[Introduction] Not many people can name the differences between software engineering and computer engineering. Whatever the difference is, what is the prospect future of studying software engineering in Canada? This article will cover the introduction of software engineering courses, employment prospects, program rankings, and the views of netizens and UtoCanada.
加拿大软件工程专业

Introduction to Software Engineering in Canada

To sum up:A software engineering degree program helps you learn professional knowledge in software design, development, testing, and evaluation; and it enables execution of many applications. By obtaining a degree in software engineering, you will also acquire the necessary software development capabilities to analyze and understand how to effectively develop and maintain software.
Theoretical knowledge & practice: As a student of one of the program’s courses, on the one hand you may have to learn the theoretical knowledge in the classroom, on the other hand is the practice through actual projects in the field. This combination of teaching methods allows you to acquire theory-based knowledge and practical skills in various fields of software engineering.
Graduation project:Many software engineering majors require students to complete a graduation project in the final year. The purpose is to allow them to apply the skills acquired in class. This last step helps students to shift smoothly from a software engineering student to a software engineering professional.

Related articles of the engineering major:

》What is the difference between computer engineering, computer science, and software engineering?

These three majors have common elements: emphasizing on the understanding of programming languages, but to varying degrees. In addition, the focus is on students' problem-solving skills. Graduates of these three majors may even compete for some of the same jobs.
However, these majors focus on different areas.

  • Computer Science (referred to as CS):Focuses on understanding, designing and developing computer software and hardware. The core of computer science is data, data conversion and algorithms. Advanced courses provide students with professional programming techniques and specific application areas. The structure of CS courses is less than that of CE and SE courses, which gives students greater flexibility so that they can establish depth in broader fields.
  • Software Engineering (SE):Responsible for building, developing and maintaining software systems. As the name implies, it focuses on software and emphasizes larger-scale software applications than computer engineering. These skills are used more than those in computer science and pays more attention to the entire software development process, from ideas to final products. It uses a more systematic approach than computer science to help ensure the reliability and safety of software products.
  • Software Engineering (SE):Responsible for building,developing and maintainingsoftware systems.As the name implies, it focuses on software and emphasizes larger-scale software applications than computer engineering. These skills are used more than those in computer science and pays more attention to the entire software development process, from ideas to final products. It uses a more systematic approach than computer science to help ensure the reliability and safety of software products.

Employment prospects of Canadian software engineering graduates

Like computer engineering and computer science graduates, software engineering graduates find jobs more easily in Canada and have higher starting salaries.
The employment prospects of software engineers and designers (NOC 2173) in the Toronto area are very good due to the following factors:

  • Employment growth brings new open positions.
  • Many positions will not be available due to retirement.
  • There is a limited number of unemployed workers with such professional experience.

Toronto has the largest technically skilled talent pool and the largest group of technology companies in Ontario. The Toronto Economic Area accounts for a higher than average percentage of software publishers and computer system design companies. Ontario's interactive digital media companies are also heavily concentrated in Toronto (72%). Some technology businesses in the Greater Toronto Area are expanding, including offices opened by a large multinational company (such as IBM), and major investments in digital media businesses. Software engineers should also find plenty of job opportunities in research facilities aimed at advancing new automotive technologies, such as self-driving cars.

Which industries hire software engineers?

Software engineers are employed by various small, medium and large employers in part-time, full-time, permanent and contractual types of employment.
A software engineering degree lead to many kinds of jobs because the use of software applications is common now in almost all types of companies and organizations. There are basically no restrictions on the type of industry you can work as a software engineer. Some examples of industries that typically employ software engineers include:

  • Companies that design embedded software for inclusion in other products
  • Companies developing industrial instruments and control operations
  • Consulting companies providing software related services
  • Manufacturing companies, oil, gas and other energy companies (requires software engineers to develop in-house and customer-use software)
  • Colleges and universities
  • Government agencies
  • Public and private research institutions
  • Software manufacturers
  • Software marketing and distribution companies
  • Internet companies

》Salary of software engineering graduates: The decisive factors & the annual income

The salary level of a software engineer may vary depending on factors such as location, education level, years of experience, type of company, industry, and specific job specifications.
Let's take a look at the average salary level of Canadian software engineers.

