Software Engineering Degrees

Most people are familiar with older, more traditional engineering fields such as mechanical, civil, or electrical. Software Engineering is a relatively new discipline, but in today’s increasingly interconnected world, it is becoming more and more important.

Engineering differs from Computer Science or Web Design in that you are formulating how the overall software system functions, and how it works within its intended hardware environment. Software Engineering is the discipline that makes sure computer systems are developed methodically and result in building the right product with quality built in from the beginning.

Software engineering is a practical, intuitive, creative and analytical field. Software Engineers are responsible for every phase of a development project, not just for writing the computer code. Upon the initiation of a project, they make sure requirements are documented and validated. Then they move on to system design, often overseeing the creation of software prototypes to present to clients for additional validation. Once the design is solid, Software Engineers manage the overall development effort to make sure the pieces are coming together as planned. Finally, they create and oversee test cases which assure system functionality is complete and traceable to the requirements generated at the time of project initiation.

Software engineers may have different areas of focus. Some tend to work on software development while there are other people who prefer to concentrate on system design. Some will focus on medical software. Game design is also growing in popularity. All of these professionals work using the same software engineering principles.

Telecommunications Engineering

Telecommunications engineers are electrical and electronics experts who may specialize in a certain type of technology, such as telephone networks or broadband telecommunications.

Communications engineers work within a number of industries, including:

· internet and computing technologies;

· networking and telecommunications;

· radio.

Telecommunications engineers design and install equipment used for transmitting wired phone, cellular, cable and broadband data. Their day-to-day responsibilities can include working with copper or fiber optic cabling, complex networks and switching systems. Telecommunications engineers may be employed by wired and wireless telecommunications companies, engineering consulting firms or government agencies. Some engineers concentrate on applying technical knowledge, while others focus on managerial activities. Many posts include elements of both managerial and technical responsibilities.

Telecommunications engineers are analytical, creative and methodical problem solvers with excellent concentration and math skills. As members of manufacturing teams, they are also collaborative professionals and good speakers with interpersonal intelligence and the ability to work well with others.

Wireless telecommunication engineers are electrical engineers that specialize in developing, manufacturing, and testing wireless technologies, such as cell phones, the satellite systems that support them, and wireless computer networks. The fields of wireless telecommunication engineering changes rapidly as new technologies develop. Wireless telecommunication engineers must constantly update their skill sets to stay current.

Nanoengineering

Nanoengineering encompasses the practice of the profession on a nanoscale, which stems from the nanometer unit of measure, equivalent to one billionth of a meter. Within the industry, nanoengineering is synonymous with practices of nanotechnology, whereby it focuses on the engineering component of a given technology rather than the scientific side. Nanotechnology professionals have become prized professionals in the current marketplace for their skills and training dealing with microscopic applications.

From the automobile and energy industry to healthcare and technology firms, companies around the world eagerly seek to attract and develop these professionals. Within these realms, scanning tunneling microscopy (STM) and atomic force microscopy (AFM) are the dominant techniques of the field used to solve problems and originate new technologies. Both techniques pivot on generating microscopic probes to manipulate and track the movement of atoms with the idea of capturing something significant to translate into real world applications such as revolutionary manufacturing materials or new pharmaceutical products.

Professionals in this field often perform duties depending on the industry they work in and/or their educational backgrounds. In biosciences, nanoengineers dedicate their time to developing new medical device products and ways to enhance existing ones. From a construction viewpoint, these experts investigate and evaluate the development of new materials to develop more sustainable and durable building products and materials. Automotive companies employ these engineers to develop more efficient processes within an engine system and materials to build and pad vehicle systems and interiors.

5. True, false or no information?

1. An undergraduate Computer Engineering degree typically takes four to five years to complete.

2. Software Engineering is a traditional discipline, becoming more and more important.

3. Telecommunications engineers design and install equipment used for transmitting all kinds of data.

4. Nanotechnology focuses on the scientific component of a given technology rather than the engineering one.

5. Release engineers can both build software and integrate software applications into existing projects.

6. Telecommunication Engineers design everything from the Central Processing Unit to primary and secondary memory storage to input and output methods.

7. Software Engineers are responsible for writing the computer code only.

8. Computer Engineering focuses on the actual hardware responsible for performing the task.

9. Wireless telecommunication engineers must constantly update their skills because the fields of wireless telecommunication engineering changes rapidly.

