Mar 28, 2024  
2020-2021 Graduate Catalog 
    
2020-2021 Graduate Catalog [ARCHIVED CATALOG]

Software Engineering, D.Engr.


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Students receiving a D.Engr. with a major in software engineering are expected to achieve and demonstrate a solid foundation and depth in software engineering practice, a breadth across the engineering discipline, and a significant and industrially relevant engineering innovative experience through the D.Engr. praxis.

Admission Requirements

Applicants are required to satisfy the following requirements:

  1. A master’s degree in software engineering, computer science, computer engineering, engineering management or a related discipline.
  2. Submission of official test scores from the GRE graduate school admission test score and submission of TOEFL English language proficiency exam scores if English is not the applicant’s native language.
  3. Approval of the director of the software engineering program.

Degree Requirements


In addition to meeting the Lyle School of Engineering requirements for the D.Engr. degree, candidates are required to satisfy the following: The graduation requirements fall into the categories of completion of a specified number of graduate credit hours in appropriate subjects and completion of a praxis. Doctoral students must maintain at least a 3.000 GPA every term and at least a 3.300 overall (cumulative) GPA during their course of study.

  1. Twenty-four credit hours of core software engineering courses. These credit hours must come from graduate-level courses in software engineering, as specified.
  2. Twelve credit hours of core engineering management courses. These credit hours must come from graduate-level courses in engineering management, as specified.
  3. Fifteen credit hours in a technical specialty. These credit hours must be taken in software engineering, computer science, computer engineering, engineering management, systems engineering or other technical areas consistent with anticipated doctoral work demands.
  4. Fifteen credit hours of electives. All elective credit hours must come from graduate-level courses and must be approved by the advisory committee. These courses should, in some way, complement and strengthen the student’s degree plan. They should broaden the student’s understanding of the issues and problems relating to the application of software technologies to different engineering disciplines.
  5. Twelve credit hours of praxis. These credit hours must be taken in residence. The student enrolls for these credit hours in the course of preparing the praxis project.

Any deviation from the stated requirements must be approved in writing from the student’s adviser and department chair.

Core Courses in Software Engineering


Core Courses in Engineering Management


Engineering Praxis


The student must perform a suitable engineering praxis proposed by the student and approved by the praxis adviser and the supervisory committee. The praxis must include a significant and industrially relevant engineering innovative experience, typically revolving around a well-defined project relevant to current software engineering practice. Good scholarship and the significance of the student’s praxis could be demonstrated by relevant technical publications, patents (or patent applications) or invention disclosures. As a culmination of the doctoral program, the student must submit an acceptable written praxis report and pass the oral praxis presentation and defense.

Upon the successful completion of the praxis defense, the praxis is uploaded to the SMU/UMI Praxis Publishing website. The original abstract must be signed by the praxis adviser, and the original half-title page of the praxis must be signed by all of the CS faculty members attending the praxis defense.

Sample Doctoral Degree Plans


The courses comprising a degree plan for a D.Engr. with a major in software engineering will be determined by the student’s supervisory committee. The plans will vary among students depending on their background and praxis topics. Sample degree plans cover both basic degree requirements and technical specialties. All students must select a technical specialty track that is approved by their committee and that relates to their praxis topic. The following are examples of technical specialty tracks appropriate for a D.Engr. with a major in software engineering candidates:

Recognition of Previous Postbaccalaureate Coursework


Students with an M.S. in software engineering, engineering management or other related areas may apply up to 30 credit hours of their M.S. degree credits toward their D.Engr. with a major in software engineering, subject to approval of their supervisory committee.

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