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The bachelor’s degree is the standard entry credential for software development work, and unlike some computing specializations it exists under its own title at the undergraduate level. Schools award it as a BS in Software Development, a BS in Software Engineering, or occasionally as a software development concentration inside an information technology or computer science major. All three are common online, and the differences between them show up in the course list rather than the diploma.
This page explains what an undergraduate software development curriculum contains, how it differs from a computer science major, what prerequisites to expect, and what to verify before enrolling.
Yes. BS in Software Development and BS in Software Engineering programs are widely offered online by accredited institutions, as are software development concentrations inside computer science and information technology majors. The field suits online delivery because the coursework produces code and the collaboration tools are the same ones distributed teams use professionally.
Both share a programming and data structures core. Computer science then goes deeper into theory – discrete mathematics, algorithm analysis, formal languages, compilers, operating systems. Software development goes deeper into practice – requirements, architecture and design, testing and quality assurance, version control and code review, agile process, and maintaining existing code. Computer science typically requires more mathematics; software development typically requires more team project work.
Approximately 120 semester hours, typically four years full-time. The major core usually accounts for 50 to 70 of those, with the software engineering sequence and capstone concentrated in the junior and senior years.
Less than a computer science major generally requires, but not none. Expect discrete mathematics and at least college algebra or precalculus, with statistics common and calculus required at some schools – particularly programs accredited as software engineering, which follow engineering math expectations. Check the specific requirement before you assume either extreme.
No. Undergraduate programs begin with introductory programming and assume no prior experience. Prior experience helps with pacing, but the sequence is designed to start from zero.
A bachelor’s is the standard credential for developer roles, and most people in the field never earn a graduate degree. A master’s is generally pursued to specialize, to move toward architecture and technical leadership, or to pivot into software from another field. See Online Master’s in Software Engineering for that comparison.
For a full map of this program area, start here: Software Development Program Guide
Every school list on this site is ordered by the BOC Score, computed from the most recent school-level data published by the U.S. Department of Education (College Scorecard and IPEDS). To qualify, a school must be currently operating and accredited by an agency recognized by the U.S. Department of Education. Each eligible school is then scored on five measures, percentile-ranked against schools at the same credential level:
Schools without enough outcome data appear after ranked schools, without a score. Advertising never affects these rankings. Read the full methodology.
Source:IPEDSCollege Scorecard
Source:IPEDSCollege Scorecard
Source:IPEDSCollege Scorecard
Source:IPEDSCollege Scorecard
Source:IPEDSCollege Scorecard
Source:IPEDSCollege Scorecard
Source:Accreditor: Northwest Commission on Colleges and UniversitiesIPEDSCollege Scorecard
Source:IPEDSCollege Scorecard
This is the decision most applicants are actually making, and it deserves a straight answer rather than a hedge.
Choose software development or software engineering if you want to build software and want your degree to spend its credits on how software gets built and maintained by teams. The advantage is directness: you spend more time on architecture, testing, process, and project work, and you graduate with more experience working inside a codebase alongside other people. The tradeoff is less formal theory, which matters if you later want work that is algorithmically demanding or if you are considering graduate study in computer science, where admissions committees look for the theory sequence.
Choose computer science if you want maximum flexibility across computing, if the theoretical side genuinely interests you, or if you might pursue graduate work in computing. It is the more widely recognized title and the safer default when your plans are unsettled. The tradeoff is that you may reach substantial team project work later, and testing and process may get a single course rather than a sequence.
Neither closes the door on the other. Employers hiring developers interview both, and after your first job the degree title stops being the thing anyone asks about. If you are still deciding between computing paths generally, the technology program guide surveys the wider set.
| Course Topic | What You Learn |
|---|---|
| Programming Fundamentals | Language syntax, control flow, functions, and object-oriented design in a first language |
| Data Structures & Algorithms | Lists, hash tables, trees, graphs, sorting and searching, and complexity tradeoffs |
| Discrete Mathematics | Logic, sets, relations, combinatorics, and proof techniques used in computing |
| Databases & Data Modeling | Relational design, SQL, normalization, transactions, and working with persistence layers |
| Software Architecture & Design | Design patterns, modularity, coupling and cohesion, and documenting a system’s structure |
| Web & Application Development | Client-server architecture, APIs, front-end and back-end responsibilities |
| Software Testing & Quality Assurance | Unit, integration, and system testing, test automation, and defect tracking |
| Software Engineering Process | Requirements, estimation, agile methods, version control, and code review practice |
| Secure Coding Fundamentals | Input validation, authentication, and common vulnerability classes |
| Team Capstone Project | An end-to-end project taken from requirements through delivery with a team |
The programming sequence is what governs your timeline, because nearly everything in the major sits downstream of it. Before enrolling, confirm:
If you are moving faster than a standard four-year plan, compare accelerated software development programs.
Transfer credit can substantially shorten a bachelor’s, particularly for general education, mathematics, and introductory programming. Rules vary by institution, so confirm:
See Affordable Online Software Development Degrees for more on managing total program cost.
Verify that the institution holds accreditation from a recognized institutional accreditor – such as HLC or SACSCOC – through the U.S. Department of Education database. This is the baseline, and it is the check that determines whether credits transfer and whether employers treat the credential as legitimate.
A bachelor’s is the standard credential for developer roles, and it is sufficient for most of the career. A master’s in software engineering generally makes sense in one of three situations: you want depth in architecture, distributed systems, or quality engineering; you are moving toward technical leadership where design authority matters; or you hold a bachelor’s in an unrelated field and want a structured route into software. Earning one immediately after a bachelor’s, without work experience in between, is the least common of the three.
Compare degree options:
Data verified: August 11, 2026. Salary, employment, and tuition figures on this page are sourced from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (OEWS May 2025; Employment Projections 2024–2034) and the U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard (2023 cohort). The source agency and data year are cited inline with every statistic.
Back to Online Software Development Degrees: Programs & Careers (2026)
