End Developer (earned in both the Java and C# tracks)
Career Paths
Careers in software engineering let you flex your creative and technical muscles as you manage the programs and applications crucial to keeping organizations running.
- Computer programmer
- Video game designer
- Web developer
- Software developer
- C# programmer
- Java programmer
- Software engineer
- Algorithm engineer
- IT consultant
- App developer
Who Should Apply?
You might want to pursue a software engineering program if you enjoy taking a more creative approach to technological development, coding, and programming, especially as part of a team. You would be a good fit for a software engineer if you like creating and identifying language patterns, as computer programs need these patterns to function. It’s best to think thoroughly and analytically—able to deftly navigate entirely digital spaces—to thrive as a software engineer.
DifferencesÌýBetweenÌýTheseÌýTwoÌýPrograms
Network engineering and software engineering call for distinct skill sets, certifications, and theoretical knowledge. Both involve engineering, and both are common positions in the field of information technology. But you might gravitate toward one more than the other based on the type of career you want and what kinds of technology interest you most.
If you choose network engineering, make sure you develop a passion for a high-level approach to all you do. That means you maintain a birds-eye view over an organization’s entire network, while still being able to identify and resolve the granular problems that affect that network.
If you opt for a career in software engineering, know that you’ll most likely play a specific role within a team of engineers. You should prepare to be a team player, able to synergize with others as you write computer programs and identify the patterns that make up everyday computer applications.
Why Â鶹Դ´?
Be Career Ready
Designed with input from industry leaders, our accredited programs give you the skills and credentials today’s employers need. That’s why 81% of employers said they’d hire another Â鶹Դ´ grad.1
1: 2024ÌýHarris Poll
Get and Keep the Job You Want to Have
84% of Â鶹Դ´ graduates are employed in their degree fields—and 86% are employed full-time.2
2: 2024ÌýHarris Poll
Save Money
Average annual tuition and fees for undergraduates at Â鶹Դ´ is $8,300 compared to $17,709 at comparable institutions. For graduate students at Â鶹Դ´, average annual tuition and fees is $8,856 compared to $20,513 at comparable institutions.3
3: Source: Analysis of IPEDS data, report year 2023
Work as You Need While Going to School
At Â鶹Դ´, you can complete courses, take tests, and graduate on your schedule. In fact, many of our students work full-time while earning their life-changing bachelor’s or master’s degrees.Ìý
COST & TIME
An Affordable Bachelor's Degree
By charging per term rather than per credit—and empowering students to accelerate through material they know well or learn quickly—Â鶹Դ´ helps students control the ultimate cost of their degrees.ÌýThe faster you complete your program, the less you pay for your degree.
Prepared for Success on the Job
*From a 2024ÌýHarris Poll of 300 employers of Â鶹Դ´ graduates.
100% of employers said that Â鶹Դ´ graduates were prepared for their jobs.*
94%Ìýof employers said Â鶹Դ´ graduates meet or exceed expectations*
95% of employers rated the "soft skills" of Â鶹Դ´ grads as equal to or better than graduates from other institutions*