  • Software Engineer Salary in the United States: According to the US Bureau of Labor Statistics, the median salary for the software developer occupation is $93,350 USD per year. It is also pointed out that the lowest 10% of the group's wages are less than $55,190 USD, and the top 10% of annual wages exceed $138,880 USD.
  • According toPayScale statistics, the average income for entry-level software engineers in Canada is $65,072 CAD.

加拿大软件工程年薪

Employment prospects of Canadian software engineering graduates

Like computer engineering and computer science graduates, software engineering graduates find jobs more easily in Canada and have higher starting salaries.
The employment prospects of software engineers and designers (NOC 2173) in the Toronto area are very good due to the following factors:

  • Employment growth brings new open positions.
  • Many positions will not be available due to retirement.
  • There is a limited number of unemployed workers with such professional experience.

Toronto has the largest technically skilled talent pool and the largest group of technology companies in Ontario. The Toronto Economic Area accounts for a higher than average percentage of software publishers and computer system design companies. Ontario's interactive digital media companies are also heavily concentrated in Toronto (72%). Some technology businesses in the Greater Toronto Area are expanding, including offices opened by a large multinational company (such as IBM), and major investments in digital media businesses. Software engineers should also find plenty of job opportunities in research facilities aimed at advancing new automotive technologies, such as self-driving cars.

What do students learn in Canadian software engineering majors?

Software engineering courses usually include introductory and advanced courses in mathematics, computer science, computer programming, data structures, operating systems, hardware, software architecture, and many other subjects. Some examples of possible coursework include:

  • Apply Advanced Calculus
  • Apply Ordinary Differential Equations
  • Data structure and algorithm
  • Introduction to Theoretical Computer Science
  • Web application introduction
  • Management, measurement and quality control
  • Computer Science Mathematics
  • Object-Oriented Programming
  • Operating Systems
  • Principles of Electrical Engineering
  • Principles of Programming Languages
  • Probability and Statistics in Engineering
  • Professional Practice and Responsibility
  • Software Architecture and Design
  • Software Development Process
  • Software Requirements and Specifications
  • Sustainable Development and Environmental Management
  • System Hardware
  • Technical Writing and Communication
  • User Interface Design

》Employment Skills of Software Engineers

By studying software, you will acquire a series of skills that will enable you to become a knowledgeable software engineer. These skills include, but are not limited to software engineering and development skills:

  • Project planning and project management
  • Project requirements and specifications analysis
  • Software design, coding and testing
  • Configuration management
  • Quality assurance and documentation
  • Understand the programming language
  • User interface design techniques

By studying in software majors, you can gain general soft skills. In addition to software engineering skills, you will develop a range of skills applicable to occupations outside the field. These skills include (but are not limited to):

  • Basic entrepreneurial skills
  • Ability to work in a team
  • Ability to meet tight deadlines
  • Organizational and time management skills
  • Technical Writing and Communication

The best schools for software engineering

According toMacLean's latest program rankings of Canadian universities, the rankings of engineering programs are as follows:

  1. University of Toronto(Computer Science ): The University of Toronto's computer science program has always had the top ranking in Canada. In addition, in the field of artificial intelligence, Dr. Geoffrey Hinton, known as the "Godfather of Deep Learning", teaches in the computer science department.
  2. University of BC(UBCComputer Science): The MSS program is located in the ICICS/CS Building on UBC’s main campus. After the students complete their studies, they are awarded the UBC Computer Science Master's degree and all will be arranged to work in Canada. The internship companies are well-known Canadian companies where students can gain valuable work experience at the same time as obtaining a master's degree from the prestigious UBC. The internships are paid positions and students can earn 80% of their tuition fees, which helps them reduce the financial burden of studying abroad.
  3. University of Waterloo(Computer Science ): The biggest advantage of the University of Waterloo’s computer science major is the internship opportunity (co-op) offered. Co-op students in Waterloo have a good reputation in the industry, so many well-known companies prefer to hire from Waterloo, such as Amazon, BlackBerry, Google, and Microsoft. The disadvantage is that the dropout rate is extremely high. Every year, there are countless numbers of students transferring out of this major, making those who graduate from this major the "true heroes." Many graduates receive an annual salary of $50,000 to $60,000 in their first year.
  4. University of Alberta(Computer Science): Computer science majors are some of the best majors at the University of Alberta, and admission to the university is not as difficult as McMaster, U of T, or Waterloo.
  5. Simon Fraser University(Computer Science ): SFU is one of the top comprehensive research universities in North America. Although for local Canadians, when it comes to SFU, everyone thinks of Beedie School of Business. In fact, its rankings for computer science, interaction design and business programs are among the highest in the world. SFU's computer science employment outlook in the west coast of Canada is very good, and some outstanding graduates have gotten jobs in Google and Microsoft in the United States.
  6. McGill University(Computer ScienceThe status of McGill University in Canada is naturally self-evident and well known.Students of McGill’s Master of Computer Science programcan graduate without writing a thesis. The program is mainly employment-oriented, so it is not suitable for those wishing to pursue doctoral studies.Computer engineering majors, on the other hand, require students to submit a thesis to graduate and are research-oriented.
  7. Université de Montréal (Computer Science):
  8. University of Victoria (Computer Science):
  9. Queen’s University(Computer Science ):
  10. University of Calgary(Computer Science):

Summary: UtoCanada’s views on software engineering

Like we have always emphasized, before choosing a major, you must make sure that you are truly passionate about this major to ensure that you have potential in this area. If the description below applies to you, then you may be well-suited to become a software engineer.
If you want to become a software engineer:

  • Are you interested in challenging positions in software design and development?
  • Do you have a strong interest in programming languages?
  • Do you like to apply engineering and mathematical concepts to problems in order to find a suitable solution?
  • Do you want to have an educational background in computer science, software engineering or closely related fields?
  • Are you able to work during standard working days and not necessarily in an office environment?
  • Do you have the ability to collaborate with others, have excellent communication skills, and the ability to translate customer needs into specific technical designs?
  • Can you visualize complex processes and solve complex problems?
  • Can you concentrate for long periods of time to complete detailed, complex tasks?

If your answer is yes, then software engineering is likely to be suitable career.
Special reminder is that for international students, the two biggest obstacles are English proficiency and work experience. In response to these two points, UtoCanada's recommendations are:

>> Accumulate work experience

In relation to academic qualifications, Canadian companies value job qualifications more. Therefore, you should try to get relevant work experience during school. Method:

  • Volunteer
  • Co-op (Paid Internships): Software engineering in some schools offer co-op opportunities, so when choosing a school, it is better to choose those with co-op
  • Internship
  • Summer jobs

》Improve English

Students often say that after a few years of studying in Canada, their improvement in Chinese far exceeds their English. The reason is that Chinese people tend to gather in groups (whether before graduation or after graduation). In short, even if you go abroad, a "good language-learning environment" does not just come as expected.
Here, I will summarize my personal learning experience, and draw on the advice of others on the Internet to put together the following most effective methods.

  • Choose an English-speaking homestay family
  • Off-campus accommodation -- choose native speakers as your roommates
  • Choose a part-time job in an English-speaking environment;
  • Volunteer in an English-speaking environment
  • Make friends with locals with the same interests
  • Make friends with native English speakers
  • Watch YouTube videos in English
  • Listen to English audible books
  • Watch more American dramas – with subtitles
  • Listen to English Podcasts
  • Find a local boyfriend/girlfriend

Related articles:https://youtucanada.com/lib/various-ways-to-improve-your-english-speaking-skill/