A doctoral degree in software engineering is one of the most sought after PhD's in an economy that keeps adding information technology jobs. You will have earned the highest degree attainable with a Doctorate, putting you at the top of your field with expert status. Positions that you could qualify for would include Software Engineer, Computer Scientist, and Software Developer.
Many PhD graduates go on to a life in academia, teaching as a Professor or Instructor at institutions of higher learning. There are also employment opportunities in university research departments with an online software engineering doctorate. However, in the discipline of software engineering, the majority of PhD's work in computer systems design and related services industries. There are Software Engineers and Computer Scientists working in every job sector, many of them in development organizations, and for software publishing firms.
Software publishing is expected to be one of the most rapidly expanding industries in the country, with job increases continuing. Professionals trained online at the doctoral level of education should have excellent job prospects, with jobs for Computer Scientists projected to go up by 24 percent between 2008 and 2018. This growth is being powered by the demand for more sophisticated technology, along with the need for trained experts to develop and implement it.
Getting your online doctorate degree in software engineering will likely take between two and six years. While that is a broad range of duration, it depends on many factors, including the individual program requirements, whether your program is starting with enrollees at the bachelor or master degree level, and the pace that the individual students sets for themselves. Most programs expect applicants to have some computer experience.
You will probably spend the initial part of the online PhD program taking advanced courses in topics such as digital communication, microprocessors, and artificial intelligence. As a graduate student you will then move on to conducting original research in the computing field, and preparing a dissertation, or thesis paper. The ability to handle technical issues, and an aptitude for math are a good match for someone pursuing this type of degree.
