Online Graduate Certificate in Software Engineering
journey today.
If you are interested in growing your computer software skills, consider a graduate certificate in software engineering. Our online certificate can teach you the technical competencies, ethical decision-making abilities and communication skills to produce, evaluate and maintain software. This program is designed for professionals with a bachelor’s degree in a different field who would like to change careers or gain new qualifications in software engineering.
Earning an online certificate in software engineering can strengthen your skills and expand your qualifications for a range of career opportunities. You will study advanced statistics, software architecture, software management and database design. Along with technical skills, you will have the opportunity to look ahead to future trends in database design and make ethical decisions when designing software.
Completing your certificate online can provide added flexibility compared to traditional in-person programs. Certificates are designed to cover master’s level concepts and can be completed in less time than a degree. Online learning allows you to complete your coursework from anywhere with internet access, without compromising on your existing commitments. Resources are available to support you as you complete your online software engineering certificate.
As a GCU student, you can benefit from the Christian worldview that guides our curriculum and approach to learning. You will have opportunities to practice making ethical decisions in the workplace and applying biblical values in your career.
The coursework for the graduate certificate in software engineering is designed to help prepare you to manage complex software projects and contribute to strategic technical decision-making.
Some of the topics covered in your courses include:
A graduate certificate, along with a degree program, can help you develop professional skills and demonstrate your commitment to professional development in your field.
Based on your bachelor’s or master’s education, experience and goals, this certificate may help you explore the following roles:
Architectural and engineering manager
Software quality assurance analyst and tester
Postsecondary engineering teacher
Database architect
Software developer
Median annual wage for software developers, quality assurance analysts and testers as of May 20241
Estimated number of new computer and information technology occupations to open from 2023 to 20332
It is important to earn your graduate certificate from an accredited institution to ensure the quality of instruction meets the standards of an accrediting body. GCU has been institutionally accredited by the Higher Learning Commission since 1968, and the College of Engineering and Technology upholds the university’s commitment to academic excellence.
Frequently Asked Questions
If you are interested in our online certificate in software engineering, here are the answers to some frequently asked questions to help you decide whether this certificate is right for you.
Earning an online certificate in software engineering can be worth it depending on your career goals. If you already have a degree in a different field, or you would like to gain additional skills, a certificate can help you develop the competencies to gain entry into the software engineering field.
Earning a certificate in software engineering can provide useful technical skills for software engineering careers; however, you may want to consider the long-term benefits of a degree to position yourself for potential career advancement opportunities.
The main difference between a certificate in software engineering and computer science is the scope of information covered in the program. A computer science program covers more general computing topics and theories, whereas a software engineering certificate program teaches the technical skills needed to develop and manage software systems.
Enhance your software engineering skills with our graduate certificate in software engineering, focused on advanced software engineering fundamentals.
- The earnings referenced were reported by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (“BLS”), Software Developers, Quality Assurance Analysts and Testers as of May 2024, retrieved April 25, 2025. Due to COVID-19, data from 2020 to 2024 may be atypical compared to prior years. BLS calculates the median using salaries of workers nationwide with varying levels of education and experience. It does not reflect the earnings of GCU graduates as software developers, quality assurance analysts and testers, nor does it reflect earnings of workers in one city or region of the country or a typical entry-level salary. Median income is the statistical midpoint for the range of salaries in a specific occupation. It represents what you would earn if you were paid more money than half the workers in an occupation, and less than half the workers in an occupation. It may give you a basis to estimate what you might earn at some point if you enter this career. Grand Canyon University can make no guarantees on individual graduates’ salaries. Your employability will be determined by numerous factors over which GCU has no control, such as the employer the graduate chooses to apply to, the graduate’s experience level, individual characteristics, skills, etc., against a pool of candidates.
- COVID-19 has adversely affected the global economy and data from 2020 to 2023 may be atypical compared to prior years. Accordingly, data shown is effective September 2024, which can be found here: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Outlook Handbook, Computer and Information Technology Occupations, retrieved April 25, 2025.