6. Answer the questions:

1. How many categories is computer engineering split into nowadays?

2. What problems does computer engineer focus on?

3. What are software engineers responsible for?

4. How many phases of software development project are mentioned in the text?

5. What are day-to-day responsibilities of telecommunication engineers?

6. Why is it necessary for wireless telecommunication engineers constantly update their skills set?

7. What do nanoengineering and nanotechnology have in common and what are the differences between them?

8. In what industries can nanoengineers work?

7. Continue the sentence:

1. Telecommunications engineers design and install….

a. software prototypes to present to clients.

b. equipment used for transmitting different kinds of data.

c. microscopic probes to manipulate and track the movement of atoms.

2. Computer Engineering differs from Software Engineering and Computer Science in that….

a. it focuses on the engineering component of a given technology rather than the scientific side.

b. it changes rapidly as new technologies develop.

c. it focuses on designing the components of a computing system.

3. Software Engineers are responsible for….

a. developing new medical device products and ways to enhance existing ones.

b. developing, manufacturing, and testing wireless technologies and wireless computer networks.

c. developing software, game design etc.

4. Nanotechnology professionals …

a. investigate and evaluate the development of new materials.

b. create and oversee test cases which assure system functionality is complete.

c. specialize in developing cellphones.

8. Retell the text. Speak about profession described in the text.

9. Prepare a short summary of the text using the following expressions:

The main idea of the text is …

The problems/statements/points mentioned/discussed/described in the text are….

The text is divided into… logical parts.

The first/ second/ third logical part deals with the problems/statements/points of/ contains information about/ gives the definition of….

In my opinion/ to my mind the text is.…

Part II. Language

10. Make new words from the given ones using suffixes below:

Engine (n), compute (v), increase (v), connect (v), develop (v), function (v/n), scan (v/n), add (v), use (v), transmit (v), employ (v)

-er/or, -ing, -ment, -tion, -able, -ful, -ive, -ity

11. Put in a right word and translate the sentence:

1. There are some traditional… fields such as mechanical, civil, or electrical (engine, engineering, engineer).

2. Telecommunication equipment is used for… data (transmit, transmitter, transmitting).

3. In biosciences, nanoengineers are responsible for… of new materials (developing, develop, development).

4. Some… are actually massive networks of thinking machines (computers, compute, computing).

5. Today’s world becomes … interconnected (increase, increasingly, increasing).

6. Good math skills are extremely… for computer, software and telecommunication engineers (usage, useful, use).

12. Put the verb in brackets into correct Tense:

1. She (work) as a software engineer. 2. He (design) a new computer system at the moment. 3. Last year he (create) a new test to assure that system functionality is complete. 4. When I entered the laboratory, the engineers (test) a new wireless technology. 5. Professionals in this field already (perform) a medley of duties. 6. Telecommunication engineers (continue) to be in high demand in future. 7. We (specialize) in developing, manufacturing, and testing wireless technologies before a new colleague joined our team.

13. Rewrite the sentences using the construction “It is… who/that”. Translate the sentences:

1. Wireless telecommunication engineers specialize in developing, manufacturing, and testing wireless technologies. 2. Software Engineers are responsible for every phase of a development project. 3. Automotive companies often employ nanoengineers to develop more efficient processes. 4. Computer Engineers design everything from the Central Processing Unit to primary and secondary memory storage. 5. Today, computer engineers are very highly sought after. 6. Software Engineering is becoming more and more important. 7. Computer engineering evolves very quickly. 8. Game design grows in popularity.

14. Translate into English:

1. Я творческая личность и поэтому хочу заниматься разработкой компьютерных игр. 2. Специалисты в области телекоммуникаций постоянно востребованы на рынке труда. 3. Инженеры-связисты обычно работают в команде, и поэтому они должны уметь сотрудничать. 4. Раньше были инженеры-схемотехники и инженеры-системотехники. 5. Системные администраторы разрабатывают, поддерживают в рабочем состоянии и администрируют компьютерные сети организаций, а также отвечают за политику безопасности в сети. 6. Специалисты в области компьютерных сетей конструируют и монтируют компьютерные сети, а также разрабатывают аппаратное и программное обеспечение для них. 7. Все специалисты-инженеры в области ИТ и связи должны очень хорошо знать математику. 8. Монтеры-кабельщики прокладывают, ремонтируют и поддерживают в рабочем состоянии линии связи. 9. Операторы службы компьютерной поддержки помогают находить и устранять проблемы в работе компьютера. 10. Первые компьютеры были созданы именно любителями.