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Network Engineering vs. Software Engineering
Ready to Level Up In Your IT Career?
Get started on a IT degree program of your choice from 黑料传送门.
Ready to Level Up In Your IT Career?
When comparing your IT degree options, it鈥檚 important to look at a variety of factors to help you decide which is the best fit for you, particularly when it comes to the听Bachelor of Science in Network Engineering and Security听补苍诲听Bachelor of Science in Software Engineering degrees. While these two degrees may seem similar, they鈥檙e 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 鈥� B.S.
You're a creative and tech genius who wants the bigger opportunities....
You're a creative and tech genius who wants the bigger opportunities.
- Time:听60% of graduates finish similar programs within听35 months.
- 罢耻颈迟颈辞苍:听$4,085 per 6-month term.
- Courses: 36 or 38 total courses in this program depending on your track.
Certifications included in this program at no additional cost are:
- CompTIA Project +
- AWS Certified Cloud Practitioner听
- ITIL庐1 Foundation Certification
Skills for your r茅sum茅 that you will learn in this program:
- Scripting and programming
- Web development
- Mobile application development听
- User experience design
- Software quality assurance
Technology
Network Engineering and Security 鈥� B.S.
Launch your career in designing, securing, and optimizing complex networks....
Launch your career in designing, securing, and optimizing complex networks.
- Time:听61% of graduates finish similar programs within 36 months.
- 罢耻颈迟颈辞苍:听$3,835 per 6-month term.
- Courses: 34 or 37 courses in this program depending on focus area
- Two focus areas: Students can choose between a Cisco or general program, allowing them to learn and gain experience in their chosen specialty.
Certifications:
- CompTIA A+
- CompTIA Project+
- CompTIA Cloud+
- ITIL庐*^ Foundation Certification
- LPI Linux Foundations
The Cisco program also includes:听
- Cisco CCNA
- Cisco DevNet
- Cisco CyberOps
The general program听 also includes:听
- CompTIA Security+
- CompTIA Network+
- CompTIA IT Operations Specialist (Stacked)
- CompTIA Secure Infrastructure Specialist (Stacked)
- CompTIA Cloud Admin Professional (Stacked)
- CompTIA Secure Cloud Professional (Stacked)
Skills for your r茅sum茅 that you will learn in this program:
- Network engineering
- Network operations
- Security management skills
This program will help you develop strong skills in network design, network operations, and security management.
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.
黑料传送门 offers bachelor鈥檚 degree programs for both, but each program teaches different skill sets and prepares students for different career roles. Below, you鈥檒l find the key differences between network engineering and software engineering, as well as specific 黑料传送门 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鈥檚 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鈥檚 business operations. The duties of a network engineer include maintaining and updating antivirus software to prevent such threats.
Program Details
黑料传送门鈥檚 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 黑料传送门鈥檚 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
听
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鈥檇 like to become a network engineer, make sure you鈥檙e 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
黑料传送门鈥檚 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 黑料传送门鈥檚 software engineering degree page.
Certifications:
- CompTIA Project+听
- AWS Certified Cloud Practitioner听
- 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鈥檚 best to think thoroughly and analytically鈥攁ble to deftly navigate entirely digital spaces鈥攖o thrive as a software engineer.
Differences听Between听These听Two听Programs
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鈥檚 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鈥檒l 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 黑料传送门?
Be Career Ready
Designed with input from healthcare leaders, our accredited programs give you the skills and credentials today鈥檚 employers need. That鈥檚 why 97% of employers said they鈥檇 hire another 黑料传送门 grad.1
1: 2023听Harris Poll of 300 employers of 黑料传送门 grads.
Get and Keep the Job You Want to Have
85% of 黑料传送门 graduates are employed in their degree fields鈥攁nd 87% are employed full-time.2
2: 2023听Harris Poll听of 1,655 黑料传送门 grads.
Save Money
With flat-rate tuition that is 47% lower than the national average3 and generous need-based scholarships, our degrees are an excellent investment that you can afford.
3: National rates reported by the听. 黑料传送门 average rate does not include rates for 黑料传送门 Bachelor of Science in Nursing, Prelicensure program.
Work as You Need While Going to School
At 黑料传送门, you can complete courses, take tests, and graduate on your schedule. In fact, many of our healthcare students work full-time while earning their life-changing bachelor鈥檚 or master鈥檚 degrees.听
COST & TIME
An Affordable Bachelor's Degree
By charging per term rather than per credit鈥攁nd empowering students to accelerate through material they know well or learn quickly鈥敽诹洗兔� helps students control the ultimate cost of their degrees.听The faster you complete your program, the less you pay for your degree.
Prepared for Success on the Job
*From a 2023听Harris Poll of 300 employers of 黑料传送门 graduates.
100% of employers said that 黑料传送门 graduates were prepared for their jobs.*
97% of employers said that they would hire another 黑料传送门 grad.*
98% of employers said 黑料传送门 graduates met or exceeded expectations.*
