WSU North Puget Sound at Everett offers Software Engineering degree

EVERETT, Wash. – Jan. 20, 2016 – WSU North Puget Sound at Everett has announced the fall 2016 launch of a Software Engineering bachelor degree completion program. Students may now begin the application process to the Software Engineering program, in addition to WSU Mechanical Engineering, Electrical Engineering, Hospitality Business Management and Integrated Strategic Communication programs.

“This is the ideal time for WSU to launch our bachelor’s program in Software Engineering here in Everett,” WSU North Puget Sound at Everett dean Paul Pitre said. “Software Engineering skills are highly sought in local industries. Recent studies suggest that in the following years there will be a ratio of two to one between demand and supply in our state alone for graduates with Bachelor of Science degrees in Software Engineering.”

“The addition of a WSU Software Engineering program is another welcome step toward fulfilling the vision of four-year STEM degree offerings in Everett,” Everett Mayor Ray Stephanson said. “WSU North Puget Sound at Everett, working with all the University Center partners, is creating more and more exciting opportunities for students in Snohomish, Island and Skagit counties to pursue their higher-education dreams and succeed in the 21st Century workforce.”

The Bachelor of Science in Software Engineering (BSSE) program prepares students for developing and maintaining large and complex software by focusing on advanced courses on software development, software testing and validation, software maintenance, software security, and software management and integration—all specialties of high demand among the state’s computing and IT industries. Thus, in addition to the general Software Developer and Software Engineer jobs, BSSE graduates have access to a larger spectrum of software engineering jobs such as Requirements Engineer, Quality Assurance Engineer, Project Manager, etc. BSSE graduates easily demand six-figure salaries upon graduation.

Admissions are rolling, but students will find the most success with financial aid by applying by Jan. 31. The WSU General Scholarship application is due Jan. 31 and the WSU priority date for FAFSA federal financial aid is Feb. 15.

“We are all thrilled to have WSU here in Snohomish County, offering the kind of degree programs that will provide our students excellent skills and training for 21st Century jobs,” Snohomish STEM Network director Deborah Squires said. “These programs will provide our employers with a talented, STEM-literate workforce to drive prosperity for all in our county.”

The WSU BSSE in Everett is a two-year, full-time, daytime bachelor’s-degree-completion program for transfer students. Students attend all lecture and laboratory courses at the Everett University Center, which is located on the Everett Community College campus. Courses and laboratories are taught in person by WSU faculty in Everett, via interactive video from WSU Pullman and online through the University’s nationally ranked Global Campus program.

Media contact: Randy Bolerjack

Interested students should contact: Bolong Zeng